Commemorative biographical record of Middlesex County, Connecticut : containing biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens, and of many of the early settled families, Part 80

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 80

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

RICHARD DAVIS. Success and prom- inence in life are rarely attained in these mod- ern days by the possession of a single excel- lent trait of character. A variety of admir- able and telling qualities is essential. Indus- try avails little unless results are produced. It is a characteristic of Richard Davis, than whom there is no better known farmer and dairyman in Middlesex county, that, take him as you will, in his lines of farming he is ever ready for emergencies, and invariably secures the best possible results.

Mr. Davis is a descendant of Solomon

Davis, who is said to have been the first of this branch of the family to settle in Middlesex, county. He came from Guilford, and set- tled in what is now Pea Ridge, in the town of Killingworth, December 28, 1709. Richard is a son of Lewis T. and Sarah ( Burr) Da- vis, whose family and ancestry are mentioned. more fully elsewhere. Mr. Davis is one of the most extensive and successful farmers in Middlesex county, his large dairy farm, situated in the West Long Hill District, of the town of Middletown, on the Durham pike, and about three miles south of the city of Middletown, being the model, as well as the most extensive, dairy farm of the county.

Richard Davis was born in North Killing- worth May 27, 1848, and attended the com- mon schools until he was seventeen years old, and then, for six months, worked in the Branford Lock Works, in New Haven coun- ty. He was a natural born mechanic, and made, dressed and tempered his own tools. At the request of two of his maternal uncles, Jabez and Henry Burr, who were engaged in mechanical work in New Britain, Hartford county, Richard went to that city, and was employed in the lock factory of Russell & Erwin for one year, when his health began to fail, and it was found needful that he should seek outdoor employment. He was offered a foreman's position to remain, but the laws of health were imperative, and he returned to his father's home, where he passed that winter and spring. On June 10, 1869, he accepted the position of manager of the farm of Rich- ard Atkins, and he now owns the place, which is known as the "Oak Grove Dairy Farm,"' and on which he has handled from fifty to one hundred cows, according to the season.

Richard Davis married, October 17, 1871, Miss Annie T. Atkins, a native of West Long Hill, born September 10, 1839, only child of Richard and Melinda ( Edwards) Atkins, of whom full mention is made elsewhere. The marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Davis was blessed with five children, namely: Mary Gray, born January 27, 1873, is a music teacher. Sarah Edwards, born October 4, 1874, is the wife of Robert Hubbard, a farmer and fruit grower in Johnson Lane; she taught school before her marriage ; they have one child, Har- riet Fairchild, born September 9, 1902. Grace Atkins, born July 14, 1876, is Mrs. Richard

Richard Stavis

439

COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

Ackerman, and has one child, Annie Davis, born June 13, 1901. Alice Hubbard, born February 3, 1879, married Frederick Harris; they have had one child, Alice Marion, born December 3, 1899, who died aged seven months. William Atkins, born September 7, 1882, died April 6, 1883. The children of this family who attained mature years were edu- cated in the district and private schools.

Mr. Davis is a Democrat, and served eight consecutive years on the board of select- men, with such colleagues as S. M. Bacon, C. G. Harris, Martin Loveland and Frederick Tryon. He was one of the foremost in re- organizing the Pine Grove Burial Associa- tion, and has been its president ever since. He is a member of Middletown Grange, and has held several offices therein, including three terms as master; he declined a fourth. As master he succeeded Charles Fairchild, the founder of that branch of the Patrons of Hus- bandry. Mr. Davis is also a member of the Connecticut State Pomological Society, and of the Connecticut Dairymen's Association, of which latter he is a director. Socially he is a member of the K. of P. Lodge at Middle- town. He and his wife attend and liberally contribute to the Methodist Church of Middle- town; their elder children are members of the same society.

Mr. Davis is emphatically the "architect of his own fortune," or, in other words, is a self-made man, in the business sense of the term. He is a thorough farmer, is practical in every respect, a hard worker, and an ex- cellent manager. He is always personally at- tentive to his farm. He has made most ex- tensive improvements on the place, including roomy and first-class barns, and employs a number of men the year round, working about as hard as any of them. He is always ready to assist in any enterprise that might be of benefit to the community. Sometimes his gen- erosity is imposed upon, yet his good nature prevents his worrying over such impositions. He is happy in the family circle, and delights in the society of his wife and children.

JAMES COWAN, for a number of years one of the most respected residents of Middle- town, Middlesex county, came of sturdy Scot- tish stock, a type suggestive of the highest or- der of citizenship, and he had few, if any,

compatriots who surpassed him in downright industry, rigid economy and wise manage- ment. He was a remarkable man, and had ideas distinctively his own which sometimes seemed strange, but the wisdom of which was made apparent in the results. He was a simple and plain man in appearance, and one who de- spised vulgar show and ostentation, yet he was an unusual man in many respects. His success in life and his business ability early lifted him above the crowd, and his personal characteristics sustained him in a difficult po- sition.

The Cowan family had its early home in Ayrshire, Scotland, and the parents of James Cowan lived and died in that country. They were people of good standing in their com- munity. His father, who also bore the name of James, married a widow, Mrs. James Brown, daughter of John Reid. By her first husband she had one child, Jane, who married Hugh Sanders, in Scotland, where she was left a widow ; she is still living, having her home in Middletown, Conn. James and Jane ( Reid) Cowan liad five children, of whom James, the subject of this sketch is the eldest; Sarah mar- ried and lives in Scotland; Maggie married William Robb, and died in West Long Hill, Conn .; Charles died in the old country ; and Janet married, and is living in South Ash- burnham, Massachusetts.

James Cowan was born in Ayrshire, Scot- land, and was a hierder in youth. His early ed- ucation was limited, but while watching his flocks, he had his books before lini, and learned much in that way. His earnings were small but he saved them, and presently bought a little land which he sold, and with the pro- ceeds came to America in 1849. As a young man he could see that his future, if spent in his native land, meant long, hard work and poor returns. He did not inform his people of his destination until he reached this coun- try. After working for a time in the South, and later in Canada, Mr. Cowan came to Portland, where he was employed in the quar- ries, and there he obtained his start. When his savings justified it, he bought a lot of eight acres, at East Long Hill, on which there was no building but a barn, part of which he fitted up for himself, continuing to work at Portland. When he had established a home he sent to Scotland for his married sister, Mrs. Robb,

440

COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

and her husband, and later for his half-sister, Mrs. Hugh Sanders, who came with her four children, Mary, Thomas, John and Jennie, and for several years they lived with him. Mr. Cowan bought land at different times, and in time came to own considerable real estate. He bought the "Guernsey Hubbard Farm," which he carried on most successfully, securing re- turns that stamped him as an excellent man- ager and brought him affluence.

On November 19, 1884, James Cowan married Miss Margaret Kurt, who was born in Middletown August 19, 1863, daughter of Michael and Catherine (Plumb) Kurt, who came from Germany. They were born near Frankfort-on-the-Main, and Mr. Kurt was a well educated man. He died in Middletown at the age of sixty-three years, in 1894, and his wife died in April, 1899, at the age of sixty- seven. They were the parents of six children, of whom Franklin T. Kurt is professor of science in the Chauncy Hall School, Boston ; Richard Kurt is a farmer in Middlefield.

James Cowan passed away July 2, 1888, at about sixty-five years of age, and is buried in Pine Grove cemetery. To him and his wife came one child, James Franklin, who was born July 21, 1886. After the death of her husband Mrs. Cowan remained on the homestead five years, and then removed to Middletown, where she now lives. She belongs to the Episcopal Church. One of Mr. Cowan's most lovable characteristics was a modest generosity which moved him to many acts of kindness unknown except to the recipients, as any parade of benevolence or publicity of his goodness was exceedingly distasteful to him. In' all his transactions he was as upright and straight- forward as it is possible for men to be, and he left a name unsullied by any unworthy word or deed.

ANTOINE BRAZOS, the senior mem- ber and founder of the firm of Brazos & Sons, Middletown, Middlesex county, is probably one of the best examples of a self-made man which that city presents at the present time. When all the circumstances of his history are considered, his early life and lack of educa- tional advantages, and his beginning life afresh in a strange country, it is doubtful if a parallel case can be found in all Connecticut. A man's success in life ought not to be de-

termined by the heights to which he has climbed, but by the depths from which he arose.

Mr. Brazos was born at Pico, in the Azores, August 15, 1826, of Portugese extraction. His parents, Joseph and Rosa Brazos, were both natives of the Islands, and his father was a farmer. It was in that far-away corner of the earth that Antoine spent the first nineteen years of his life. There were no common schools for all the people, as is the rule in this country, in fact he had never seen an institution of that character until he came to the United States. His education has been gained in the great school of experience. When nine- teen years of age Mr. Brazos came to the United States, whither his brother had pre- ceded him, and had attained a good position as mate of the schooner "Smith D. Bellows," plying between the Connecticut river and coast points. Antoine made the voyage across the ocean on the bark "Azore," bound for Bos- ton. He landed in that city, expecting to find his brother Manuel. A shipwreck delayed his arrival, and Antoine was a stranger alone in the city, not able to speak one word of Eng- lish. His predicament was anything but pleasant. He secured work, however, on a vessel, and began a career as a sailor which lasted some seven or eight years. This was an eventful period in his history. He had many narrow escapes,and more than once was saved with but a fewi of the crew. One ship on which he was a sailor was wrecked on the extreme lower coast of Florida, and he with twjo companions were all that escaped death out of a crew of twelve men. At another time his ship was blown far out to sea and badly damaged, and for seven weeks the crew was without cooked food and suffered greatly from lack of water. Communication with his broth- er Manttel had long been established and that gentleman finally persuaded his brother to give up a seafaring life and come to Middletown. Manuel Brazos was one of the founders of the Hartford & New York Transportation Com- pany and was its general manager for a num- ber of years. He died in Hartford. Frank Brazos another older brother of Antoine, also came to the United States and died in Hart- ford when about forty years old.

Mr. Brazos began business in Middletown in 1854, and his beginning was a very mod-

441

COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

est one. He bought out Philo Clark in a stevedore business, and had three horses as his principal working force. In 1872 his business had so increased that he resolved to make still farther extension, and took on all kinds of con- tracting, such as raising sunken vessels, gen- eral trucking, railroad building and sewer con- struction, not only in Middletown, but any- where in New England. He gave up the steve- dore business a number of years ago, and as his sons became old enough he took them into business. At the present time the firm of Brazos & Sons is composed of the father and five sons, Joseph, Manuel A., Louis, John and George. Another son, Frank, is located in New Haven, engaged in a similar line. Brazos & Sons have a department of their business de- voted to ice in Middletown, which requires six wagons during the season. In Middletown they have constructed twenty-seven houses from start to finish, a magnificent record for the firm. Many thousands of dollars have passed through their hands as wages for their employes. The amount on their pay roll has been as much as $4,000 a month. The senior member of the firm has been particularly for- tunate in the ability possessed by all his sons, and their devotion to the business.

Antoine Brazos was married in 1855 to Miss Ann Neale, a native of County Carlow, Ireland, and a daughter of James Neale. They became the parents of a numerous family. Of those that lived to adult age, Eunice J. married W. W. Hulse, a real estate man of New York city, residing at Amityville, Long Island. Julia A. graduated from Wesleyan University, and is now a teacher in the Middletown high school. Joseph is a member of the firm, as mentioned above. Mary is a teacher in Mid- dletown, where she was, educated in the high school. Frank is a contractor at New Haven. Manuel A. is a member of the firm. Annie E. is a trained nurse at Hartford. Alice R. graduated from the Middletown high school in 1889. Louis belongs to the firm as do also John and George. Mr. Brazos has a beautiful home, at the corner of High and Loveland streets, which was built in 1890. He is a Re- publican politically, and attends the Episcopal Church. Mrs. Brazos passed away February 24, 1902, and was buried in Indian Hill ceme- tery.

CHARLES JARED HUBBARD, a rep- resentative farmer of the town of Middletown, Middlesex county, and a descendant of one of the oldest families in the State, was born February 22, 1846, in Wadesboro, N. C., while his parents were temporarily residing in the South.

The branch of the Hubbard family to which Charles Jared traces his lineage comes from George Hubbard, who was born in England in 1601, and founded the family in America. an elaborate record of which, under the head of the "Hubbard Family," is given elsewhere. Sketches of various other descendants of the original emigrant, George Hubbard, will also be found within the covers of this volume, and it will be necessary only to trace the line of Charles J. Hubbard to his grandfather, Asa Hubbard, in order to present an intelligible account of his connection with this old Mid- dletown family.

Asa Hubbard was born in the Hubbard District of Middletown, January 13, 1769, son of George (4) and Mary (Stocking) Hub- bard. On February 7, 1796, he married Polly Sears, who was born June 27, 1774. Shortly after his marriage he located on the now old homestead on Farm Hill, although he had been a sailor in his younger days, and was possessed of but a limited capital. But by hard work he secured a good home and reared his family of ten children in the most creditable manner. He was for years an active church member. His death took place January 26, 1837, and that of his wife September 17, 1861. Their ten children were: Hannah C., born May 20, 1797, assisted in rearing the younger members of the family, and died unmarried January 21, 1876. Asa, born May 10, 1800, married Sar- ah Ann Tryon, and died May 5, 1868. Me- hetable, born March 25, 1803, was married February 26, 1837, to Alfred Roberts a farm- er who sold a part of his land to the State on which was erected the Hospital for the In- sane; she died March 7. 1900. Elisha S., the fourth child, born April 13, 1805. was also a farmer and owned the land on which the Hos- pital for the Insane now stands, in fact it was his farm that was bought originally as a site for that institution : he married May 20, 1828, Lucretia Bidwell, and his death occurred March 4. 1881. Sally, born April 4. 1807.

442

COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

married September 12, 1833, Josiah Prior, a farmer in the Bow Lane District, and died December 5, 1866. Charles, born February 5, 1809, married Delia S. Birdsey, and died July 4, 1885. Jacob, born February 14, 1811, in early life went to Wadesboro, N. C., where he engaged in business; he died unmarried, in Brattleboro, Vt., March 9, 1874. George S., father of Charles Jared, will be spoken of in full in the next paragraph. Mary S., twin of George S., was married to Abner Roberts, whose life sketch is given elsewhere. Lucy Maria, born July 28, 1817, died January 2, 1902, at Middletown, Conn. ; she was married November 27, 1844, to Daniel Bidwell, a mer- chant in Wadesboro, N. C., where he died July 14, 1847. In 1850 she returned to Con- necticut and from that time until her death resided at the old Hubbard homestead, on Farm Hill. She was a noted woman, and one of the best known characters of her time, fond of a joke, an entertaining talker and had a large acquaintance. She was a devout fol- lower of the Universalist faith, and a truer Christian spirit could not be found than that which she displayed.

George Stocking Hubbard was born March 21, 1813, at

Farm Hill, town of Middletown, in the house formerly oc- cupied by his sister, Mrs. Lucy M. Bid- well. Until twenty years of age he lived on the old farm, attending, meanwhile, the district school, and then went South as a peddler. He was gifted with good, strong common sense, and from his father inherited habits of industry and economy, and he full well knew the value of a dollar. Success for him was inevitable. He soon abandoned his peregrinations, and entered into permanent trade as a merchant at Wadesboro, N. C., where he succeeded his brother Asa. His brother Elisha was a partner for some time, and then for a long time he carried on a very extensive business on his sole account; still later his brother-in-law, Shailer S. Arnold, was a partner, and ultimately his successor. After twenty years of absence Mr. Hubbard returned to Middletown, Conn., in 1854, and purchased a part of the homestead on Farm Hill, where he erected a handsome dwelling, residing there until he died, May 10, 1894, in the faith of the Episcopal Church.

Mr. Hubbard was originally a Whig in

politics, but on the organization of the Repub- lican party became one of its stanchest sup- porters, and was honored for his loyalty to its principles by being elected to the Connecticut Legislature in 1864. As a business man he had but few peers in the county. He was president for a number of years of the Shaler & Hall Quarry Company, of Portland, a di- rector in the Central National Bank, and trus- tee of the Middletown Savings Bank, as well as director in the Peoples Insurance Com- pany. Noted as a man of rare judg- ment in business and financial matters, his opinion carried weight and was con- sidered very valuable. His integrity was never questioned.

George S. Hubbard was married in Mid- dletown, September 4, 1839, to Elizabeth Ann Arnold, a native of Haddam, Conn., born April 18, 1811, daughter of Seth and Submit (Bailey) Arnold. Seven children crowned this union, namely : George A. Hubbard, born December 26, 1841, was educated in the Berlin Academy at Berlin, Hartford Co., Conn., and at the select school of Daniel H. Chase, in Middletown. At the age of sev- enteen years he went to Wadesboro, N. C., and was employed in the store of his mater- nal uncle, S. S. Arnold, as clerk, but as the indications of war became manifest he returned North and enlisted, in 1861, in Company B, Fourteenth Connecticut Infantry. He - was wounded at Gettysburg, Pa., and at Freder -: icksburg, Va., and after three years of gallant service was honorably discharged. For sev- eral years he engaged in the lumber business near Wilmington, S. C., and on his return to Connecticut became part owner in the San- seer Manufacturing Company, at South Farms, later carrying on a grocery store on Main street. For four years he was clerk in the Government service at Washington, D. C .; but at the death of his father, in 1894, he re- signed his clerkship and returned to the home- stead on Farm Hill, where he has since been engaged in farming. On July 27, 1863, George A. Hubbard married Caroline Mi. Thayer; no children have been born to this union.

John Jay Hubbard, the second child of George S. and Elizabeth Ann (Arnold) Hub- bard, was born August 17, 1843, at Wades- boro, and began his business career by deal-

443

COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

ing in real estate. He purchased large tracts of land in Middletown, opened new streets, and otherwise aided in the development of the city. Later he embarked in the tobacco trade, buying and selling the native product. For a number of years he was engaged in the grocery trade at South Farms, as senior member of the firm of Hubbard & Roberts. He has been prominently identified with the Middletown financial and business institutions. He was one of the incorporators of the Middletown Street Railroad Company and has been a director in the same; is also a director in the Central National Bank, and formerly was a director in the People's Fire Insurance Com- pany before that organization became defunct. In politics he is a Republican, and at present is a member of the board of county commis- sioners. He married Katie E. Hale, who was born February 13, 1849, daughter of Carlos Hale, and died February 19, 1895, leaving two children, George E. and John Frederick.

Seth S. Hubbard, third in the family of George S. Hubbard, was born January 8, 1845, and died unmarried May 1, 1889.

Charles Jared Hubbard, the fourth, is men- tioned below.

Helen M. Hubbard was born May 3, 1849, and died July 4, 1850.

Ann E. Hubbard, the sixth, born May 15, 1851, never married, and died January 17, 1902.

Le Roy Hubbard, the youngest of the seven, was born May 5, 1854, and is a farmer in the town of Middletown. On October 16, 1878, he married Ida Prior, daughter of John and Charlotte (Jones) Prior, and to this union have been born six children, in the following order : Charlotte E., September 29, 1879; Helen P., November 9, 1881; Edith A., July 9, 1884: John L., September 25, 1886; Seth S., December 30, 1888; and Eunice L., December 13, 1891.

Charles Jared Hubbard came to Middle- town, Conn., from Wadesboro, N. C., in 1854. accompanied by his parents. He was educated in the Farm Hill district school, the Middle- town high school, and Daniel H. Chase's Acad- enry, and at the Eastman Business College, in Poughkeepsie, N. Y., graduating from the last named institution in 1865. He then entered the employ of Finkle & Lyon, of Middletown, as clerk, for a year, and in 1866 went to Kan-

sas City, Mo., with the intention of settling, but remained there a short time only. Return- ing to Middletown, he was for two years book- keeper and clerk for Hubbard & Roberts, of South Farms. In 1869 he purchased his pres- ent farm of thirty acres, and has since been successfully engaged in general farming.

Charles J. Hubbard was married June 3, 1869, to Martha Stowe Bacon, a native of Middlefield, born November 26, 1849, daugh- ter of George W. and Phebe C. ( Birdsey ) Ba- con. This union has been blessed with five children, viz. : (1) Henry B., born March 10, 1870, graduated from Storrs' Agricultural College in 1888, and is now first assistant auditor for the United States Rubber Trust Company, with residence in Brooklyn, N. Y .; he was married June 22, 1892, to Angie Chamberlain. (2) Amy A., born October 5, 1873, was married October 2, 1895, to Henry H. Avery, of New London, who is manager at Utica, N. Y., for a branch house of Nelson Morris & Company, the famous meat packers of Chicago; to Mr. and Mrs. Avery have been born four children-Frances H., July 22, 1896; Lucy B., January 1, 1898; Henry H., Jr., March 31, 1899; and Charles H., August 26, 1900. (3) Arnold B., born December 8, 1879, is foreman of the brass casting department of the Holmes, Booth & Haydens factory, at Waterbury, Conn. (4) George S., born No- vember 26, 1884, and (5) Alice B., born June 28, 1887, are still at home.

Mr. Hubbard is a Republican, and for seven years served as assessor, five years con- secutively. He and his wife are members of Mattabessett Grange, of which Mr. Hubbard was master in 1899; his wife has twice been lecturer in the same, having been the first mem- ber to act in that capacity. Mr. and Mrs. Hub- bard and their two elder children are members of the Episcopal Church, and live strictly up to its teachings.

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

Commemorative biographical record of Middlesex County, Connecticut : containing biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens, and of many of the early settled families, Part 80

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