USA > Connecticut > Encyclopedia of Connecticut biography, genealogical-memorial; representative citizens, v. 11 > Part 33
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Smith. Simon Brainerd, second son of Abiah and Esther, was a farmer in Chatham (now Portland), built saw and grist mills, and died after September II, 1806. He married Hepsibah, daughter of . Nathaniel Spencer of Haddam, and their fourth son was Silas Brainerd. He was born April 12, 1767, in Chatham and was a carpenter, living successively in East Haddam, Catskill and other points in Greene County, New York, dying July 20, 1847, in Middle Haddam. He opened stone quarries in Saugerties, New York. His wife was Lucinda Brainerd, born in 1765, died April 9, 1816, daughter of Jo- siah and Lois (Hurlburt) Brainerd, of Haddam Neck.
Erastus Brainerd, eldest son of Silas and Lucinda, born October 16, 1791, bap- tized February 5, 1792, in Portland (then part of Chatham), was one of the most active and useful citizens of his native place, and died June 15, 1861. The first to develop the famous brownstone quar- ries of Portland on an extensive scale, he continued to be interested in their oper- ation until his death. He was a director of the Middletown Bank from 1847 to 1861, vice-president of the agricultural society in 1858-59, representative in 1843- 1844, and one of the corporators of the Union Mills. He married, December 25, 1815, Mary Wells Stancliff, born Decem- ber 1, 1793, died May 11, 1880, daughter of James and Meribah (Wells) Stancliff. v Benjamin Franklin Brainerd, third son of Erastus, was born November 29, 1823, at the family homestead in Portland, and was interested in the quarries all his life. At the time of his death he was treasurer of the quarry corporation, now known as Brainerd, Shailer & Hall. A lifelong member of Trinity parish, he was inter- ested in all its good works. Not a seeker for public office, he devoted himself to
business and was a director of the Port- land National Bank and Freestone Sav- ings Bank, whose judgment was respected by his associates. He married, March 28, 1851, Amelia Ann Davis, born July 8, 1822, in Portland, daughter of Asa and Mary (Diggins) Davis, and they were the parents of six children.
LeRoy Brainerd, son of Erastus, born March 12, 1840, in Portland, was a stu- dent in Woodford's School at Meriden, Connecticut, and the Skinner School in New Haven. Before attaining his major- ity, he left school and began work in the Portland quarries, later was interested a few years in business in New Haven. He became treasurer and general manager of the Middletown & Portland Ferry Com- pany. This was replaced by the present highway bridge, shortly before his death, which occurred April 4, 1903. He was also president of the quarry company, above mentioned. He was a vestryman in Trinity Church of Portland, one of the founders of the Portland Social Club and a member of the Warren Lodge, No. 51, Free and Accepted Masons of Portland. Politically, he was a Republican, but did not desire any part in the conduct of pub- lic affairs. He married, April .28, 1869, Amelia D. Freeman, born November 23, 1845, in Cherry Valley, New York, died February 28, 1918, in New Jersey, buried in Portland, daughter of Rodney B. and Mary (Davis) Freeman, the former a native of Massachusetts, and the latter of Portland. Their children were: Elsie; Fannie, died in 1900; Clara, died in 1922; and Erastus LeRoy.
Erastus LeRoy Brainerd, only son of LeRoy and Amelia, was reared in Port- land, where he was a student in Miss White's Private School. He was four years a student in the public schools and attended the Middletown High School
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one year. In 1902 he was graduated from the Massachusetts Institute of Technol- ogy, with the degree of S. B. in civil engineering. Following this he was em- ployed in the construction of different railroads until 1918, when he returned to Portland and has since been connected with the Russell Manufacturing Company of Middletown. He is a member of the Portland Social Club, of Warren Masonic Lodge; of Trinity Church of Portland ; and a director of the Portland Board of Trade and Portland Building and Loan Association. In public affairs, he acts with the Republican party. Mr. Brainerd married, October 3, 1910, Mildred Light- hipe, born January 17, 1884, daughter of Herbert and Rosalie B. (VanWagenen) Lighthipe, natives of Orange, New Jer- sey, where Mr. Brainerd resided for more than thirteen years.
Mrs. Simon Brainerd was descended from a pioneer New England family traced to Michael Spencer, who was a landholder in Stotfold, Eng- land. Long before that time, members of the fam- ily had been raised to the peerage, including the Earl of Sutherland. Michael Spencer's second wife, Elizabeth, was the mother of Gerrard Spencer, who was baptized May 20, 1576, and had four sons, William, Thomas, Michael and Gerrard, all of whom came to America in 1633-34. They received legacies from Richard Spencer of London, who was evidently their uncle. Thomas Spencer was in Cambridge, Massachusetts, in 1633, and took the freeman's oath May 14, 1634. In 1639 he was liv- ing in Hartford, Connecticut, where he owned land at that time, and held various important local offices from 1649 to 1672. His ownership of land in "Soldiers' Field" indicated that he had served in the Pequot War in 1637. In 1671 he was granted sixty acres of land by the General Court "for his good service in the country." He died September II, 1687. The name of his first wife is unknown. Their eldest child, Obadiah Spencer, was admitted a freeman of Connecticut, May 20, 1658, indicating that he was born about 1637. In 1669 he lived on the north side of Little River, and he was fence viewer in 1687, 1693-94. He died between May 2 and 26, 1712. His wife, Mary, was a daughter of
Nicholas Desbrough. Their third son, Samuel Spencer, born in Hartford, inherited one-half the homestead "in the Neck," and was hayward for the North Meadow in 1709 and 1711-12. In 1728 he sold his land and moved to Middletown. In the previous year he had purchased land on the river, near Middle Haddam. In 1731 he was grand juror and was admitted to the Congregational Church of the east society (now Portland) in November, 1733, and next month was elected one of the society committee, at that time called Cor- poral Spencer. He was one of the fourteen organ- izers of the Haddam Neck Church, September 24, 1740, his name appearing third on the list. He died between April 3, 1750, and July 5, 1756. His wife, Deborah, was a daughter of John Beckley, of Wethersfield. Their second son, Nathaniel Spencer, was born December 5, 1704.
His daughter, Hepsibah, born about 1740, became the wife of Simon Brainerd, as previously noted.
WATSON, James J.,
Business Man.
The surname of Watson has been de- rived from Watt's Son and literally sig- nifies "mighty army." James J. Watson was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, July 15, 1877, son of William and Hannah (Mur- phy) Watson.
His father was born in the town of Mil- ford, County Cork, Ireland, and died August 18, 1911. He came to America when he was seventeen years old and lo- cated in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. At one time he drove a mule on the tow-path of the Erie Canal. In 1871 he came to New Britain, Connecticut, and entered the employ of P. & F. Corbin. When they sold their casket business to a Cin- cinnati firm, he went there to help organ- ize that branch of the work with the new owner. After four or five years Mr. Wat- son returned to the East and in 1879 be- gan work for Jonathan Hart, in Kensing- ton, and was employed in their finish- ing department for many years. He later returned to the employ of the Corbin
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firm. Mr. Watson married Hannah, daughter of James Murphy ; she was born in Fermoy, Ireland. Mr. and Mrs. Wat- son were the parents of fourteen children, eight of whom grew up. They were: Mary; James J., of further mention ; El- len, wife of John Keevers of New Britain ; Elizabeth, married Michael Carmody, of New Britain ; Grace ; Howard ; Frederick ; Madeline. The family attends St. Mary's Roman Catholic Church.
The paternal grandfather of Mr. Wat- son was William Watson. He was what is known in the old country as a gentle- man farmer, owner of his own estate. The family is an old one in their county, and members of it are now among the leading bankers there.
James J. Watson received a practical education in the public school and then entered the employ of J. M. Curtin, grocer. After six years there he went with the Metropolitan Life Insurance Company, remaining for three years, and for five years was with Moss Brothers of Hartford. From this time until 1911, Mr. Watson was associated with the Home Banking & Realty Company and in that year opened his own office. In addi- tion to the real estate business Mr. Wat- son handles all kinds of insurance. He has been very successful in his undertak- ing and is prominent in both the business and public life of New Britain ; he served as alderman for three years; as council- man for two years and as a member of the Board of Assessors for seven years. Mr. Watson is also a member of the Demo- cratic Town Central Committee. During the War he was a member of the Draft Board and was secretary of local Board No. I throughout the war. His fraternal affiliations are with the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks and the Knights of Columbus, of which he is Past Grand Knight.
Mr. Watson married Catherine, daugh- ter of George Scheidler, of New Britain, and they are the parents of a son, Wil- liam J., born January 24, 1907. With his family Mr. Watson attends St. Mary's Roman Catholic Church.
BOUTEILLER, William Henry, Insurance Agent.
In the last century much of the devel- opment and progress of America has been brought about by people of foreign birth or descent, and there is a much larger ele- ment of French blood in our population than is generally realized. During the persecution in France many people went to England, where their names became some- what Anglicized and whence many of their descendants came to the United States.
The name at the head of this article was originally le Bouteiller, adopted, like thousands of others, as a surname from the occupation of its bearer at the com- paratively recent time of adoption of sur- names in Europe. At Andencourt, in the department of Monte Dieu, France, for many decades resided a family of this name. The first of whom we have pres- ent knowledge was Florentine Bouteiller, who came to the United States in 1870, accompanied by his wife, two sons and a daughter, and settled at Otis, Massachu- setts, where he died at the age of ninety- seven years. His wife, Julia, died when eighty-four years old. Their son, Emile Florentine Bouteiller, was born May 26, 1852, at Andencourt, and accompanied his parents to Massachusetts, whence he came to Portland, Connecticut, where he still resides, and is still active and in- dustrious. He married, December 2, 1874, Ellen Higgins, who was born September 13, 1856, in Sheffield, Massachusetts, public schools and before his majority was employed in the famous bell shops
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daughter of John Higgins, who was born in Ireland and went to England when a youth. There he met and married Ann Hobson, of English birth. They came to America and settled in Sheffield. Emile F. Bouteiller had two sons and two daughters: I. George F., now a resident of Hartford. 2. William H., of further mention. 3. Lily M. (Mrs. Norton Mc- Lean), of Danbury, Connecticut, died March, 1924. 4. Minnie, widow of Rev. Frank Van Sciver, an Episcopal clergy- man who died at Forest City, Pennsyl- vania, now resides with her parents. The family are members of Trinity Church, Portland.
William H. Bouteiller was born De- cember 10, 1876, in Otis, Massachusetts, and came to Portland with his parents in 1882. Here he attended the public schools, graduating from the high school in 1894. After this, he was employed for a time on the "Middletown Press," and was subsequently employed for a time in a drug store at Cromwell. Since the fall of 1898 he has been a solicitor for the Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Company of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and has shown exceptional ability in his line, often winning chief or second place for amount written in a year in Connecticut. His diligence is evidenced by the fact that he has written more than a million dollars of insurance in a year. Mr. Bou- teiller is recognized as one of the most progressive and public-spirited citizens of Middletown, where he resides. In 1914 he purchased a desirable residence on Lawn Avenue, where abide hospitality and good cheer. He is a trustee of the Middletown Savings Bank, a director of the Middletown Press Publishing Com- pany, of the Young Men's Christian As- sociation, and has recently resigned a directorship in the Chamber of Com-
merce. During the World War he was active in all the drives to provide for the comfort and efficiency of the men at the front, and has given valuable assistance in local drives for the benefit of charitable and benevolent institutions. He is a member of the Church of the Holy Trin- ity of Middletown, of which he was sev- eral years clerk and, later, vestryman; of Apollo Lodge, No. 33, Knights of Pyth- ias, and of various Masonic bodies, in- cluding St. John's Lodge, No. 2, Free and Accepted Masons; Washington Chapter, No. 6, Royal Arch Masons ; Cyrene Com- mandery, No. 8, Knights Templar; and Sphinx Temple, Ancient Arabic Order Nobles of the Mystic Shrine of Hartford. In political matters he acts with the Re- publican party, though not a blind par- tisan or a seeker of political honors or emoluments As a citizen, Mr. Bouteil- ler seeks to promote the welfare of his home community and the rights of hu- manity in general.
He married, November 14, 1901, Grace Louise Austin, born August 29, 1878, in Cromwell, daughter of Millard W. and Elizabeth (Baker) Austin, the former a native of Chino, Maine, and the latter of Middletown, Connecticut. Mr. and Mrs. Bouteiller are the parents of two sons and a daughter : Austin Warner, Griswold Ladd, and Marion.
DICKSON, James,
Merchant.
A son of William and Jane (Hodge) Dickson, James Dickson was born No- vember 15, 1843, in South Leith, Scotland, and was in his ninth year when he came to America. In 1852 his father came to America and settled at East Hampton, Connecticut, where he died. There James Dickson received his education in the
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of the town. Industrious and gifted with the noted Scotch thrift, he was able to engage in business on his own account. In 1890 he purchased a meat market in the village, and continued to operate it until his death, which took place August 31, 1896. While yet a minor he joined the United States forces as a soldier of the Civil War, and attained the rank of corporal. Naturally he became a member of the Grand Army of the Republic and was esteemed by his associates as a brave soldier and a good citizen. He attended the Congregational Church and, in mat- ters of public concern supported the prin- ciples of the Republican party.
Mr. Dickson married, May 14, 1868, Abbie T. Shepard, who was born August 5, 1844, in Hampton, Connecticut, daugh- ter of Chester and Mary (Fox) Shepard. Eben Shepard, admitted a freeman Sep- tember 15, 1805, in Brooklyn, Connecti- cut, was, undoubtedly, father of Chester Shepard, who was born in Plainfield. The latter was admitted freeman in Hampton, Connecticut, in 1843, having removed there from Brooklyn. He mar- ried, February 18, 1827, Rev. A. Edson officiating, Mary Fox of Brooklyn, born in Franklin, Connecticut. Later, they resided in Plainfield. Mr. and Mrs. Dick- son were the parents of four children, of whom two daughters survive. They are: Isadora Imogene, born July 31, 1870, and Clara Estelle, March 21, 1884, both resid- ing with their mother in the family home in East Hampton, and esteemed members of the community.
TREVITHICK, William James, Retired Business Man.
The name (pronounced Tre-vith'-ick) is an old one in Cornwall, said by family
tradition to have been Cornish before it was English. Probably it crossed the chan- nel from ancient Brittany, with the forma- tion of whose names it conforms better than with more modern English names. At any rate, it has been identified with the chief industry of Cornwall-tin min- ing-since the time "when the memory of man runneth not to the contrary." William Trevithick, a miner, lived and died in the same house where his father lived and died, in the parish of Illogan, Cornwall. He married Mary, daughter of James and Lydia Jose, residents of Lan- ner, in the same parish, of another family of miners. All were very steady-going people, and William Trevithick probably never went thirty miles from his native place.
William James Trevithick was born February 16, 1864, in Illogan and at- tended the public school of the parish un- til eleven years old, when he was appren- ticed to a meat dealer, with whom he served seven years. Having mastered the details of the business, he decided to strike out for himself and, as a first step, took to himself a wife. He was married, March, 1882, to Mary E. Phillips, a native of his own parish, daughter of John and Mary (Warne) Phillips.
In January, 1883, they set sail for America and landed in New York, whence they proceeded direct to New Britain, Connecticut. Here Mr. Trevithick found employment for a few months in a knit- ting mill, then for seven years he was employed by a meat dealer. In 1890 he opened a meat market of his own in New Britain and in 1894 moved to Middle- town, where he has since made his honie and engaged continuously in business un- til a very recent period. His first market there was located on Rapallo Avenue.
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After twelve years there he moved to Main Street, a short distance south of Rapallo Avenue. In addition to this, a branch market has been operated for the last twenty years, on Main Street, South Farms. These markets are now managed by his junior son, and Mr. Trevithick gives much of his attention to his public duties in the service of the consolidated city. He is a member and deacon of the First Baptist Church of Middletown, and is a faithful member of the principal fra- ternal orders, namely: The Free Masons and the Odd Fellows. He is affiliated with St. John's Lodge, No. 2, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons ; Washington Chapter, No. 6, Royal Arch Masons; Columbia Council, No. 9, Royal and Se- lect Masters; Cyrene Commandery, No. 8, Knights Templar, and with Central Lodge, No. 12, Independent Order of Odd Fellows. On becoming a citizen he allied himself with the Republican Party, and, as such, has been called to the public ser- vice. Naturally, the man who could man- age successfully extended business enter- prises, was sought to manage public con- cerns. For four years he was president of the water board, later was selectman, and in October, 1924, was elected to that position under the consolidated city and town government. In all relations of life he has been faithful to every responsi- bility and trust, and is esteemed accord- ingly by his fellow citizens. Mr. Trevith- ick has reared three children, all of whom have done credit to their parents and themselves. The eldest, Harry Phillips is chemist of the produce exchange in New York City. Adelaide Mary is the wife of Harry Foulkes of Hartford. Fred- erick William, the youngest, is manager of the Trevithick markets, whose former high standard he maintains.
PORTEOUS, James Harold,
Oil Dealer.
While doing business under the name of the Valley Oil Company, in Middle- town and Portland, Mr. Porteous has built up an extensive trade. He carries only a high class of goods and endeavors to treat the public with courtesy and fair- ness. He was born January 23, 1882, in Mallagash, Cumberland County, Nova Scotia, and grew up on his father's farm. His father, Alexander Porteous, was a native of Scotland and went with his par- ents to Nova Scotia when nine years old. He was born about 1831, was a farmer in Nova Scotia until his death in 1902, at the age of seventy-one years. He mar- ried Esther Treen, born in Nova Scotia.
James H. Porteous attended the public and high schools in the vicinity of his home until seventeen years of age and during the intervals, assisted his father on the farm. After leaving school, he found employment in a sash and door fac- tory where he continued nearly a year. With his earnings he removed to the United States. For two years he was employed in Worcester, Massachusetts, and came thence to Middletown, where he first found employment at the State Hospital. For nine years he was in the employ of the Standard Oil Company in Middletown, and in 1912 he engaged in the oil business on his own account. A depot is maintained in Portland and sev- eral filling stations in Middletown. With- out any assistance other than his own energy, enterprise and initiative, he has developed a profitable business, which is still growing. He now employs four large motor trucks in supplying the public of Middlesex County. Mr. Porteous attends the Methodist Church, is a Republican in
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politics and is associated with St. John's Lodge, and Washington Chapter of the great Masonic fraternity of Middletown ; also Central Lodge, No. 12, Independent Order of Odd Fellows ; and Apollo Lodge, No. 33, Knights of Pythias. He has filled most of the principal chairs in Central Lodge, of which he is now Past Grand. Mr. Porteous married Eva Mitchell, and they are the parents of two daughters and a son, Dorothy, Etheline, and Harold Mitchell.
LOUNSBURY, Charles Hugh, Manufacturer, Man of Affairs
When a man has won his way to suc- cess in the business world he has learned much of practical value. The use of this knowledge in the administration of pub- lic affairs, and in the management of economic institutions, constitutes a gen- uine service to mankind. The city which can command the loyal cooperation of her successful business men is the city which holds a leading place in the march of progress. Stamford, Connecticut, counts among the names of real significance to to the community that of Charles Hugh Lounsbury, formerly manufacturer, now banker and merchant of that city.
(II) Michael Lounsbury, son of Rich- ard and Elizabeth (Du Bois) Lounsbury was likewise a prominent man in the community, as the detailed records show. He was born in Rye, New York, and came to Stamford, Connecticut, about 1703. Book A, of Stamford Land Rec- ords, page 410, records that on January 25, 1702 or 1703, he bought from Samuel Webb for the sum of £43 IOS. seven acres of upland on the west side of Mill River, and woodland on Pepper Weed Ridge, near Taunton. In 1706 or 1707 he obtained twenty-seven acres in the
Rocky Neck, and in the same year other land in partnership with Edmond Lock- wood, whose sister Sarah he married, June 19, 1707. Records of the town of Rye show that in the year 1709 he sold land there which he had inherited from his father. He was chosen highway sur- veyor at a Stamford town meeting, De- cember 15, 1719, and again on January 5, 1725 or 1726. On December 18, 1722, he was one of the collectors chosen to "gather ye Revarant Mr. Davenport's rate." He died January 20, 1730.
Robert Lockwood, grandfather of Sa- rah (Lockwood) Lounsbury, was one of the early Massachusetts settlers. He came from England about 1630, and set- tled in Watertown, Massachusetts. He was made a freeman March 9, 1636, and in 1646 removed to Fairfield, Connecticut, where he died in 1658. His widow, Su- sannah, died December 23, 1660. Jon- athan Lockwood, their son, was born September 10, 1634, in Watertown, Mas- sachusetts, and died May 12, 1688, in Greenwich, Connecticut. He was in Stamford, October 16, 1660, and lived there for five years. He removed to Greenwich, and became a freeman in 1670. He was one of the twenty-seven original proprietors of that town, served in the Legislature, and held several minor offices. He married Mary Ferris, daugh- ter of Jeffrey Ferris, who was a freeman in Boston in 1635. Sarah Lockwood, their daughter, married, June 19, 1707, Michael Lounsbury, as above noted.
(III) Joshua Lounsbury, son of Mich- ael and Sarah (Lockwood) Lounsbury, was born, in Stamford, Connecticut, July I, 1716. He was a prosperous man, and his name appears in the records of many land transactions. One of these was the purchase of a triangular tract lying di- rectly in front of the present (1919) site
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of the Methodist Episcopal Church. At some time between the years 1757 and 1774 he moved over the line into the Col- ony of New York, for in the latter year his name appears in the North Castle Land Records as a resident of that town. His first wife, whom he married May 3, 1739, was Hannah Scofield, born Decem- ber II, 1718.
(IV) Joshua (2) Lounsbury, son of Joshua (1) and Hannah (Scofield) Louns- bury, was born October 4, 1745, and died April 4, 1826. He was a dutiful son and a devoted husband and father. With the flower of the colonies he took a loyal part in the struggle for independence in the Revolutionary War, but survived without being seriously incapacitated. He mar- ried Susannah Smith, born October 3, 1752.
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