USA > Connecticut > Encyclopedia of Connecticut biography, genealogical-memorial; representative citizens, v. 7 > Part 5
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58
Dr. Henry T. Bray was a boy of thir- teen years when he was brought by his parents to Hartford, Connecticut, and there he continued his education, which had begun in the schools of his native town. After completing the high school course, he entered the University of Ver- mont, graduating in 1902 with the degree of M. D. During his senior year in medi- cal college he did hospital work in Ver- mont. In 1902 he came to the city of New Britain, Connecticut, where he has re- mained to the present time. He has served as a member of the attending staff of the New Britain General Hospital since his first year there, and also engages in the
general practice of his profession. In 1904 Dr. Bray was appointed health officer of New Britain and served a term of four years, and in 1908, at the expiration of his appointment, he was appointed health commissioner, which office lie still holds. Dr. Bray serves as medical examiner for several large insurance companies, and is medical examiner of the Nurses' Training School of New Britain. He performed efficient service to his country during the World War as medical examiner of Draft Board No. I, of New Britain, and was commissioned acting assistant surgeon of the United States Public Health Service.
Dr. Bray has specialized in obstetrics, and has at different times delivered lec- tures at medical meetings. As is natural, the major part of Dr. Bray's associations are those relating to his profession, al- though he serves as a director of the Com- mercial Trust Company of New Britain. He is a member of the New Britain Med- ical Association, the Hartford Country Medical Association, the State Medical Association, the American Association, the Delta Mu (medical) fraternity. His social affiliations are with the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, the Frater- nal Order of Eagles, Foresters, and Knights of Columbus.
Dr. Bray married, June 5, 1905, Eliza- beth O'Connell, and their children are: Henry, born March 20, 1906; Margaret, June 15, 1909. Mrs. Bray's death oc- curred March 9, 1918. Dr. Bray and his family attend St. Mary's Church, of New Britain.
LEETE, Arthur Russell,
Business Man.
As a furniture dealer, undertaker and funeral director of Thompsonville, Con- necticut, Mr. Leete occupied a prominent
31
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
place in the business life of the town which gave him birth. He was of the ninth generation of the family founded in Connecticut by Governor William Leete, each one of these generations except the governor born in Connecticut, and all liv- ing in Guilford, until Henry William Leete, of the seventh generation, moved to Wallingford, Connecticut. George Leete, his son, later moved to Thompson- ville, where Arthur R. Leete was born. This is a solid Connecticut family, most of the wives also having been born in Con- necticut, and for ninety years from the founding of Guilford no Leete moved away from that town.
The name Leete, during the many cen- turies it has existed as a surname, has been variously spelled, but as early as the reign of Queen Elizabeth there were those who used the form Leete, and for the past two generations that has been the most used form. The family bore arms :
Arms-Argent on a fesse, gules between two rolls of matches. Sable fired proper, a martley or.
Crest-On a ducal coronet, or, fired proper.
The earliest mention of the family is found in Morden, Cambridgeshire, Eng- land, in 1209.
(I) The founder of the family in Amer- ica was William Leete, one of the first settlers of Guilford, Connecticut, and Governor of the New Haven and Con- necticut colonies. He was a son of John and Anna (Shute) Leete, and grandson of Thomas and Maria (Slade) Leete, of Ockington, Cambridgeshire, England. He was "bred to the law," but he became a Puritan, came to New England in Rev. Mr. Whitefield's company, was one of the signers of the Plantation Covenant on shipboard, June 1, 1639, and about July IO, following, arrived in New Haven. When Guilford was agreed upon as a
place to settle, he was one of the six to purchase the land of the native Indians. The section of outlying lands he owned at Guilford yet retains the name "Leete's Island," and has been owned and occu- pied for nearly three centuries by Leetes. William Leete was called upon to fill many public offices. He was clerk of the plantation, 1639-62, was one of the four to whom was entrusted supreme civil power, was one of the seven pillars of the church, one of the founders of the colony of New Haven, deputy to the Gen- eral Court, 1643-50; magistrate, 1651-58; deputy governor, 1658-61 ; Governor, 1661, until the colony of New Haven was united with Connecticut in 1664. After the union he was assistant until 1669, then deputy governor of the Connecticut Colony until 1676, when he was elected Governor, a high position he held through successive reëlections until his death in 1683. Guil- ford was his home until his election as Governor of Connecticut, when he moved to Hartford, and there died and was buried. His tombstone was discovered about 1830, in the ancient burying ground in the rear of the First Church of Hart- ford, where it had long been hidden be- neath an accumulation of earth. His de- scendants have since erected a plain granite monument to his memory. Says Trumbull: "He was magistrate, deputy governor, or Governor, of one or the other of the Colonies during a period of forty years. In both Colonies he presided in times of the greatest difficulty, yet always conducted himself with such integrity and wisdom as to meet the public approba- tion." Governor William Leete married (first) in England, about 1638, Anna Payne, daughter of Rev. John Payne, of Southhoe. She was the mother of his nine children : he was twice married after her death. This branch continues through John, the first born.
32
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
(II) John Leete, son of Governor Wil- liam Leete, who is said to have been the first white child born in Guilford, died November 25, 1692, aged fifty-three years. Ile married, October 4, 1670, Mary Chiit- tenden, daughter of William and Joanna (Sheafe) Chittenden. They were the par- ents of eight children, the next in this line being Peletiah, the fifth child.
(III) Deacon Peletiah Leete, son of John Leete, was born March 26, 1681, and was the first of the family to settle at "Leete's Island." There he resided until his death, and was a large landowner, and a good farmer, considering one hundred bushels of shelled corn to the acre nothing more than a fair average yield. He kept one hundred head of cattle, and was one of the substantial men of his day, inherit- ing the acres which he tilled from his father, who had them from his father, Governor William Leete. Peletiah Leete was a deacon of the Fourth Congrega- tional Church of Guilford, and represent- ed Guilford in the General Court many times. He died October 13. 1768. He married, July 1, 1705, Abigail Fowler, daughter of Abigail and Elizabeth (Bart- lett) Fowler, of Guilford. She died Oc- tober 22, 1769, aged ninety years, surviv- ing her husband but one year, they hav- ing experienced a married life of sixty- three years. This branch traces through their eldest son and second child, Daniel. (IV) Deacon Daniel Leete, son of Dea- con Peletiah Leete, was born at the home- stead in Guilford, October 14, 1709, and died October 1, 1772. He was a farmer at Leete's Island all of his life, and a dea- con of the Fourth Congregational Church of Guilford. He married, June 14. 1738, Rhoda Stone, born November 2, 1719, died December 23, 1769, daughter of Caleb and Sarah (Meigs) Stone. Their son, Daniel (2), is head of the next generation.
(V) Daniel (2) Leete, son of Deacon Conn-7- 3
Daniel (1) Leete, was born at Leete's Island, Guilford, Connecticut, April 17, 1742, and there died May 3, 1825, a farmer. Ile married, December 10, 1766, Charity Norton, born in 1743, died February 13, 1824, daughter of Daniel and Sarah (Brad- ley) Norton, of Guilford. At a meeting of the town of Guilford held December 8, 1778, Daniel Leete was appointed to serve on a commission to care for the families of Revolutionary soldiers and to provide proper clothing for same. At a meeting held by the town of Guilford, on February 14, 1780, a committee was chosen of which Daniel Leete was one to provide for the families of soldiers engaged in fighting the battles of the American Revolution. At another meeting held by the town of Guilford, December 8, 1778, one Daniel Leete was appointed to erect a suitable guard house. The line follows through their youngest son and third child, Ed- mund.
(VI) Edmund Leete, son of Daniel (2) Leete, was born at Leete's Island home- stead, Guilford, Connecticut, May 10, 1775, and there died May 28, 1825, a farmer. He married, February 26, 1801, Fanny Goldsmith, born February 25, 1783, died December 5, 1864, daughter of John and Mary (Case) Goldsmith, of Guilford. Their children were: Henry William. of further mention : Benjamin Case, married Amanda Cook; Fanny Minerva, married George Fowler ; Samuel Willis, married Emma Buell ; Mary Fidelia, married Rus- sell Crampton; Eunice Louisa, married Philander Field.
(VII) Henry William Leete, son of Edmund Leete, was born at Leete's Island homestead, Guilford, Connecticut, December 1, 1801, died in Wallingford. Connecticut, October 10, 1844. He mar- ried, in September, 1824, Nancy A. Doo- little, born August 19, 1804, daughter of Gules and Amelia (Thomas) Doolittle.
33
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
They were the parents of: Sarah, born May 24, 1826, married John Powers; Henry Edmund, born March 26, 1828, married Cynthia Freeman; George, of further mention ; Elizabeth, born October 9, 1833, married William Smith; Marietta Clarissa, born June 19, 1836, married A. K. Conklin; Rachel Isabel, born Decem- ber 3, 1839; Fanny Amelia, born July 30, 1842, married John Anderson.
(VIII) George Leete, son of Henry William Leete, was born in Wallingford, Connecticut, April 6, 1830, and died March 23, 1915. He resided in Thompsonville, Connecticut, and for over fifty years was a foreman in the employ of the New York, New Haven & Hartford Railroad. He married Mary Coughlan, born in County Cork, Ireland, in 1837 (now Queenstown). Their children were: Eva Augusta, born December 3, 1858, married James Davi- son ; Arthur Russell, of further mention ; Edmund, born November 3, 1866, died September 29, 1868; William, born 1869; Edward, born October 14, 1870; Joseph, born July 9, 1873 ; Fannie May, born July 13, 1881, died August 3, 1881.
(IX) Arthur Russell Leete, son of George and Mary (Coughlan) Leete, was born in Thompsonville, February 2, 1864, where he died April 11, 1919. He attend- ed the public school until thirteen years of age. His first year after leaving school was spent as credit boy in the Hartford Carpet Mills. He then began his busi- ness career as errand boy and clerk for Niles Pease, original founder of the home furnishing business, where he remained about five years. He then formed a co- partnership with J. E. Allen, under the firm name of Allen & Leete, house fur- nishers, and who bought the business of Niles Pease. After a few years Mr. Allen, the partner, retired, the business being taken over by Arthur R. Leete, who con- ducted it most successfully until his death.
He also had under his control a plumbing business and a tinsmithing shop. He was a thoroughly competent undertaker and funeral director, and for twelve years was president of the State Board of Embalm- ers. Mr. Leete was active in the Board of Trade interests in Thompsonville, and served as its president from 1896 to 1900. In 1918 he was elected again to this office and served until his untimely death. He was a member of the Enfield Business Men's Association.
In politics, Mr. Leete was a loyal, ar- dent Republican, and a member of the town committee for two years. In 1909 he was elected representative from En- field and served as chairman of the com- mittee on roads and bridges. He was a member of the Connecticut Board of Ex- aminers of Embalmers, appointed by Gov- ernor Frank B. Weeks. He served sev- eral terms as a member of the town school committee, and for fifteen years was a member of the school committee, District 2, which comprised all the Thompsonville schools. He was a director of the Con- necticut Valley Waterways Association. Mr. Leete was a thirty-second degree Ma- son, and a member of Doric Lodge, An- cient Free and Accepted Masons ; he was master of this lodge three terms, 1894-95- 96, and was a member of the board of trustees. He was also a member of Wash- ington Commandery of Suffield; Suffield Council; Sphinx Temple of Hartford. His clubs were the Calumet, Columbus Fish and Game Club of Canada and Springfield Fish and Game Club. He held membership in the Enfield Society for the Detection of Thieves and Robbers.
Mr. Leete married, June 21, 1892, in Windsor, Connecticut, Jane Abigail Tryon, born July 11, 1867, daughter of Watson Tryon, the long time contractor and builder, who built the Connecticut State Capitol, one of the best constructed
34
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
in the United States, and built well within the appropriation. Mr. Tryon is still liv- ing, aged ninety-six years. Mr. and Mrs. Leete were the parents of two sons and a daughter: 1. Malcohn R., born Febru- ary 1, 1894, enlisted in May, 1917, as a private in the United States Hospital Corps, in service in France ; he was prob- ably one of the first to sail for foreign service, and served twenty-one months until his discharge, April 18, 1919. 2. Marian Tryon, born April 15, 1896. 3. William Kenneth, born August 27, 1897, is a graduate of the Preparatory School at Swathmore; he joined the Yale Battery, and was at Camp Tobyhanna, Pennsyl- vania.
WHITAKER, George Lewis, Transportation Manager.
The work of the world is done by those who have the strength, physical or mental, to carry the weight of their own burdens, and still help lift those of their fellow- men. No matter what the work may be, the personality of the worker and the conscientious fulfillment of every duty in- volved, makes the work and the worker a benefit to mankind, and gives both a dig- nity to be won in no other way. Among those men in the city of Hartford, Con- necticut, whose work meets the never ceasing need of the people, is George Lewis Whitaker, of Whitaker & Bacon, the well known car men of Trumbull street.
Whitaker is one of those names which are derived from the location of the pro- genitor's home. It means dweller at the White Field. It is of English origin, and dates back to the fourteenth century. The field was undoubtedly named either be- cause of some white flower growing in abundance in it, or because some incident making it necessary to designate the place
occurred during an unusually severe win- ter, when the field was covered with snow.
George Lewis Whitaker, of the firm of Whitaker & Bacon, was born in Norwich, Connecticut, November 11, 1868, son of Charles E. and Harriet M. (Holdridge) Whitaker. He was educated in the pub- lic schools of Norwich, Connecticut, and the Norwich Academy. Eager to begin a man's work, and alive to the world of movement and action, he followed rail- roading for a time, working for the New London & Northern, then for the New York & New England, now the Highland Division of the New York, New Haven & Hartford. He then entered the employ of the Norwich & New York Transportation Company. This kept him in Norwich, as he held the office of secretary of the com- pany, and served as its agent at that city. He remained in this position for two years. Like thousands of our best young men at that period, he went to Oregon, where he became interested in mining. He was more successful than many, but feeling satisfied that great wealth in this line was merely a matter of chance, he decided to turn to something where his native energy and capability for practical management of affairs would count. He believed that success in the long run was certain in that direction. Eventually he proved himself in the right. He returned East and located in Hartford, where he was in the employ of the Sherman Trans- fer Company for seven years. He found the work congenial, and his cheerful man- ner and faithful attention to business gave him the upward progress for which he was looking. After three years he was made manager of the business, which position he held for four years. By this time Mr. Whitaker saw that in the de- velopment of the city the business inter- ests were throwing on the firms in his line more work than they could well
35
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
handle. In association with Frank Fred- erick Bacon, a sketch of whom follows, he formed a partnership in this line of business, under the firm name of Whit- aker & Bacon. They do a large business, owning forty-two head of horses and four large auto trucks. With this fine equip- ment and the spirit of progress which they put into their work, they form a significant part of the business life of Hartford. Mr. Whitaker is a member of Hartford Lodge, Ancient Free and Ac- cepted Masons, and a charter member of Norwich Lodge, Benevolent and Protec- tive Order of Elks, of which he was the first secretary. He is a Republican in political faith, and while still a resident of Norwich was an active worker, but not an aspirant for office. For a number of years he served as secretary of the Young Republicans' Club, in that city.
Mr. Whitaker married Susan, daughter of Jacob Eberle, of Hartford, and they are the parents of two children, George A. and Walter E. The family are members of the Church of the Good Shepherd.
A leader, keen of mind and possessing exceptional executive ability, Mr. Whit- aker is still considerate of those in his employ, and a cordial friend of his busi- ness associates.
BACON, Frank Frederick,
Transportation Business.
To be useful is to be great. There is no man so useful to society as the man of action. Let the line of effort be what it may, the man who makes of his work in life an active, progressive industry, and rising from the ranks of the employee, gains the eminence of the employer, places the work he has done and the position which he holds on a basis of dignity as well as usefulness. Too many men forget, in the scramble for easy, esthetic occupa-
tions, the sturdy, upright manliness which, through all the generations of our exist- ence as a Nation, the men of these United States have devoted to those pursuits which demand of a man physical stamina, hardihood, and unremitting toil. The use- fulness of such work cannot be gainsaid, and the man who has foregone the lighter responsibilities to give himself to duties which are a service to mankind is a man deserving of the highest honor. Frank Frederick Bacon, of the firm of Whitaker & Bacon, car men, of Hartford, is one of those men who has chosen useful work, and made of it a business which demands more than passing recognition.
The surname Bacon is derived from the Saxon word, buccen or baccen, meaning beech tree. It is a very ancient family. In 1082 William Bacon endowed the Abbey of the Holy Trinity at Caen. Among the early Bacons was Roger Bacon, born in 1214. John Bacon was a learned monk, and died in 1346, in Lon- don. During the reign of Queen Eliza- beth, Sir Nicholas Bacon was keeper of the great seal, and was the first to be created a baronet by James I.
Mr. Bacon's father, Andrew Bacon, was born in the suburbs of Buffalo, New York, and died in New York City, in 1911, at the age of seventy-nine years. He was educated in the public schools of Buffalo, and then followed the canal for some years as captain of a canal boat. Later he removed to Springfield, Pennsylvania, where he engaged in farming for a num- ber of years. After he retired from active life he spent his declining years visiting among his children. He was a Republi- can by political affiliations, and held vari- ous town offices at different times, but was not a politician. He married Emily Wohlgast, and they were the parents of seven children : Louise, who married Justin Coville; Amanda, Charles A., Al-
36
R.W.E. Hatt is
-
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
bert L., Mary, who married Louis Ranschkolb; Frank Frederick, of whom further ; Jay W. The mother was a mem- ber of the Methodist Episcopal church.
Frank Frederick Bacon was born in Sherman, New York, March 5, 1873. He was educated in the public schools of Springfield, Pennsylvania, then went to Northwest Montana, where he worked on cattle ranges for eight years. After that he removed to Chicago, and entered the employ of Nelson Morris, as a cattle ship- per in their stock yards. Then he came to Middletown, Connecticut, and was in the employ of Kennedy, the truckman, for six or seven years. About fifteen years ago he came to Hartford and en- tered the employ of Bill Brothers, car mon, and went from them to the Sherman Transfer Company. Five years ago, hav- ing laid aside a little from his years of steady work and thrifty habits, and appre- ciating the possibilities offered by the rapid growth of the city, he formed a partnership with George L. Whitaker, and started a general trucking business. In this short time the business has grown to large proportions. They have forty- two head of horses and four fine automo- bile trucks, which are all kept busy the greater part of the time. The firm are familiar with the needs of the public along these lines; they are prompt and obliging, and believe in carrying the policy of quality into a business whether it be a manufacturing, mercantile or pub- lic service enterprise.
Mr. Bacon married Nellie Gertrude Larkin, of Middletown, Connecticut, and they have one child, Lester A., born June 17, 1898, and who is now serving in the Three Hundred and Twenty-sixth Field Signal Battalion with the Army of Occu- pation.
Mr. Bacon is a man of genial disposi- tion, sturdy manhood, with a cheerful out-
look on life and its interests. He makes friends as well as helpers of his employees, and holds a high standard of character as well as efficiency in his dealings with them. He is a public-spirited man, inter- ested in the good of the city, and well in- formed on all questions of local, national and international interest.
ALCOTT, Ralph Waldo Emerson,
Physician.
New England is justly famous for citi- zens who have won recognition-in the world of art and letters, in the professions and in the industries. From the pine woods of Maine to the section which now prides itself on being the suburb of the metropolis, town after town, and city after city points with pride to names which have become of more than local significance ; modest, retiring citizens who have followed the call of their ideals, who have ministered to the spiritual and esthetic longings of their fellows, who have administered large affairs and cre- ated industries which have become the means of sustenance for countless thou- sands; men whose achievements have revolutionized industry; women whose faces are enshrined in the hearts of loving admirers, and whose words have not only given pleasure, but have pointed out the high path of honor to youth.
Working for the good of humanity in the rank and file of public service, are many men, who deservedly enjoy the con- fidence of their fellow-citizens, but disre- gard the allurements of a wider fame to meet the every-day needs of the people. The bonds of service unite these two groups in a common brotherhood. There is no profession so exacting, none de- manding such unreserving self-sacrifice, as that of a physician. And it is only just and fair to accord to the man who fulfills
37
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
his obligations in this profession a posi- tion among the men we honor. Dr. Al- cott, of West Hartford, is such a man.
The name Alcott is a familiar one in old English history, but is there spelled Al- cocke. There was an Alcoc in Cam- bridgeshire in the reign of Edward I., and in the same reign there was a John de Alcock in London. The first of the name appearing in English history was John Alcock, born in Beverly, in Yorkshire county. Thomas Fuller gives the follow- ing account in his "Worthies of Eng- land :"
John Alcocke was born in Beverly, County Yorkshire, where he built a chapel and founded a chantry for his parents. He was bred a D. D. in Cambridge, and at last became Bishop of Ely. His prudence appears in that he was made Lord Chancellor of England by King Henry the Sev- enth, a prince of an excellent palate to taste men's abilities; and a dunce was no dish for his diet. His piety is praised by the pen of J. Bale; which, though generally bitter, drops nothing but honey on Alcocke's memory, commending him for a most mortified man, "given to learning and piety from his childhood; growing from grace to grace, so that in his age none in England was higher for holiness." He turned the old nunnery of St. Radi- gund into a new college, called "Jesus" in Cam- bridge. Surely, had Malcolmn, King of Scots- first founder of that nunnery, survived to see this alteration, it would have rejoiced his heart to behold lewdness and laziness turned out for indus- try and piety to be put in their place. This Alcocke died October 1, 1500; and had saintship gone as much by merit as by favor, he deserved one as well as his namesake, St. John; his pre- decessor in that see.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.