USA > Connecticut > New Haven County > Commemorative biographical record of New Haven county, Connecticut, containing biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens and of many of the early settled families, V. I, Pt 2 > Part 76
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His honeymoon was spent in Peekskill, N. Y., where he easily found employment which he kept for four months, accepting then a position with the Beers & Hanover Carriage Manufacturing Co. in New Haven, Conn., coming to that city in October, 12(1). For two years he continued with this com- pany, doing some of the most satisfactory work that had ever been turned out from this large establish- ment, although he was still young in years. His next business connection was with Durham & Woos- ter in the manufacture of sidebar buggies; these vehicles being new at that time, his work, on account of his thorough knowledge, was confined to the finest product of the firm. For seven years he re- mained with this firm, going then into the employ of Osborne & Adriance, for two years doing their most particular work. For a short time he gave his services to the firm of Brockett & Dorman, returning then to his former employers, Durham & Wooster, where he continued until the financial panic which was so seriously felt in industrial circles, resulting in the severing of his business relations with this firm.
Mr. Aubry then went to Quincy, Ill., and en- gaged in work for the firm of E. N. Miller & Co., serving as foreman, but three months later returned, at their urgent request, to Durham & Wooster, in New Haven. This last association with this firm continued for one and one-half years, and then for a few months his talents were given to the firm of Brockett & Tuttle, and immediately after he became foreman in the responsible firm of Henry Hale & Co., remaining here for the space of seven years.
This long business association with reputable and well-established firms thoroughly prepared Mr. Aubry to embark in business for himself, and he made his start in March, 1888, with a capital of $19, hiring a fire in the works of Beers & Hanover. I kis success was such that in January, 1899, he was able to hire the building of his former employers, Osborne & Adriance, and three years later his orders had increased to such a degree that larger quarters were required, and he then leased his present build- ing at No. 139 Park street. From this small be- ginning and insignificant cash capital Mr. Aubry by strictly attending to his business and by pro- ducing work superior to that of competitors, has won a place in the front rank of carriage manufac- turers, no other firm successfully competing in the line of his specialty, that of the manufacture of fashionable carriages. His business has extended in every direction and has been a source of prosper- ity in many homes, Mr. Aubry employing a very large force in his factory.
Mr. Aubry is gifted in many ways, being not only a skilled mechanic, but also so accurate a draughtsman that his sketches are in the greatest demand for the trade magazines, although he never took a lesson in mechanical drawing in his life. Added to this technical knowledge Mr. Aubry is a keen man of business, quite able to handle large en-
terprises and manage vast interests. At the time he located in New Haven there were thirty-five mann- facturing plants in his line, his successful competi- tion crowding out in this short time all but ten of these. The business of the L. J. Aubry Carriage Manufacturing Co. includes the construction of all kinds of carriages, wagons, automobiles and similar vehicles, these being made ready for trimmings and painting, and his product is shipped all over the country. The correctness and excellence of his carriage drawings have not only given him an en- viable prominence in the trade, but have been of substantial value, bringing him many prizes.
On June 22, 1871, Lee Joseph Aubry was mar- ried to Miss Alzina Castell, of Troy, N. Y., a daughter of Benjamin and Margaret Castell, and the children born to this union were: Charles G., born May 30, 1872, is a carriage painter, located in Erie, Pa .; on Dec. 25, 1900, he was married to Miss Josephine Hunt. Arthur L., born in New Ha- ven, died there Dec. 16, 1892. Alice was married in September, 1897, to Frank Cargill, bookkeeper for the New Haven Baking Co., and they have two children, Dexter and Valorie. Benjamin, a travel- ing salesman, was married to Miss Ruby Bean, and their one child died in infancy. Estelle, Lilian, Mable and Wilfred are all at home.
While Mr. Aubry is a successful manufacturer he is also much more. For many years he has been a leading member of the Methodist Church, liber- ally contributing to its charities, and although not an active politician he ardently supports the Repub- lican party and lives up to the highest ideals of cit- izenship. Fraternally he has long been an active member of Davenport Council, No. 700, Royal Ar- canum, of New Haven, and is past chancellor of Ezel Lodge, No. 2, Knights of Pythias. Few men can point to more substantial returns or wider use- fulness in so short a time as can Mr. Aubry, and the city of New Haven cherishes a feeling of pride in his success and prominence.
JOHN EDWARD ROGERS, a successful agri- culturist of the town of Milford, was born in that town May 6, 1834, and is a member of a well-known family of the locality.
Joseph Rogers, our subject's grandfather, was a native of Milford, and made his permanent home on a farm in that town. He married Jane Smith, and had three children: Mary, deceased, who never married ; Joseph, our subject's father ; and Nancy, who married William Nettleton, of Milford, and had a son, Joseph W., now a prominent resident of the town.
Joseph Rogers (2), our subject's father, was born in Milford in February, 1792, and was always engaged in farming at the homestead. Politically he was a Whig, and in religious faith he and his estimable wife were Congregationalists. He died in 1853. His wife, Anna Nettleton, daughter of Benajah Nettleton, of Milford, was born in the
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town of Milford, in September, 1801, and died Jan. 31, 1892. They had the following children: Eliza- beth A., deceased, who never married; Charles J., who died at the age of forty-two, unmarried; John Edward, our subject ; George E., deceased, a farmer at the homestead ; Mary A., a resident of Milford; and Theodore H., deceased, who never married.
Jolın E. Rogers began his education in the dis- trict schools of Milford and at sixteen years of age entered the Milford high school. He has been en- gaged in farming all his life, and his farm of eighty acres is a part of the old homestead, which con- tained 300 acres. On Oct. 2, 1861, he married Miss Charlotte L. Plumb, of Milford, daughter of Ly- man Plumb, a joiner of that town. She died Jan. 28, 1886, leaving no children, and on June 6, 1888, Mr. Rogers married Miss Ella Wilcox, daughter of Russell Wilcox, a native of Cromwell, Conn. Mr. Rogers is influential in a quiet way in local affairs, and is a member of the Grange and of the Congre- gational Church of Milford. In politics he is a stanchi Republican.
WALTER HENRY TWITCHELL is one of the representative public-spirited and progressive citizens and business men of Naugatuck, who has won success through his own assiduity, intellect and industry, to which has been joined a sturdy and unquestioned integrity.
Robert Twitchell, his father, was born in Ox- ford, and passed the greater part of his life in Naugatuck, where he died when his son Walter was a lad of ten years. He married Jennette Clark, who was born in Prospect, New Haven county, in which town her father, Amos Clark, was a. well-to-do farmer. Three. sons were born to them, Edward C., Walter H. and Robert C. Ed- ward C. conducts a meat market in Union City, town of Naugatuck, and Robert C. is a farmer in Prospect, living in the old Clark homestead, where his mother was born and where she passed the days of her girlhood. Robert Twitchell was a Demo- crat in politics. Both he and his wife were mem- bers of the Episcopal Church.
Walter Henry Twitchell was born in Nauga- tuck Oct. 17, 1858. He attended the local schools until he reached the age of fifteen years, when he went to reside with an uncle on a farm near Syra- cuse, N. Y., going to school during the winter months. After four years spent thus he returned to Naugatuck, and for a time worked as a farm hand there, finally entering the employ of Fremont W. Tolles, an undertaker and furniture dealer, who also carried a general line of carpets and house furnishing goods of every description. In Jan- uary, 1897, Mr. Twitchell bought the business from Mr. Tolles, and has since conducted it alone. To its management he brought a thorough familiarity of · every detail, a power of mental concentration and sound business sense. It is not surprising, there- fore, that he has succeeded. To enterprise he has
joined conservatism, and to sagacity unfailing courtesy. His establishment occupies the fine brick building at Nos. 132-134-136 Church street, is well stocked, and his goods are tastefully arranged.
On June 15, 1882, Mr. Twitchell married Miss Addie Richards, of Wethersfield. No children have been born to them. Mr. and Mrs. Twitchell attend the Congregational Church. His political affiliations are with the Republican party. In private life he is social, and readily makes and keeps friends. He is a member of the I. O. R. M .; and is a Mason of high degree, belonging to Shep- herd's Lodge, No. 78, A. F. & A. M .; Allerton Chapter, No. 39, R. A. M .; Clark Commandery, No. 7, K. T., of Waterbury ; and Pyramid Temple, of Bridgeport.
JOHN N. LEONARD, contractor and also mason and builder, well-known and valucd in New Haven, was born in that city Jan. 24, 1842, son of Linus H. and Maria (Burwell) Leonard, the for- mer of whom was born in Charlestown, Mass., in 1809, and the latter a daughter of Daniel Burwell, who died in Barkhamsted; both he and his wife lived to be over eighty years of age, and ten of their thirteen children also reached that age. Linus Leonard removed first to Springfield, Mass .. and then to Westville, where he was connected with the hardware firm of Blake Brothers, and in that place he died at the age of sixty-three. His widow sur- vived until Feb. 3, 1890. Both had been active and earnest members of the : Methodist Episcopal Church, in which Mr. Leonard was a steward and class-leader.
John N. Leonard was the only survivor of a family of three children. His education was ob- tained in the schools of Westville and at West Rock Seminary, and after finishing his course he learned the trade of mason with N. D. Sperry. This was interrupted by his enlistment for service in the Civil war in Company E, 15th Conn. V. I., in 1862. His devotion to his country cost him three years of his life, during which he saw some hard service. At Kinston, N. C., he was captured and incarcerated in Libby Prison for a short time. When discharged he held the rank of sergeant.
Upon his return to New Haven Mr. Leonard worked as a journeyman for a season, and then went to Rockville, where he spent three years, going back to New Haven and again taking up his trade as a journeyman. In 1885 he began contracting and building and has continued in active work ever since, his business being continually on the increase. In one year he built and sold twenty houses and also did much other building and improving. So thor- oughly does Mr. Leonard understand his business, and so faithfully does he carry out his contracts, that he has gained much of the best custom in the city, his patrons numbering among the wealthiest and most exacting of the citizens.
On Aug. 4, 1869, Mr. Leonard was married to
father A. Surichie
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Miss Martha F. Pardee, a daughter of William L. Pardee, a farmer and mechanic, who was born in Madison, Conn., and grew up in Oxford, and to this union has been born: Harry A., in business with his father, married Bertha E. Gorham, and has one child, Janice; Susie May and Grace Abigail are graduates of both high and private schools; and Jennie E., who died in childhood.
Fraternally Mr. Leonard is connected with F. & A. M., Olive Branch Lodge, No. 84, Chapter and Council, of New Haven, and Commandery, up to the 32d degree, having been connected with the Ma- sonic order for twenty-five years. Mr. Leonard also has membership with the O. U. A. M., the Red Men, the Royal Arcanum, the Heptasophs and the A. O. U. W. The family attends the Methodist Church, to which Mr. Leonard is a generous con- tributor. For a number of years he was a member of the Governor's Foot Guards. Mr. Leonard built the Westville Methodist Church and donated a me- morial window in memory of his parents.
SAMUEL B. BRONSON, for many years a capable and trustworthy carpenter and builder in Ansonia, where he has a cozy and attractive home at No. 56 Franklin street, was born in Middlebury Jan. 24, 1828. -
Jared Bronson, his father, was also a native of Middlebury, where his grandfather, Thaddeus Bron- son, was also born. Both father and grandfather were engaged in the tanning business. Jared Bron- son lived to be eighty-four years old. He was mar- ried to Lydia Mallory, a daughter of Thomas Mal- lory, and both father and daughter were natives of Middlebury, where he was engaged in farming. Es- ther ( Benham) Mallory, her mother, had eight chil- dren. Jared and Lydia Bronson were the parents of four children, of whom two are living: Lewis, who is living in Middlebury, and Samuel B. Both Mr. and Mrs. Bronson attended the Congregational Church.
Samuel B. Bronson spent the first twenty years of his life in Middlebury where he attended the local schools and secured a very good education, which was supplemented by a course at Woodbury Acad- emy. When he came to a suitable age he was ap- prenticed to the carpenter's trade and served three years under instruction, becoming quite proficient, and when his term of apprenticeship was up he be- gan contracting and building on his own account. and for some years was a resident of Middlebury. Then he removed to Waterbury where he spent three years at his work. After some time in Plymouth, he in 1865 came to Ansonia and the next year opened a contracting and building business, in which he was actively engaged until 1806. In 1869 he formed a partnership with Mr. Barnes and the two continued together for a number of years. Mr. Bronson is the oldest builder in this section. having been in the business forty-five years. In his career he has had to do with the building of many of the finest homes
in this part of the State, and in Ansonia alone he has built nearly two hundred houses. His advice and instruction as an expert in his business are still freely sought and heeded.
Mr. Bronson was married to Miss Mary J. Cas- tie, of Woodbury, a daughter of Seeley Castle. Mrs. Bronson is the only child of her parents now living and is herself the mother of a family of two chil- dren : Walter and Frederick. Mr. Bronson is a Republican in his political associations, but a strong . believer in prohibition. He has served on the board of burgesses and is a public-spirited citizen. He belongs to Naugatuck Lodge, I. O. O. F., and is a member of the Congregational Church, where he has been a deacon for some years and also superin- tendent of the Sunday-school. A very active part is taken by him in church and Sunday-school work.
WALTER BRONSON, noted above, was born in Woodbury Feb. 27, 1859, and was brought to An- sonia when he was five years old. He had his edu- cation in the high school and when fifteen years of age began life for himself as a clerk in a store in Middlebury. He was engaged in this fashion about nine months and then returned to Ansonia where he attended school a few months more and then began in the store where he is now found, clerking for H. C. Miles, with whom he remained eighteen years. At the end of this time he bought him out and since that transaction he has been in business for himself. Mr. Bronson is with one exception the longest in business of any man on the street. He carries a large stock of foreign and domestic goods. and employs three clerks to meet the demands of a very large and profitable trade. The store which he occupies has been entirely remodeled and it is to- day one of the most attractive on Main street.
Walter Bronson was married in 1883 to Miss. Anna French, born in Ansonia. Her mother was Harriet Johnson before her marriage and is still living. Mr. Bronson is a stanch Republican and in local affairs votes for the best man. He is a mem- ber of the Masonic fraternity and is affiliated with Washington Lodge, F. & A. M .. and Mt. Vernon Chapter. He also belongs to the Naugatuck Lodge, I. O. O. F., the Ancient Order of Heptasophs, the New England Order of Protection, and is also a member of the Board of Trade. He is an attendant at the Congregational Church and belongs to the Ansonia Club.
BENJAMIN HUBBELL is a wide-awake and energetic business man of Derby, New Haven county, where for a quarter of a century he has suc- cessfully conducted a livery stable. He was born in the town of Wilton, Fairfield Co., Conn., Nov. 20. 1841. and is a representative of an old and highly re- spected family of that county. His grandfather. Nathan Hubbell, spent his entire life in Wilton, his time and attention being devoted to agricultural pur- suits.
Wakeman Hubbell, father of Benjamin, was
46
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COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
born in the same house where our subject's birth occurred and remained on the old homestead en- gaged in farming throughout life. He was quite a prominent man of his. town and was known as Deacon Hubbell. He married Miss Julia Ann Lynes, a native of Ridgebury, town of Danbury, Fairfield county, and a daughter of Benjamin Lynes, of that town. Four children were born of this union, namely: Henry L., who is a Doctor of Divinity and followed the ministry at one time, is now presi- dent of Lake Charles College, Louisiana; James W., who was also a Doctor of Divinity, died in Mansfield, Ohio; Stephen is engaged in the insur- ance business in Des Moines, Iowa ; and Benjamin is our subject.
Benjamin Hubbell spent his boyhood on the home farm in Wilton and was fitted for college un- der. Prof. Edward Olmstead. He began his busi- ness career as a drug clerk in Hartford. Conn., which position he filled for some time and later stud- ied medicine with Dr. Samuel Lynes, of Norwalk, for about three years, after which he took a course of lectures at the College of Physicians and Sur- geons, of New York City. and was graduated at the institution in 1862. "Mr. Hubbell then operated the home farm until coming to Derby, in 1871. He en- gaged in the grocery business in East Derby for about four years, and has since devoted his time and attention to the livery business.
In 1864 Mr. Hubbell was united in marriage with Miss Alice Marvin, of Wilton, a daughter of Charles Marvin, a prominent man of that place, who was a member of the State Legislature severa! ternis and also served as bank commissioner. Our subject and his wife have two sons: Henry M., who is engaged in the lumber business in Derby : and Benjamin, who was graduated from Yale in 1897, and is now a teacher of languages in the Derby high school. Mr. Hubbell and his family are members of the Congregational Church and are quite prominent in the community where they re- side. 'Politically he is a stanch supporter of the Re- publican party: has served as alderman from the Third Ward of Derby for two years; was select- man one year, in 1898; is at present one of the as- sessors and is also a representative to the Legisla- ture. He is a man of recognized ability, is genial and pleasant in manner and is quite popular both in business and political circles.
FRANK R. STILLMAN, the well-known far- mer and dairyman of Meriden, was born June 9, 1847. on the Stillman homestead at Beach Hill, in Colebrook, and is a descendant of one of the old and honorable families of Connecticut.
There was a coat of arms issued to Stillman, of Steeple Ashton, Wiltshire, England, on May 6. 1552, having a camel's head and a crest. Rev. John Stillman was a chaplain in Cromwell's army. He was opposed to beheading Charles I, but was in favor of dethroning him. George Stillman, the
founder of the family in America, was a native of London, England, where he was born in 1654, a son of a London merchant. George also became a mer- chant. The Stillmans were supporters of Oliver Cromweil during the days of the Commonwealth. Upon the restoration of Charles II George was forced, for safety, to assume another name, selecting that of Pritchard or Piccering. His marriage to Lady Jane Piccering occurred in London, where his son. George, was born. Those were times of storm and stress and many of the Cromwell supporters found it necessary to emigrate secretly to America. This was the case with Mr. Stillman, and in 1680, leaving little George with friends in London he, with his wife, set out on the voyage to the free land across the ocean, but this Mrs. Stillman never reached, her death occurring before land was sighted. Mr. Stillman located at Hadley. Mass., and in 1685 he there married Rebecca Smith. Later he removed to Wethersfield, Conn., and there spent the remainder of his days, dying in 1728, and his remains lie in the old cemetery there with the dust of so many other early settlers. George Stillman and his second wife were the parents of ten chil- dren : Nathaniel ; Benjamin : John; Henry; Mar- tha; Rebecca; and others whose names are un- known. George, the son of the first marriage, whom Mr. Stillman left in England, came later to America with a party of Seven Day Baptists and settled in Rhode Island.
John Stillman, son of George, was born in Hadley: Mass .. Feb. 19, 1693, and removed to Wethersfield, Conn., with his parents, where he spent the remainder of his days engaged in farming. A prominent citizen and a deacon in the church he died full of years in 1775 and was buried in Weth- ersfield. On May 26, 1715, he married Mary Wol- cott. who was born May 14, 1694, and died in 1777, a daughter of Mrs. Judith Wolcott and a granddaughter of Samuel Appleton, of Wethers- field. Their union was blessed with eleven children : John, Rebecca, May, Abigail. Martha, Sarah. Elisha, Abigail (2), Appleton, Huldah and Benjamin.
John Stillman, son of Deacon John. was born1 Aug. 19, 1717, in Wethersfield, where he grew to manhood and where he married Oct. 26, 1738. Ra- chel Robbins, a daughter of Richard and Martha (Curtis) Robbins, of Wethersfield. In 1757 he re- moved with his wife and family to Sandisfield. Berkshire Co., Mass., where he spent the remainder of his days and died July 15, 1782. His widow re- moved to Colebrook. Litchfield Co., Conn., where she died July 12, 1807, at the age of eighty-nine years and was buried in the old cemetery there. John Stillman was one of the founders of the church in Sandisfield. The children born to John and Rachel Stillinan were: Josiah, Sept. 16. 1739; Hannah, Feb. 13, 1741 ; John, Jan. 16, 1743 ; Joshua ; Roger: Appleton ; and Robert.
Roger Stillman, son of John, was born July 4, 1754, in Wethersfield, where he grew to manhood.
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He then removed to Sandisfield, Mass., where he enlisted. Roger Stillman was one of the first to enlist in the Continental army for service in the Revolutionary war, and he participated in the battle of Bunker Hill and many other engagements, fin- ally being honorably discharged at Lake Champlain. In 1780 he located at Colebrook where he spent the remainder of his days, dying Dec. 8, 1832, and on the morning of the dark day he was engaged in building his house. Both his name and that of his wife occur among the founders of the Congrega- tional Church in Colebrook, in 1705. He married Mehitable Hurd, who was born March 4, 1757. in Killingworth, now Clinton. Conn., and died in Colebrook Ang. 24, 1828, and there her remains are laid to rest. She was the mother of ten children. five of whom were sons: William, Deacon Daniel, Osburn, Edmund and Chester.
Chester Stillman, son of Roger, was born in Colebrook, Conn., April 9, 1797, on a farm, one- half mile south of the main road. Mr. Stillman be- came a land owner and farmer in Colebrook and built a house there in 1825 and he was buried in Stillman's cemetery in Colebrook. On Dec. 10, 1815. he united with the church and was appointed deacon in 1838. On March 2, 1820, he was married to Clarissa Esther De Wolf, of French ancestry. who was born Aug. 1, 1797, at Otis, Mass., and died May 14, 1864. and was laid to rest in Stillman's cemetery. Eight children were born to this union, four of whom were sons: Edwin C., Dorwin E., Lester R. and Collins L.
Edwin C. Stillman, the father of Frank R. Still- man, was born in Colebrook. in the Beach Hill dis- trict, Sept. 14, 1821, and grew to manhood in his native home, following the life of an agriculturist. Later, with his family, he moved to Southington. Conn., where he settled down to farming and dairy- ing and spent the balance of his life, dying June 6, 1895, and was buried in Southington. Mr. Stillman was a consistent member of the Congregational Church, liberal-minded and progressive, a most worthy citizen and an exemplary father and hus- band. In politics he was a Republican but was never an office seeker.
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