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 3 > Part 43
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1901, he was extensively engaged in general farm- ing, dairying and stock raising, owning and operat- ing a fine farm of eighty-seven acres, which he placed under a high state of cultivation. When he left the farm in 1901 he moved to Centerville, and is now living retired.
On Nov. 21, 1854, in Hamden, Mr. Phelps was united in marriage with Miss Nancy Gorham, a native of that town and a daughter of William and Lucretia (Dorman) Gorham. For the past thirty years she has been an invalid, having lost the use of her limbs by locomotor ataxia, but she bears her suffering with great patience. Mr. and Mrs. Phelps had two children: (1) Cora E., born Dec. 21, 1857, was married on Jan. 6. 1876, to Luther C. Phelps, and they have one child, Emma Pinney, born June 3, 1888. Luther C. Phelps died Jan. 23, 1890, and his widow now lives at home with her parents. (2) Charles J., the younger child of our subject, was born Nov. 5, 1875, and died the same month.
Mr. Phelps is a supporter of the Democratic party, and has served as a member of the board of relief and as justice of the peace. He is a. broad- minded man and liberal in his religious views, and he attends the Episcopal Church. Fraternally he is a member of Hamden Grange, and he gives an earnest support to every enterprise which he be- lieves calculated to advance the moral, intellectual or material welfare of his town and county. He is therefore numbered among the useful and valued citizens, and is well and favorably known.
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THEODORE BRISTOL. a well-known busi- ness man of Milford. New Haven county, was born in that town Feb. 18, 1837, son of Johnson and Elizabeth (Davidson) Bristol. His family has been identified with Milford from an early date, his grandfather, Jehial Bristol, who attained the ad- vanced age of ninety-four years, having been a farmer and shoemaker there. This worthy pioneer married Miss Martha Beecher, a native of Orange, New Haven Co., Conn., for his first wife, and they had children as follows: Miranda, who married John Welch, of Milford: Clarinda, who died in childhood ; Willis, who conducted a wholesale and retail shoe business in New Haven until his death, and was a prominent man in local politics as a member of the Whig and Republican parties ; John- son, our subject's father ; and Martha C., who mar- ried William Thomas, of Fair Haven, an oyster dealer. By his second wife, Flavid, daughter of Dr. Austin, also of Milford. Jehial Bristol had two children : Hiram, a shoemaker by trade, who died in New Haven: and Lucia, who married Samuel Sanford, son of Capt. William Sanford, of Milford.
Johnson Bristol, our subject's father, was born in Milford Nov. 19, 1807, and died Dec. 16, 1891. For thirty years he conducted a grocery business in Milford, but his last years were spent in retire- ment. Politically he was a Democrat, and as a citi-
zen was held in high esteem by his fellow towns- men. His wife, Elizabeth ( Davidson), who died in Milford July 10, 1893. was a native of Milford, and daughter of Richard T. Davidson, a carpenter, who lived to the age of ninety-four years. Of their nine children, the eldest, Henry, is a grocer in Milford : the second and third died in infancy; Jane married Monson Hinman, of Bridgeport, Conn .; Theodore, our subject, is mentioned more fully below; Har- riet died at the age of sixteen years; Charles is in the employ of our subject; Elizabeth married Edward Burleigh, of Milford; and Edson is a farmer in Milford.
Theodore Bristol was reared in Milford, and for twenty-three years was employed by N. A. Bald- win, a straw hat manufacturer in that town, but in 1872 he purchased his present livery business, in which he has met with decided success. He attends Plymouth Congregational Church, and is an active member of the Masonic fraternity, while politically he affiliates with the Democratic party. Mr. Bristol married for his first wife Caroline A. Merwin, daughter of Mark Merwin, of Milford : at her death she left one child, Julia E., now the wife of Walter M. Irving, contractor and builder, of Milford. By his second wife, Rachel C. Wright, of Clinton, Conn., Mr. Bristol has had two children: Grace L., who married George R. Clarke, a meat dealer in Milford; and Royal M., who died at the age of six years.
FRANK BRAZOS has carried on a thriving business as a contractor in New Haven for the past six years, and his success has been commen- surate to that enjoyed by the other members of this well known family.
Antoine Brazos, his father, the senior member and founder of the firm of Brazos & Sons, Middle- town, is probably one of the best examples of a self-made man that Middletown can present at the present time. When all the circumstances of his history are considered, his early life and lack of ed- ucational advantages, and his beginning life afresh in a new country, it is doubtful if a parallel case can be found in all Connecticut. A man's success in life ought not to be determined by the heights to which he has climbed, but by the depths fron which he arose.
Mr. Brazos was born at Pico, Azore Islands, Aug. 15, 1826. His parents, Joseph and Rosa Brazos, were both natives of the Islands, and his father was a farmer. It was in that far away cor- ner of the earth that Antoine spent the first nine- teen years of his life. Instead of common schools for all the people, as is the rule in this country, he had never seen an institution of that character until he came to the United States. His education has been gained entirely in the great school of experi- ence. When nineteen years of age Mr. Brazos came to the United States, where his brother had already | preceded him, and had attained a good position as
Theodore Bristal
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mate of the schooner "Smith D. Bellows," plying between the Connecticut river and the coast points. Antoine made the voyage across the ocean on the bark "Azore." bound for Boston. He landed in that city, expecting to find his brother Manuel. A ship- wreck delayed his arrival, and Antoine was a strang- er in the city, not able to speak one work of English. His predicament was anything but pleasant. He se- cured work, however, on a vessel, and began a ca- reer as a sailor which lasted some seven or eight years, and was an eventful period in his history. He had many narrow escapes, and more than once was saved with but a few of the crew. One ship on which he was a sailor was wrecked on the ex- treme lower coast of Florida, and he with two com. panions 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 were without food, and suffered greatly from lack of water.
Communication with his brother Manuel had long been established, and that gentleman finally persuaded his brother to give up a sea-faring life and come to Middletown. Manuel Brazos was one of the founders of the Hartford and New York Transportation Co., and was its general manager for a number of years. He died in Hartford. Frank Brazos. another older brother of Antoine, also came to the United States, and died in Hartford when about forty years old.
Mr. Brazos hegan business in Middletown in 1854, and his beginning was a very modest 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 re- solved to make still farther extension and took all kinds of contracting, such as raising sunken ves- sels, general trucking. railroad building and sewer construction, not only in Middletown, but anywhere in the United States. He gave up the stevedore 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 com- posed of the father and five sons, Joseph, Manuel A., Louis, John and George. Brazos & Sons have a department in their business devoted to ice in Middletown, which requires six wagons in 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. At the present time their pay roll is about $3.000 a month. The senior member of the firm has been particularly fortunate in the ability possessed by all his sons, and their devotion to the business.
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Antoine Brazos was married, in 1855. to Miss Ann Neale, a native of County Carlow, Ireland, and a daughter of James Neale. They are the parents of a numerous family: Eunice J. married W. W. Hulse, a real estate man of Amityville, Long Isl- and. Julia A. graduated from Wesleyan Uni-
versity, and is now a teacher in the Middletown high school. Joseph is a member of the firm men- tioned above. Mary is a teacher in Middletown, where she was educated in the high school. Frank is our subject. 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 Republican politically, and he attends the Episcopal Church.
Frank Brazos was born in Middletown April 8. 1864. and spent his early years in his native town, where he received his education. At the age of eleven years he began working for his father. For five years he was with the Chichester estate, in the real estate business in New York City. He then became a member of the firm of Brazos & Sons, and so continued until May. 1895, since which time he has engaged in general contracting business, in- dependently. He enjoys a large patronage, employ- ing an average force of one hundred men. He has resided in New Haven for seventeen years. Mr. Brazos is a Republican politically, and a member of the Union League and the Young Men's Republican Clubs. He was married. in New Haven. to Miss Ida Englehart, of that city, and they reside at No. 808 Elm street, where he built a home in 1894.
PORTER GAY AND HENRY ADELBERT HULL, worthy representatives of an old and hon- orable New England family, are great-grandsons of Benjamin Hull.
Benjamin Hull was born about 1725, was a farmer by occupation, and resided on the old Hull homestead, which lies about one-eighth of a mile southwest of the present home. It is related that the said Benjamin and a son were one day at work in the fields, during the Revolutionary war. when three British soldiers came by on horseback, and that they captured both Benjamin and his son, who were never seen or heard of again. Benjamin Hull mar- ried Amy Hill, who was born July 6, 1726, and died Dec. 1, 1826. The fourth son in their family of seven children was Benjamin, who married Han- nah Humiston, the records telling of her baptism in St. John's Church in 1781, and of her death in 1845. Benjamin Hull was a farmer, and passed his life on the homestead. He left a family of nine children. the seventh being Jarvis, father of the gentleman whose name opens this article.
Jarvis Hull was born June 15. 1800, on the home farm, and had only the limited educational advantages obtained in the primitive schools of the locality. Selecting the trade of shoemaker, he soon became an expert, and. as the custom was in those days, would go with his bag of tools from house to house, remaining until the whole family had been shod. Later he established a shop on his own farm, engaging in cultivating his land during the sum-
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mers and in the winter time attending to his shoe- making. One of his specialties was the making of wedding gear, and lie successfully manufactured neat and dressy boots and shoes from leather, gain- ing considerable reputation in the vicinity. Mr. Hull died June 25, 1872, and was buried in North Haven. In politics he had always been a stanch Democrat. He reared his whole family in the faith of the Episcopal Church. Mr. Hull married Eliza Gay, who was born in 1809, in Meredith, Delaware Co., N. Y., daughter of Lucian Gay, a farmer there. She died April 8, 1874, a member of the Episcopal Church. The children born to this union were: Julia A. is the widow of Charles Hine, and now re- sides in Northford; Porter Gay is mentioned be- low; Jane E. married Smith Tyler; Celia E. mar- ried Jasper E. Higbie, of Meriden, and both are deceased; Henry Adelbert is mentioned below ; and Harriet A. resides in North Haven.
Porter Gay Hull was born Sept. 5, 1832, and enjoyed the educational advantages of the district schools. While still a young man he engaged in business with his uncle, Orrin Hull, at City Point, at which time City Point had but three houses from the Bridge down to the Sound. Ten years later he returned to North Haven and was employed by Sharon Bassett, who had a shop on the farm now owned by George Morgan, where he engaged in the making of wagon bolts, by horse power. After two years at this place Mr. Hull removed to Bir- mingham, Mr. Bassett changing his location to that place, and continued with him in the same business. An opportunity offering, he left Mr. Bassett to enter upon the trade of machinist with the Hamden Iron Co., one year later going to Waterbury, Conn. There he engaged in the manufacture of cotton gins, but his career here was interrupted, the company going out of business, and he was then employed by Blake Bros., of Westville, manufacturers of hard- ware, with whom he remained eight years. He was thus employed when Fort Sumter was fired upon, the works closing down on that day. By this time Mr. Hull was a skilled mechanic. and easily secured employment with Eli Whitney, of Whitneyville, with whom he remained some four years, in the manufacture of guns, pistols and other fire arnis for which there was great demand on account of the progress of the Civil war. While engaged in these works he was called upon to assist in guard- ing the factory, as fears were entertained that at- tempt might be made to burn or loot it. Leaving this factory, Mr. Hull went to New Haven, where he accepted a position in the restaurant and ice cream parlors of C. F. Lockland (who was lo- cated where Hemblein & Co. now are), remaining there until 1864, when he became head clerk for the "Tontine Hotel." This situation he held effici- ently for the following twenty-seven years, retiring in May, 1897.
In 1897 Mr. Hull came to his present home, the people of the "Tontine" regretting his de-
parture, as he had been a very popular adjunct of the house. The traveling public have many pleasant recollections of Mr. Hull, whose genial personality made him admirably qualified for the position he filled. His present residence is a comfortable onc, his busy life having earned him a competency. Po- litically Mr. Hull is a Republican, although all the other members of his family are Democrats. So- cially he is connected with Hiram Lodge, No. 36, I. O. O. F., and Franklin Chapter, No. 2, R. A. M., all of New Haven.
Henry Adelbert Hull was born Nov. 16, 1844, and attended the district schools, returning to agri- cultural work after his school days were ended, part of the time on the home farm, the remainder on farms in the vicinity. Until he purchased his pres- ent farm of sixty-five acres he remained on the home place, and is now engaged in the successful operation of his own estate. As an active member of the Democratic party he has been called upon to hold many of the local offices, and is socially con- nected with the New Haven Grange, and Quinnipiac Lodge, No. 62, O. U. A. M. He is a member of North Haven Co-operative Feed Co., an organiza- tion of the substantial men of this locality. Both the Hull brothers are among the representative citi- zens of North Haven.
JAMES M. EMERSON, who for the past quar- ter of a century, has been editor and proprietor of the Ansonia Sentinel, the first newspaper of that place, is a native of Maryland. His birth occurred in December, 1845, in Denton, the county seat of Caroline county, that State. His early education was received at the public schools of that town, and at the age of fourteen he became a student in the preparatory department of Washington College. Chestertown, Md., from which he was graduated four years later, taking the second honors of his class.
Mr. Emerson's active career as a newspaper man began not long after he attained his majority, when he succeeded his father, John H. Emerson (now deceased ), in the publication of the American Union, the Republican organ of Caroline county. He remained in charge of this paper as editor un- til July, 1871, when he accepted a call to the ed- itorial staff of the Wilmington (Del.) Daily Com- mercial. He sustained this relation until his re- moval to Ansonia, in August, 1876. In July of that year he and W. H. Cramer ( who came from Wilmington ) purchased the Sentinel from Rev. Ed- ward M. Jerome, the senior member of the firm of Jerome & Carpenter, by whom the journal was founded in November, 1871. When Mr. Carpenter withdrew Mr. Jerome engaged as foreman F. M. Rider, until recently business manager of the New Haven Leader. After a couple of years Mr. Cramer sold out to Mr. Emerson and returned to Wilming- ton, and the latter has since been sole proprietor. The Sentinel has risen to its present prestige
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from humble beginnings. The first office was on the main floor of the Gardner block (opposite the post-office), where a space 16x40 feet in dimensions was fenced off for its use. When Mr. Emerson took charge there were but 935 subscribers, and the outlook at first was none too encouraging, for, while he lost no ground, he apparently gained none. But when the growth set in it proved strong and steady. The job department had considerable busi- ness, and in 1879, when Mr. Gardner built a large addition to his factory, the Sentinel sought better accommodations in the new portion of the build- ing. From this time the business of the paper be- gan to increase. New machinery was introduced, and the second story of a small frame building which stood on the present site of the Y. M. C. A. building, was used for a composition room. In 1881 Mr. Emerson, feeling himself justified in se- curing a permanent location, bought the present site of the Sentinel building. of the W. & L. Hotch- kiss Co. He erected a three-story building. the presses being established on the lower floor, and the composing room, etc., on the upper story. The sec- ond story was for a time rented out for offices, but one after another was found necessary as the Sen- tinel continued to grow, until the entire building was needed to carry on the business of the paper. Another story was finally added. where, to the pres- ent, the composition and job work have been car- ried on. When the linotype machines were put in and new floor space was required, the top floor of the building next door was leased, for editorial pur- poses. Then the sidewalk at the north end of the building was dug out to give storage room for the paper, which is received by the car-load, and thus every foot of available space has been utilized. Further extension will require a new site, which would have been selected long ago, had any suitable location been found.
On Jan. 1, 1884, appeared the first issue of the Evening Sentinel, and the paper has been published daily ever since. But 600 copies of the daily were sold at first, and the subscription list remained sta- tionary for some time, but various local circum- stances combined to demonstrate its importance to the public, and, as before, the progress made has been sure and substantial. The patronage has in- creased until the present ratio is one subscription for every six inhabitants in the field it covers-a record unequalled by any paper in the State. There is no doubt that this happy condition of affairs is due for the most part to Mr. Emerson's public spirit. which he has shown in numerous ways since his set- tlement in Ansonia. It is an undisputed fact that the Sentinel as a business enterprise ranks as of first importance in Ansonia, the mere statement that $20,000 is paid annually, all in the locality, for work on the paper and in the job printing department. carrying some idea of its commercial value. The business has not lacked rivals, but they have come and gone without appreciable effect on its popu-
larity or influence, except. perhaps, the healthy stimulus of opposition. The New Haven papers at one time enjoyed a large circulation in the valley. and it was the need of a local daily thus plainly demonstrated that Mr. Emerson attempted to fill when he made the important change in 1884, thus bringing to Ansonia a revenue and an industry that were rapidly being monopolized by outsiders. The namie was changed to the Ansonia Sentinel when the borough was made a town by action of the Legislature in May, 1888.
The mechanical outfit of the Sentinel is worthy of special mention. A Potter drum cylinder press, a small Gordon jobber and type enough for im- mediate needs were all the office boasted when the business was started. At the present day there is hardly a city of the size of Ansonia which has a newspaper equipment so up to date and complete. The setting of type by hand was discontinued sev- eral years ago, and three Mergenthaler linotype machines installed. These have since been increased to five. New presses have been purchased from time to time. each an improvement on its predeces- sor, and the Hoe two-deck Straight-Line Rotary now in use has a capacity of 20,000 4 or 8-page pa- pers, or 10,000 10, 12 or 16-page papers per hour. The facilities for obtaining news are on a par with the equipment. The Sentinel is served by the As- sociated Press, and receives the news direct in the editorial rooms by private wire.
ANDREW FOOTE AUSTIN is one of the best known and most influential citizens of North Ha- ven, his public life having covered many years. His family ranked among the oldest settlers in the State. John Austin married Prudence Roys, and testified to the birth of their son, Joshua, in Walling- ford, Conn., in 1708. Joshua Austin married Merey Hall, and their son, Abner, was born in Wallingford Nov. 17. 1734. Abner Austin married Ann Beers, and their son. Joseph, became the grand- father of the subject of this review.
Joseph Austin followed agricultural pursuits in Wallingford, where he married Bethia Page. They had three sons, Abner, Caleb and Joseph. He died in North Haven.
Joseph Austin was born April 23, 1803, and in 1825 came to North Haven, locating on the land now owned and occupied by his son, following the occupation of farming and butchering until his death, which occurred Oct. 14. 1854. He married Celia, daughter of Rufus and Elizabeth ( Harrison ) Foote : the three children born to this union were : Andrew Foote; Abner E., who married Ruth B. Coe, and after her death wedded Mary Gilbert : Charles R., who died in August, 1851.
Andrew F. Austin was born March 26, 1834, on the farm he now owns. His primary education was received in the district schools, and was supple- mented in the State Normal School, his natural abil- ity placing him in the rank of teachers when but
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eighteen years old. For fifteen years he was en- gaged in teaching in the winters and farming in the summers. When he reached his twenty-fifth year he was appointed a justice of the peace, which po- sition he has held for forty-three years, being a trial justice, and still holds the office. His decisions are of such an impartial character, and show so much wisdom, that his fellow citizens have been justified in reposing their confidence in him for so long a period. Mr. Austin has held for many years the office of school visitor, the duties of which he has faithfully performed. In 1880 he was made census enumerator. in the taking of the tenth cen- sus of the 102d district, which then included his native town. In 1882 he had the honor of repre- senting his town in the Legislature. serving on the committee on Claims. In 1862 he was made a se- lectman, and served for fourteen years in that ca- pacity as town agent. For many years he was a trusted and valued employe of the Marvin Safe Co., of New York, and traveled in the sale of burglar proof safes. severing this connection when the company entered the combine : he was similarly engaged with the firm of Bradley & Co .. of Syra- cuse, N. Y., leaving them only when the firm went out of business.
Although the owner of a fine farm. Mr. Austin does little farming himself, his time being occupied with his business in the community, and with that of the Mutual Life Insurance Co .. of New York, of which he is the agent. Mr. Austin settles up estates where the intricacies of the law make dif- ficult and long continued litigation, and his methods of honest and fearless justice have caused his ad- vice to be sought and acted upon. Had Mr. Austin entered the legal profession, it is the opinion of his acquaintances that he would have made his mark; his judgments are almost always sustained by the higher courts.
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