Commemorative biographical record of Middlesex County, Connecticut : containing biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens, and of many of the early settled families, Part 76

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 76

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George A. Chafee was reared in Bristo!, where he attended what was known as the "Old Brick School," at the corner of State and High streets, Bristol common. This old build- ing was a landmark for years in that city and was continuously used as a school house from the time of its erection, in 18c9, to September, 1895, when it was torn down to make place for the Walley school. In 1858 our subject se- cured a place in the factory of Gen. Burnside, who made sporting arms for the Southern trade, and who afterward achieved fame in the Civil war. When the factory was moved to Providence Mr. Chafee went to that city. Later he was employed by Walter Colman & Sons, at polishing guns, and in July, 1862. he came to Middletown. Here he was first en11- ployed by the Savage AArms Company, with whom he remained two years. subsequently securing a position in a gunlock factory. In August, 1865, he began business for himself. In 1889 he bought what was known as the Henry Carrington homestead, and the follow - ing year opened the "Hotel Chafee." A com-

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plete transformation has been effected in this property, which has been improved at great expense, and the house has been thoroughly modernized in every respect. It has been equipped with steam heating apparatus, a Gil- bert & Baker gas machine, modern laundry appointments, fine metallic ceilings, and the cafe is the largest and finest in the city. The decorations are unique. Over $30,000 has been expended by Mr. Chafee in remodeling this fine place. Mr. Chafee is an entertaining landlord, and has perfect knowledge of every detail of the business, being certainly a most successful hotel man.

On November 23, 1864, Mr. Chafee was married to Miss Matilda Pitt, Dr. Goodwin, the Episcopal rector, officiating. Mrs. Chafee was born in Birmingham, England, Decem- ber 30, 1840, and came to this country when young. Her parents John R. and Elizabeth (Reading) Pitt, first located in Attleboro, Mass. When Mrs. Chafee came to Middle- town her first night was spent in the house that in later years became her home, and where she died December 16, 1900. She was a lady of many noble traits, and to her valuable assist- ance and wise counsel no small amount of hei husband's success is due. To M'r. and Mrs. Chafee were born two children, Charles A. and Grace Irene, both of whom survive.

Mr. Chafee became a Mason in 1863, unit- ing with St. John's Lodge, and later with Washington Chapter, No. 6, R. A. M., of Middletown. He also belongs to the O. U. A. M., and is a charter member of the local lodge of the Red Men.

CALEB JOHNSON (deceased), was in his lifetime proprietor of the extensive brick- yards in Newfield Street, town of Middletown, Middlesex county, and was one of the promi- nent men engaged in that line of business. For nearly half a century his name was identi- fied with the brick business of Middlesex county.

Mr. Johnson was born May 12, 1813, son of Jotham and Elizabeth (Hugh) Johnson, of Newfield. When he was five years old he moved into Middletown with his parents, and he received his education in the common schools. In 1829 he was apprenticed to Bar- zilla Sage, to learn the mason's trade, 'and worked with him for six years, for a number

of years acting as foreman for Mr. Sage. In 1835 he began his trade on his own account. He was in Middletown for almost twenty years, and in 1853 associated himself. with D. N. Arnold, in the building business, this association continuing sixteen years. During this time they put up the South Congrega- tional Church edifice, the Middletown Savings Bank, and the Middletown Bank building, the library and chapel at the college, and the Mid- dlesex Mutual Assurance buildings; they also built the bridge at Pameacha. In 1857 Mr. Johnson and Harvey Ward established a yard and factory at Newfield for the making of brick. Mr. Johnson bought out his partner's interest in 1865, and devoted himself to en- larging and completing the plant, which to- day is one of the most complete establishments of the kind in the State. When this yard was opened, four thousand brick a day was con- sidered a big yield. To-day the daily output is 40,000 brick. Throughout his long busi- ness career Mr. Johnson commanded and re- tained the confidence of the community. John D. Johnson, his son, has for some years been at the head of the active management of the plant, and the business is now conducted un- der his direction, he having bought the busi- ness from the estate.

Caleb Johnson was married, in 1835, to Miss Mary P., daughter of Thomas and Mary (Phelps) Derby, and after her death he mar- ried, in 1864, Miss Cynthia H. Hall, a native of Detroit, Mich. Children as follows were born to the first marriage: Charlotte E., who died young; Albert, who was killed by a cow at the age of five years; John D., who mar- ried Mary Loomis, who died in 1899; Thomas H., who married Harriet Coats, of Fair Ha- ven (both are now deceased, and they left two children, Henry H. and Caleb) ; and Mary, who died in infancy. To the second marriage came one child, Jennie M., born May 4, 1870, who on June 18, 1896, married Herbert I. Cornwall of Westfield; Mr. Corn- wall died March 15, 1900, leaving a widow and one son, Merritt Johnson, born July 13, 1897.

Caleb Johnson cast his first vote for An- drew Jackson, and was ever a stanch Demo- crat. He served on the common council. He was a self-made man, was always hard-work- ing and industrious, and at his advanced age

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commanded all his faculties to a remarkable degree. Mr. Johnson died June 2, 1901, and was laid to rest in Indian Hill cemetery.

Jotham Johnson, the father of Caleb, was born in Massachusetts. Coming to Middle- town, he engaged while still a young man in the butcher business, but later, meeting with reverses, he was obliged to engage in day la- bor. He is buried in the Mortimer cemetery, where his wife also rests. After the parents died the children were separated while still very young. The brothers and sisters of Ca- leb Johnson were: Clarissa married Josiah Bailey, a sailor, who died at sea; she died in Texas, at the home of her son. Edwin lived, married and died in Hartford. James Madison moved to Massachusetts, where he died. Joth- am married Tabitha Bliss, and lived in Hartford. Elizabeth, who married Henry Cooley, a blacksmith, lived in Middletown.

ROCKWELL B. HALE, who is now liv- ing a retired life in his attractive country home in Cromwell, is a descendant of an old family, which in years gone by was very largely rep- resented in Hartford county.

Elisha Hale, the grandfather of Rockwell B., was born in Taylortown, Hartford coun- ty, where he became an extensive farmer, and where he died. He married and became the father of the following children: Orrin, who died in Glastonbury ; Alexander, who died in Glastonbury ; Betsey, who married David Tay- lor ; George and David, who also died in Glas- tonbury ; and Jared, the father of Rockwell B.

Jared Hale was born March 17, 1797, in South Glastonbury, where he was educated, and where he learned the trade of joiner. When a young man he located in Rocky Hill, Conn., where he followed farming, and worked at his trade until his death, September I, 1854, at the age of fifty-eight years. He was married at West Rocky Hill to Mary Belden, who was born March 18, 1794, and who died October 9, 1889. aged ninety-five years and seven months. They became the parents of the following children: Elisha, born Decem- ber 3, 1819, married Mary Hubbard, and lived in New Britain, where he died November 7. 1872; Oliver, born January 19. 1822, married Mary Rainey, and lived in Syracuse, N. Y., but died at New Haven, Conn., June 19, 1897; Nelson died young; Florinda died 28

young ; one unnamed ; Nelson (2), born Octo- ber 19, 1829, died unmarried in Cromwell, August 22, 1874; Rockwell B .; and Alden, born July 18, 1835, married Leantine Holmes, lived in Rocky Hill, and died December 17, 1888, leaving two sons, Brainerd and Wesley, one of whom is living in Rocky Hill and the other in Meriden.

Rockwell B. Hale was born April 23, 1833, in Rocky Hill, where he had only a limited ed- ucation, the exigencies of the family finances compelling all the children to become pro- ducers as early as possible. As soon as he was old enough he hired out as a farm hand to Henry Ranney, who later became his father- in-law. Mr. Ranney was a butcher as well as a farmer, and for some time he helped him butcher and run a meat wagon. In 1856 Mr. Ranney gave up the meat business and Mr. Hale took it up for some months, associating himself with E. R. Blinn, Cromwell, under the name of Blinn & Hale, and for eleven years the two were together in the meat business. During the war they sold the meat in East Berlin and Cromwell. Mr. Blinn's health gave out and he was compelled to dispose of his in- terest to Mr. Hale, who conducted the business alone until he sold it in 1875 to Briggs & Warner. In 1864 Mr. Hale opened a business in Berlin and Mr. Blinn was left in charge of the affairs of the firm at Cromwell continuing there four years. Mr. Hale was in his later years associated with the wholesale meat business, and shipped cat- tle from Albany, N. Y., to local Connecticut points, M. H. Smith being his partner in this trade. They had headquarters in Cromwell and Middletown, but in 1880 Mr. Hale retired. He put up his present home in 1879 and it is regarded to-day as one of the very best coun- try homes of Cromwell.

Mr. Hale was married October 27, 1858. to Caroline E., daugliter of Henry and Mary ( Bivens) Ranney, a farmer and meat man of Cromwell. Their children were: Henry Rockwell, who died aged two years and ten months : Henry Ranney, who married Rose Swathel, and is employed in the piano busi- ness in Montreal ; Burt J., who graduated at the Yale Business College and is employed in the Middletown National Bank, and who married Martha L. Gale, a graduate of the Pittsfield, Mass., high school: John W., who

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graduated from Yale Business College in 1890, and soon entered the express business, becoming agent at Waterbury and Norwich, Conn., and Great Barrington and Lynn, Mass., being still in the last named place; his wife died in 1901 ; and Mary, who died aged two year and three months.

In politics Mr. Hale is a Democrat, and in 1863 was elected selectman, a position he filled for two terms; he was assessor from 1885 to 1895.

Mr. and Mrs. Hale are members of the Cromwell Baptist Church. He is well known as a conservative man, and is one of the lead- ing m'en of the community.

HOBART DAVIS is one of the leading business men and farmers of Portland, Mid- dlesex county, and his modest bearing and un- assuming manners in no way suggest his pe- cuniary strength or good business ability. He is a Portland product pure and simple, for his entire life has been spent within a half mile of the town.

Mr. Davis was born February 23, 1832, son of Seth Johnson and Zerviah ( Marsh) Davis. His mother was born in March, 1810, and died August 25, 1880. Seth Johnson Davis was born in Portland, about a half mile east of the home of his son Hobart, son of Charles and Rebecca (Johnson) Davis, the latter a native of what is now Middletown. Charles Davis was born in 1775, son of Buck- ley Davis, who was buried in Cromwell, as was his wife, Sally Pelton. They had a daughter who married William Pelton, and with this daughter they passed their last years.

Charles Davis, who was a farmer, died at the age of forty-four years, August 22, 1819. He was the father of nine children, of whom the first two, Sarah and Maria, died young.

Buckley J. went to Ohio. Lucy married Will- iam Sage, and went to Ohio. Rebecca mar- ried Alfred Young, and died in Willimantic. Roxie married Isaac Fowler, and went to Ohio, where she died, in Vermilion. Ann married, in Ohio, James Cuddeback. Seth J. is mentioned below. Jesse went to Ohio, and visited alone in Connecticut when eighty years old, dying three or four years later. Mrs. Rebecca Davis married for her second hus- band Noah Shepard, to whom she bore one son, Noah, who lived to be sixty-seven, dying

August 28, 1891. Mrs. Shepard went on a visit to Ohio, and while there died, and was buried at Berlin Heights.

Seth J. Davis was reared on a farm, and went to learn the trade of shoemaker when he was sixteen years old, with a Mr. Whit- more, in East Haddam. He remained with him until he had attained his majority, and followed shoemaking at intervals throughout his life. He was a man of spare physique. When failing health compelled him to leave the bench he took up farming, and engaged in the cultivation of the place where he was born. In the early forties he removed to the farm across the road, where Hobart now lives, and remained until a half brother, Noah Shep- ard, came of age, when he bought the Shepard farm of the heirs of George Shepard. There he lived and died, his death, on August II, 1877, being the result of a sunstroke. We

have the following record of the children of Seth J. and Zerviah Davis: Sarah M. died unmarried, April 18, 1896; she lived with her brother Hobart. Hobart is second in the fam- ily. Amelia is the widow of W. S. Strick- land, of Portland. The father was a Demo- crat, and took a decided interest in the suc- cess of his party. He served twenty years as inspector of roads. He was a member of the Episcopal Church, and served as vestry- man. Mr. Davis achieved a decided success in life, being a hard worker, a good manager, a fine farmer, and a thoroughly practical man, possessed of good common sense. He was very truthful, a man of the most unswerving integrity, and his word was good anywhere. His friends were many.

Hobart Davis attended the Penfield Hill District school, and had Guy B. Day for one of his early teachers. It was a long journey from his home to the schoolhouse, and while going and coming he often had no little work to do in the care of his father's stock which was kept on the other farm. Being the only son in the family, he was put into the harness early, but he was naturally industrious, and liked to work. He displayed excellent judg- ment, even when a boy, and in the care and handling of stock has been an expert from early youth. His time was spent at home on the farm until he was twenty-one years old, when he went to work in the Brainerd quarry, at Portland, and was employed there for seven

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years. He drove cattle, and at a time when fifty yoke were in the yard he was as skill- ful as any. He kept his cattle in good con- dition, and had good results. Being prudent and saving, while yet a young man he had ample means to go into almost any business. He had an excellent business proposition. which he was inclined to accept, but from the fact that it would take him away from home it was decidedly opposed by his parents. He remained at home, and was a comfort and a stay to his parents in their declining years, and results have richly justified his filial de- votion. He is an extensive land owner, and keeps a close supervision of the work that is done on his land, being an active man, with a mind as clear as it ever was. He has done much hard work in his time, and, as he recalls it, he "was always on the ground when hand- ing cattle."

Mr. Davis is a director of the Freestone Savings Bank, of Portland, and was concerned n its organization. Politically he is a Demo- crat, and he is a public-spirited man. Mr. Davis has never married, and is the last male descendant of his family in Portland.

OLIVER LYMAN FOSTER, who dur- ng his lifetime was a successful farmer of Middlesex county, was a native of the State of New York, whither his father, Chauncey Foster, had removed from Connecticut.

Mr. Foster was one of a large family, and vas born September 1, 1806. He passed his boyhood on his father's farm, but on reach- ng his majority went from New York to the State whence his father had migrated. finding home at first in Meriden. There he entered he employ of Noah Pomeroy, as a peddler of Yankee notions." He remained with Mr. Pomeroy for several years, making his home with him, and following the same pursuit. Quick-witted, shrewd, industrious and frugal, is savings gradually accumulated until he had cquired sufficient capital with which to buy farm of his own. Coming to Middlefield. e purchased the property known as the David Selby farm," situated in the northern art of the town, and abutting on the Meriden irmpike. He was a man of tall stature and alwart, well-proportioned frame, weighing a ttle more than two hundred pounds, endowe 1

with tireless energy, and seemingly indifferent to fatigue. He continued actively engaged in farm work until he reached the age of eighty- one years, when a paralytic stroke compelled him to abandon the toil which he loved so well. He lingered in a helpless condition until Au- gust 16, 1889, when he passed away, near the close of his eighty-third year. Mr. Foster was popular and highly esteemed among his fel- low townsmen, and was ordinarily addressed as "Capt." Foster. In politics he was a life- long Democrat, while in religious faith he was an Episcopalian, having been one of the or- ganizers of St. Paul's Church, at Middlefield, and a liberal contributor to the erection of its sacred edifice. He sleeps in the Middlefield cemetery. His wife, whose maiden name was Lucy Bacon, was born in Middlefield April I8, 1809, daughter of Capt. John and Amy ( Cce) Bacon; her father was a farmer. A history of this family may be found elsewhere. Mrs. Foster fell asleep March 5. 1889, a few months before the demise of her husband.

Amy Ann Foster, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Oliver L. Foster, was born September 21, 1835. In her girlhood she enjoyed the educational advantages of attendance upon the district and select schools of her native town, and on August 6, 1854, became the wife of Henry Ward Wetherell, who was born in Man- chester, Conn., December 23. 1834. He was an electro plater, skilled in his trade, and was for eleven years employed in the works of the Wheeler & Wilson Sewing Machine Company, at Watertown, Conn. When the company transferred its plant to Bridgeport he removed to that city. He was a man of quick percep- tion, excellent judgment and rare mechanical ability, qualities which insured success ; yet too close application to work so badly impaired his health that he found himself obliged to visit Florida for its restoration. The change proved unavailing, and he died at Jacksonville. in that State, January 7. 1866. To this mar- riage came one son, Frank Foster, who was born July 15, 1859. married Maria Goff, and resides in New London, Connecticut.

Nine years after the death of her first huis- band Mrs. Wetherell married a second time, giving her hand to Joel H. Guy, of Meriden, on October 20, 1875. A sketch of Mr. Guy's life may be found elsewhere. Mrs. Guy re-

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sides on the paternal homestead in Middlefield, which she has enlarged, improved and mod- ernized, and where she has a charming country home.

BROWN. East Hampton numbers among her most influential and esteemed residents, Henry B. and Delos D. Brown, who have each contributed largely to the material growth of the village, and both are regarded as citizens whose public spirit rises above considerations of mere personal profit.

Thomas Gibson Brown, their father, was born April 12, 1799, in Corinth, Orange Co., Vt., son of John and Betsey Brown, also na- tives of the same State. Thomas G. Brown, like many another son of the "Green Moun- tain State," determined to seek a home else- where, and while yet a young man, removed to Boston, where for several years, he worked at whatever honest labor offered. He was a man of earnest religious convictions and of a deeply spiritual nature. Not unnaturally, he found an opportunity to gratify his higher impulses by entering the ministry of the Methodist Episcopal Church. In 1832-33, he was pastor of the charges at Martha's Vine- yard and Middleboro, Mass. On June 9, 1833, at Boston, he was ordained by Bishop Hedding, as an Elder of the Church. Under the system of ministerial transfers which pre- vails in the Methodist communion, he was placed in charge of various congregations ; East Hampton, 1834-35; Orleans, 1836-37; Monmouth, 1838; Gloucester Parish, 1839; Newbury, 1840-41; Marlborough, 1842-43; Greenwich and Prescott, 1844; Southwick, 1845 ; West Springfield, 1846; Templeton and Philipston, 1847-48; Farnumsville, 1849-50. Prior to being given a pastorate, however, he did loyal and effective work for the church as a circuit rider. He began this work in 1828, two other preachers being assigned to. duty with him on what was then known as the "Hebron" circuit. It included not only Hebron but also East Hampton, Portland, East and Middle Haddam, Hadlyme, Salem and Lyme, and several other towns of minor importance. The three licentiates succeeded each other in regular rotation, so that each made the rounds in about six weeks. Meet- ings for praise and prayer were held, usually, in accordance with arrangements previously

made. It is not easy for the modern pew- owner, sitting on a cushion and kneeling on a carpeted bench, to understand the self-sacri- fice which these early servants of the Lord freely offered to their Master, or to compre- hend the difficulties which attended their early ministrations. Occasionally church buildings furnished a suitable place for worship, but more often meetings were held in private homes, school houses and barns, and not in- frequently, when the weather permitted, in the open air. The circuit riders were necessarily men of earnest piety, shrewd judgment, genial manners and a forceful manner of speech, and were men void of ostentation, content with scanty fare, but deeply imbued with a true missionary spirit, and to whom self-sacri- fice was the law of life. Such a man was the Rev. Thomas Gibson Brown, through whose ministrations hundreds were brought into the Church. Indeed, in one year in par- ticular so numerous were the conversions that it was long mentioned as "the year of the Great Revival." Among the earliest and most earnest supporters of this movement in East Hampton were Amasa Daniels and his wife, Mary Shepard, and when the young revivalist decided to marry, it was their daughter, Caro- line Maria Daniels, that he chose for a wife. He lived to attain a green and vigorous old age, and when sixty-four years old was commis- sioned chaplain of the Twenty-first Connecticut Volunteers, accompanied the regiment to the field, and served until the end of the Civil war. After his return to East Hampton he led a re- tired life, seldom preaching, and it was from that town that he passed to his reward on March 31, 1885. He was bitterly opposed to slavery, and in politics was at first a Demo- crat and afterward a Republican. His wife was born December 28, 1808, and she died March 10, 1892. Three sons and a daughter were born to them: Henry B. and Delos D. are both referred to farther on; Eben Plum- mer lost his life from disease contracted in his country's service soon after the close of the Civil war; Caroline B. (widow of the late Fred W. H. Buell) was for thirteen years the corresponding secretary of the National Women's Christian Temperance Union, and is now residing in East Hampton.

HENRY BASCOM BROWN was born July 5, 1833, in Middleboro, Mass., and received a

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collegiate education at Wesleyan University in the class of 1859. The slender income of his father was not sufficient to meet the entire expense of this course of training, and the young student was forced to rely, in great measure, upon his own efforts. He taught school and reported the proceedings of the Legislature for the Hartford and New Haven daily papers, and in other ways managed to obtain the funds necessary to complete the prescribed curriculum. His original inten- tion had been to enter the profession of law, but after leaving school he drifted into jour- nalism. For a time he followed this pursuit at St. Louis, Mo., and then returning to Con- necticut he became city editor of the Hartford Evening Press, later he was connected with the Republican of Middletown, and with pa- pers in New Haven and Hartford. In 1863. he was appointed assistant paymaster in the United States Navy, and assigned to duty in the Atlantic and Gulf squadrons. In 1865, the war having come to an end, he came back to Connecticut, and engaged in business in New Haven, as a manufacturer of machinery. After a few years he removed his plant to East Hampton, where he has since resided, actively engaged in the manufacture of ma- chinery for making screws and bolts.

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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 76

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