USA > Connecticut > Encyclopedia of Connecticut biography, genealogical-memorial; representative citizens, v. 7 > Part 46
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(VII) Hon. James Dickinson Smith, son of Rev. John and Esther Mary (Woodruff) Smith, was born at Exeter, New Hampshire, November 24, 1829, dur- ing the pastorate of his father at that place. One who knew the family well said that Mr. Smith "inherited the best traits of his ancestors and it is not diffi- cult to trace in him the prominent char- acteristics of the Treats, Woodruffs, Low- erys, and Flemings, as well as the pro- genitors whose name he bore." His formal education was directed with a view to his becoming a business man. His experience began as a clerk in a coun- try store. From there, while still a young
man, he went to New York City, where hie entered the dry goods business and won an enviable success among mer- chants in that line ; but he was even more successful as a financier, for which nature seems to have especially gifted him. He established the banking house of Jame- son, Smith & Cotting, which subsequently became James D. Smith & Company, and for nearly half a century he was a promi- nent factor in the world of finance, as well as a promoter of great business en- terprises. When he retired from business he was one of the oldest members of the New York Stock Exchange, which had honored him twice by electing him as its president. The fact that he passed through some of the greatest financial crises that the country has ever known, and maintained an unspotted escutcheon, evinces foresight and business sagacity of the highest order. He was cautious and conservative, possessed excellent judgment, and strong determination, and cherished the highest ideals. As a direc- tor and stockholder, he was interested in some of the greatest railroad enterprises in the world, notably, the Union Pacific, Pacific Mail and Panama railroads, ex- tending over thousands of miles. develop- ing barren wastes of millions of acres, comparatively valueless, into fertile acres and into great and flourishing cities and industrial centers. But such was the scope of his mind, the breadth of his in- terests and sympathies, that his activities reached far beyond the fields of business and finance. His splendid public service rendered at much sacrifice to his personal interests has already been touched upon. His interest in yachting and his contribu- tions to the sport demand a more ex- tended notice. A writer in a well-known yachting publication said of him :
Mr. Smith has won an international reputation as a yachtsman, devoting his leisure hours to
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that royal sport with an enthusiasm and energy which have contributed largely to that predomi- nance of yachting in America, which has done so much to preserve and popularize the traditions of her old achievements on the sea, and so far at least as national pride is involved, to compensate in some measure for the decadence of Ameri- can marine commerce. Incidentally, Commodore Smith's example and influence have done more in the last twenty years than those of any other individual to promote the interests and keep alive the spirit of this noble, outdoor pastime in his home port of Stamford where he has been seen during the past five years, a revival of an inter- est in yachting affairs culminating in the summer of 1892, in the organization of the Stamford Yacht Club, and the erection of one of the finest yacht club houses on the Connecticut shore.
Commodore Smith's membership in the New York Yacht Club dated from the spring of 1873. He was its commodore in 1882, a member of the regatta committee in 1884, and a member of its committees on admissions in the following year. For twelve years he was chairman of the America's cup committee, and during that time three British challengers, the "Gala- tea," "Thistle" and "Valkyre" tried to win back the trophy, but it is still with us. He was a member of many other clubs, among them the Union League Club of New York, with which he had been identified for forty-five years; the Colonial. Players, New York Club, and the Suburban Club of Stamford. He had served as a director of the National Acad- emy of Design, and as vice-president of the Stamford Historical Society. He filled the office of president of the Stam- ford Hospital from its organization, and was one of the incorporators of Wood- lawn Cemetery in 1863 and served on its board of trustees. He was elected its first secretary, and filled that office until he was elected president in 1896, to which he was continuously reëlected as long as he lived.
In 1857, Commodore Smith married
Elizabeth Henderson, daughter of Archi- bald Henderson, of New York City. Four children were born of this union: Mary Louisa, deceased ; Archibald Henderson ; Helen Woodruff; Dickinson Woodruff. Commodore Smith died September 21, 1909.
Well merited and fitting resolutions were adopted upon his decease by prac- tically all the organizations with which Commodore Smith was identified. He was universally esteemed and his loss was as widely mourned.
HEALY, Frank E.,
Legislator, Public Official.
In the life of certain men there is a quality of distinction which causes them to stand out among their fellow citizens, and while there is no positive rule for the achievement of success, it is this qual- ity combined with an honesty of purpose and courageous perseverance which makes it possible. We find this truth illustrated in the career of Frank E. Healy, Attor- ney-General of the State of Connecticut. Mr. Healy is preeminently a man-of- affairs, a man of wide interests and sym- pathies, and it was mainly through his efforts that the Workmen's Compensation Act became a law. An original thinker, he has been a leader in all of the progres- sive movements of Windsor Locks, his native town, and especially during the recent War Work campaigns, Mr. Healy has been an ardent worker, personally di- recting all of the activities.
The surname of Healy was originally Heah Leach, signifying High Lea, which gradually evolved itself into the present form. It is usually spelled Healy, al- though often found Healey, and belongs to the class known as place names.
Frank E. Healy was born November 8, 1869, in Windsor Locks, Connecticut,
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and there he has continued to make his home. His father was Patrick Healy, born in County Galway, Ireland, son of John Healy. The former came to Amer- ica when he was a young man, about seventeen years old. Patrick Healy en- tered the employ of the predecessor of the Windsor Paper Company, continuing one of their most valued employees until his death. Mr. Healy was a member of the Democratic party, taking more than a passive interest in its affairs ; although not desirous of political preferment, he served as one of the town assessors for a number of years. He married, in Windsor Locks, Anne Mullen, who was born in the neigh- borhood of Belfast, Ireland. Six of their children grew to maturity, as follows : John P., deceased ; James A. ; Thomas L., deceased ; Joseph H., deceased; Frank E., of further mention : May L., deceased.
Frank E. Healy was a student of the town schools of Windsor Locks, and in due course of time entered the high school of that town. For a time subsequent to finishing his course there he received pri- vate instruction, and in 1891 entered Yale Law School, graduating in 1893. The student gave promise of the man even in the days when he was attending high school, and his aptitude for the solving of civic and public matters was apparent in many ways. Mr. Healy was admitted to the bar in 1893, and immediately engaged in general practice. Despite the many outside demands which have been made upon his time, Hr. Healy has continued his profession, maintaining an office in Hartford.
Early identifying himself with the in- terests of the Republican party, Mr. Healy was appointed chairman of the Town Committee of Windsor Locks in 1895 and has held the office to the present time. For eighteen years he has been a
member of the Republican State Central Committee, representing the seventh dis- trict. He has been much sought as a servant of the public, and on three differ- ent occasions has represented his town in the State Legislature, 1913-15-17. In 1807, Mr. Healy was assistant clerk of the House; clerk in 1899; clerk of the Sen- ate, 1901 ; clerk of bills, 1903; engross- ing clerk, 1905. In 1913 he was chairman of the House Committee on Judiciary, and in the 1915 and 1917 sessions, was Speaker of the House. He has the distinction of being the only man who has held the Speakership twice since the adoption of the biennial sessions. He served as tax commissioner under Governor Henry Roberts. In 1915 he was appointed chair- man of the Statute Revision Commission by Governor Marcus H. Holcomb, and the same year was a candidate for the nomination of Governor of Connecticut, Mr. Healy has proved himself to be a faith- ful and efficient legislator, and has been instrumental in the passage of various important legislative measures, among them being the Workmen's Compensa- tion Act, referred to in an earlier para- graph. Since the time he became a voter, Mr. Healy has been a delegate to every State Convention of his party. He is president of the Windsor Locks Building and Loan Association, and a director of the Windsor Locks Trust and Safe De- posit Company. Mr. Healy is a member of Euclid Lodge, Free and Accepted Ma- sons, of Windsor Locks, and Washington Commandery, Knights Templar, of Hart- ford.
Mr. Healy married, in 1911, Florence M. Bragg, daughter of Frederick Bragg, of Brooklyn, New York. They are the parents of a daughter, Anne Healy, who was born December 5, 1913, and a son, Frank E., Jr., born June 3, 1915.
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CUTTER, Solomon Marcella,
Evangelist, Inventor.
The fertile brain of Mr. Cutter devised several machines that are in very exten- sive use to-day and have greatly aided in developing the manufacturing interests of New England. He was born February II, 1850, in Portland, Oregon, son of Da- vid and Emily (Simpson) Cutter, who had gone from Maine to the far West. Both died while he was yet a small boy, and after the age of twelve years he made his own way in the world. Soon after the death of his parents, he returned to New England and found employment in Bos- ton, Massachusetts, where he attended the public schools, and by his intelligence and forceful character gained the friend- ship and assistance of others in procuring an education. He graduated at the Uni- versity of Ohio, working his own way through college, and later was employed by the United Shoe Machinery Company of Boston, where he became familiar with mechanical arts. While in this employ- ment he invented what is known as the Simplex Machine, which drives the nails into heels of shoes. Mr. Cutter was subsequently employed in Quebec and Montreal in connection with the shoe machinery business and became a pat- ent solicitor. While a resident of Canada, he united with the Baptist church and became very much inter- ested in evangelism. Although he was never ordained as a clergyman, he con- tinued for some time as pastor of the Congregational church in Ashland, Mas- sachusetts, and later was in charge of the Chestnut Street Church in Lynn, same State. Though deeply interested in evan- gelism, he found it necessary to engage in other occupations in order to maintain himself, and about 1906 he became super- intendent of the Capewell Horse Nail
Company in Hartford. He had invented a machine employed in the manufacture of horse nails, and this led to his engage- ment in that capacity. He was a man of most generous and sympathetic nature, and continued his evangelistic labors whenever opportunity afforded. In the midst of his greatest usefulness he died, July 16, 1917, in his sixty-eighth year, at his home in Wethersfield. Mr. Cutter was widely known as a very interesting and forceful speaker. In 1915, he made the memorial address at Wellesley, Massa- chusetts, and in 1916 at Ashland, that State. With his broad sympathy and deep interest in human welfare, it was natural that he become allied with the great fraternity devoted to that object. While in Ashland he was chaplain of the local Masonic Lodge, and worthy patron of the Eastern Star Chapter. While he never mingled much in politics, his abili- ties led to his choice as selectman of the town of Ashland while residing there. Naturally interested in all uplifting work, he was an active worker in the cause of temperance and became grand commander of the Royal Templars of the Province of Quebec. He was also active in the politi- cal movements in that province, and de- livered one hundred lectures in one hun- dred nights during a political campaign. In the United States he acted with the Republican party. He was a member of the Putnam Phalanx, of Hartford, and universally esteemed and honored wherever known.
Mr. Cutter married, in November, 1897, at Montreal, Clara W. Russell, a native of Andover, Massachusetts, daughter of Au- gustine K. and Abby (Woodbury ) Rus- sell, of that town. She was always in close sympathy with the work of her talented husband; was worthy matron of Eastern Star Chapter; is a deaconess of the Fourth Church of Hartford, and has long
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been active in the work of the Relief Corps. Mr. and Mrs. Cutter were the parents of a daughter, Phyllis Russell, born in 1899, graduated in 1917 from Mrs. Tewkesbury's School at White Plains.
The Russell family, of which Mrs. Cut- ter is a scion, is one of the several bearing that name early in New England. The founder of this line in America was Wil- liam Russell, a native of England, who was in Cambridge, Massachusetts, as early as 1645, and he and his wife, Mar- tha, were members of the church there. He died February 14, 1662, in Cambridge, and his widow was twice married after- ward. Their third son, John Russell, born September 11, 1645, in Cambridge, was one of the original members of the church organized at Cambridge Farms, now Lexington, in 1696, and the largest subscriber to the fund for the erection of a meeting house. He resided in that sec- tion at the organization of the town in 1693, and was a man of considerable wealth for his time. He married, about 1674. Elizabeth Fisk, daughter of David and Seaborn (Wilson) Fisk, granddaugh- ter of David Fisk, a pioneer of Water- town. Their third son, Benjamin Russell, born April 3, 1677. in Cambridge, settled in Salem, Massachusetts, where his son, Benjamin Russell, was born January 15, 1718, in that portion of the town known now as Danvers. He was baptized Au- gust 30, 1719, in the Second Church of Salem, and was the father of John Rus- sell, baptized November 5, 1738, in the same church. He married, in Danvers, June 13, 1771, Elizabeth Wilkins, born April 1, 1744, in Middletown, Massachu- setts, daughter of Solomon and Patience (Lambert) Wilkins. They were the par- ents of John Russell, born June 13, 1775, in Danvers, died there November 5, 1847. He married, October 22, 1795, Elizabeth Hadley, born August 12, 1775. in Danvers,
died there October 14, 1837. Their son, John Gardner Russell, born October 8, 1797, in that town, lived in Bradford, Massachusetts. He married, January 9, 1820, Hannah Kimball, born March 17, ISO1, died December 12, 1840, daughter of Elijah and Hannah (Kimball) Kim- ball, of that town. Their son, Augustine K. Russell, born June 24, 1821, in Brad- ford, lived in Andover. He married there, June 5. 1845. Abby Woodbury, and they were the parents of Clara W. Russell, wife of Solomon M. Cutter, as above noted.
HINCKLEY, Denison Chesebrough, Retired Business Man.
Long established in the furniture busi- ness in Westerly as a member of the firm of Hinckley & Mitchell, and then as head of the Westerly Furniture Company, Mr. Hinckley, after a busy and active career, has since 1917 lived retired from business affairs. He is thoroughly identified with the life of his city, well known fraternally and socially, sharing his time between his Highland avenue home and his place on the Isle of Pines, in the West Indies.
Mr. Hinckley's paternal ancestry is of the noted Hinckley family of Massachu- setts, and he is also a descendant of the prominent Denison and Chesebrough lines. Among his possessions of family and antiquarian interests is the saddle used by an ancestor, Thomas Hinckley, as a post rider, carrying mail between Westerly and Norwich. This Thomas Hinckley was also a well known surveyor, and Mr. Hinckley has the compass he used in his profession. In the Denison line he is descended from Captain George Denison, born in England in 1618, who, after the death of his first wife, returned to England, served under Cromwell in the army of the Parliament, won distinction, was wounded at Naseby, was nursed by
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Ann Borodell in the house of her father, John Borodell, married her, returned to Roxbury, and finally settled at Stoning- ton, Connecticut. He has been described as the Miles Standish of the Stonington settlement, but "he was a greater and more brilliant soldier than Miles Stand- ish," and "except perhaps Captain John Mason, he had no equal in any of the colonies for conducting a war against the Indians." Through his maternal grand- mother, Mr. Hinckley is descended from William Chesebrough, the first white man who made what is now Stonington, Con- necticut, his permanent place of abode, born in Lincolnshire, England, in 1594, coming to America with John Winthrop in 1630. He held numerous positions of trust, not only in the Massachusetts Col- ony, but was prominent in the settlement of the town of Rehoboth, in the Plymouth Colony, and was deputy to the General Court at Hartford, in 1653-54-55-56.
Denison Chesebrough Hinckley is a son of Charles H. and Lydia J. (Knight) Hinckley, grandson of Charles H. and Mary (Schofield) Hinckley. The name of Schofield is closely linked with the textile industry in New England, where they were pioneers in the use of power looms in woolen manufacture. Charles H. (2) Hinckley was born in Stonington, Con- necticut, May 16, 1816, and attended the country school at Hinckley Hill. Stoning- ton. Subsequently he was a student in the Worcester Academy, and after a course in Brown University became a teacher. specializing in mathematics and mechanical drawing. He taught first in New Jersey and afterward in the schools of Providence, the old Union street school in Westerly, and the Stonington schools. He followed pedagogy until he was forty- five years of age, and throughout his en- tire life retained his love for mathematical problems of unusual intricacy. He in-
herited one of the three old Hinckley homestead farms, known as the Hinckley Hill farm, at Stonington, and during his residence in the place of his birth was a citizen of standing and influence. He filled the office of justice of the peace, was active on the Stonington School Board, and in association with Charles H. Babcock was for many years school visitor. He became a resident of West- erly about 1887, and affiliated with the First Baptist Church of Westerly, also demitting from Asylum Lodge, Free and Accepted Masons, of Stonington, to Paw- catuck Lodge, No. 90, of Westerly. He was a man of rigidly upright life, as exact and reliable in all relations of life as the mathematical laws he knew so well, and was regarded with universal honor and respect. Charles H. and Mary (Scho- field) Hinckley were the parents of : Den- ison Chesebrough, of whom further ; John S., born July 9, 1870, a dealer in auto sup- plies in Providence, Rhode Island.
Denison Chesebrough Hinckley was born on the old home farm in Stonington, Connecticut, July 31, 1866, and as a youth attended the public schools of Stonington and Westerly, graduating from the West- erly High School, in the class of 1888. He was employed in several mercantile estab- ments of Westerly until 1887, when he purchased the furniture business of J. M. Aldrich, on High street. H. R. Mitchell became his partner in 1890, and not long afterward the establishment and stock were totally destroyed in the fire that consumed the entire block. The firm re- opened immediately in the Potter Love- land block, occupying the entire second floor, later expanding to take in the ground floor and installing an elevator to facilitate communication and the handling of stock. About 1905, fire again brought misfortune to the business, the entire block being consumed by the flames, and
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Sun Hill.
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the business was housed for two years in an old barn near the depot, after large expenditures in making the necessary alterations and improvements. The firm purchased the only piece of land sold from the old Brown estate to the present time, the remainder of the estate now West- erly's beautiful park, and on this tract erected a three-story brick building, sixty- five by one hundred and forty-five feet, with a storage addition in the rear. This was the second time the business has been reconstructed from a complete wreck, and after incorporation as the Westerly Furniture Company, prosperous and successful operations were continued. In 1915, a third fire, caused by defective wiring, resulted in a considerable stock loss, and in June, 1917, Mr. Hinckley re- tired from business.
Elected to office as a Democrat, he served Westerly for two years on the Town Council, declining to become a candidate for a second term because of the pressure of business. He is active in Masonic circles, a past master of Pawca- tuck Lodge, No. 90, Free and Accepted Masons, of Westerly, a past high priest of Palmer Chapter, No. 28, Royal Arch Ma- sons, and a past commander of Narra- gansett Commandery, No. 27. Knights Templar, and a Noble of Palestine Tem- ple, Ancient Arabic Order Nobles of the Mystic Shrine.
Mr. Hinckley married, in October, 1891, S. Anne H. Burdick, daughter of Benja- min and Martha S. (Dyer) Burdick.
HILL, Seth,
Physician, Legislator.
William Hill, the progenitor in America of that branch of the Hill family from which the late Dr. Seth Hill, one of the most prominent and successful men of the medical profession in the entire county of
Fairfield, Connecticut, is descended, came to America in the ship "William and Francis," arriving in Boston Harbor on June 5, 1632. He remained for a time at Dorchester, Massachusetts, but after a time removed to Windsor, on the Connec- ticut river, where he bought land and set out an orchard. Some time later, how- ever, he moved to Fairfield, and here he resided for the remainder of his life, be- coming a man of public importance and prominence in the life of the community. He was deputy and representative in 1639, 1640, and 1644. Before coming to Fairfield he had been admitted a free- man of Massachusetts, November 5, 1633, and a selectman of Dorchester, in 1636. He was also granted land at Dorchester on November 2, 1635. In Windsor, in 1639, he was appointed by the General Court to examine the arms and ammuni- tion of the towns in the colony ; he was auditor of accounts; and deputy to the General Court from 1639 to 1641, and again reelected in 1644. After his re- moval to Fairfield, as has already been stated, he held public office as assistant senator and collector of customs. In the division of lands he and his son William were given lots between Paul's Neck and Robert Turney's house lot, on the north- east side of Dorchester street and New- ton square. From the fact that in the town records for 1649, his wife, Sarah, is called a widow, it is concluded that he died in that year. His will is dated Sep- tember 9. 1649, and was proved May 15, 1650. It is to be found in a very ancient volume of the records of the "Particular Court for Fairfield County." His chil- dren were: Sarah ; William (2), of whom further ; Joseph, Ignatius, James, Eliza- beth.
The Hill family arms are thus de- scribed :
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Arms-Sable a fess argent between three leop- ards passant or, spotted sable. The fess is charged with three escallops gules. Supporters : Dexter a leopard gules, spotted or, ducally col- lared or. Sinister, a stag, azure, attired gules.
Crest-A stag's head and neck azure, attired gules, on a wreath, over a ducal coronet.
Motto-Per Deum et ferrum obtinui.
(II) William (2) Hill, son of William (1) and Sarah Hill, was born in England, and came with his father to Dorchester, Massachusetts, and afterwards to Wind- sor, Connecticut, where he was granted lands. He was one of the most prominent of the citizens of the town. He was town recorder in 1650, acting in that capacity for several years, receiving town papers of value from Roger Ludlow, when the latter left Fairfield, in 1654. Mention is made in early Colonial records of his hav- ing received a portion of his father's estate from his father-in-law, Mr. Greenleaf, his mother's second husband. (The term stepfather was not then in use). On Feb- ruary 13, 1670, he was granted the Lewis lot on the northwest corner of Newton square. His death occurred on December 19, 1684. He married, at Fairfield, Eliza- beth Jones, daughter of Rev. John Jones, of that place. Their children were: I. William, of whom further. 2. Eliphalet, whose wife was Esther, died in 1695. 3. Joseph, died in 1696. 4. John, married Jane -- , and died in 1727. 5. James. 6. Sarah, married Richard Widdon.
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