USA > Connecticut > Encyclopedia of Connecticut biography, genealogical-memorial; representative citizens, v. 9 > Part 37
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In his younger days, he was in the rail- road business, working for the New York & New England railroad, and later was assistant cashier of the Hartford freight station of the New York, New Haven & Hartford railroad, again returning to the New England station at East Hartford to become chief clerk of the freight depart- ment, which not only cared for the local freight and passenger ticket office, but managed the large freight transfer sta- tion, which was the only one between Boston and Fishkill-on-the-Hudson. When he resigned his position with the railroad company, he was urged to reconsider his resignation and to become the agent for East Hartford station, which covered not only the freight department but the pas- senger and yard agency. Having tired of the railroad, he returned to the farm and took up tobacco growing with his father, and specialized on "Broad-leaf" tobacco. He also added to his tobacco growing the agricultural implement business, and was for several years the transfer agent for the International Harvester Company of America, of Chicago, Illinois, and sup- plied their local agents in Connecticut and Western Massachusetts with a full line of machines and repairs, which were the McCormick, Deering and Osborne lines. Later he dropped the implement business and took up the packing and sweating of tobacco, which he is now doing, representing a large tobacco packer, with offices in New York City.
Mr. Ackley has been a member of the New England Tobacco Growers' Associa- tion for many years and has been its sec- retary since 1909. He also appeared as a member of a committee before the Ways and Means Committee in Washington,
D. C., in January, 1921, asking for an addi- tional tariff on wrapper leaf tobacco. Fra- ternally, Mr. Ackley is a member of Orient Lodge, Free and Accepted Masons ; a life member of Pythagoras Chapter, Royal Arch Masons; Wolcott Council, Royal and Select Masters; Washington Com- mandery, Knights Templar, of Hartford, Connecticut; and a member of the Con- necticut Consistory of Norwich, Connec- ticut ; also a member of Sphinx Temple, Ancient Arabic Order Nobles of the Mys- tic Shrine; and Syria Grotto, Masonic Order, Veiled Prophets of the Enchanted Realm, of Hartford, Connecticut.
Mr. Ackley married Helen M. Roberts, daughter of George W. Roberts, of Mid- dletown, Connecticut, and they have four children: Miriam K., who is connected with Putnam & Company, stock brokers of Hartford; Mary E., a graduate of Mount Holyoke College, and now an in- structor of English in the Manchester High School ; Frances, a graduate of Til- ton Academy, and now with the Connec- ticut Mutual Life Insurance Company ; Frederick R., now in the East Hartford High School, a member of the 1922 class.
Mr. and Mrs. Ackley are members of the First Congregational Church, and Mr. Ackley served as a trustee and as clerk of the Ecclesiastical Society and was as- sistant treasurer for many years.
WARNER, Howard Humphrey,
Financier.
The career of this individual illustrates the benefit of American institutions under which any man may advance himself by industry and fidelity, characteristics highly essential in a banker. Mr. Warner is descended from an early Connecticut family and his ancestry has been traced to Abraham Warner, who is said by tra- dition to have been a native of New
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Haven, though he is not found in the vital records of that town. He was engaged in the meat business in New Haven and died in that city. His second son, Isaac Warner, is said to have been born in New Haven and came to Middletown when a young man. In 1796 he bought for $405, a lot on the south side of Ferry street. Here he erected a large brick shop, in which he conducted an extensive black- smithing business, operating four forges. With the earnings of this business, he purchased from John Ward, a farm at Long Hill, and when he retired from me- chanical pursuits, he continued in the cultivation of this farm. In response to a large demand, he also operated a black- smith shop on his farm, and fitted out irons for schooners. In his later years, his entire time was devoted to farming until an accident destroyed his health and unbalanced his mind. He married (first) Dianna Waterman Crosby, born in Port- land. Their third son, Isaac Henry Warner, was born February 19, 1825, in Middletown, and died December 19, 1884, in Cromwell. For many years he engaged in the manufacture of hammers in associa- tion with William M. Noble and Marvin R. Warner. His father, Isaac Warner, originated the claw hammer. He was a charter member of Washington Lodge, No. 81, Masonic Fraternity, of Cromwell ; a public-spirited citizen and served the town of Cromwell as first selectman and representative in the State Legislature, holding the latter office in 1878-79. He married (second), June 18, 1872, Julia A. Ranney, of Cromwell, born November 3, 1847, daughter of Timothy and Maria (Mildrum) Ranney.
Howard Humphrey Warner, son of Isaac H. and Julia A. (Ranney) Warner, was born January 14, 1877, in Cromwell, where his boyhood was spent and where he at- tended the public schools. He was sub- sequently a student at the Highland Mili-
tary Academy, Worcester, Massachusetts, where he graduated in 1894. For three years subsequently he was employed by the J. & E. Stevens Manufacturing Com- pany at North Cromwell, Connecticut, where he was assistant bookkeeper. Subse- quently he became a teller in the Colum- bia Trust Company of Middletown, and in May, 1900, became associated with the Central National Bank of Middletown, where he began as a bookkeeper, was sub- sequently a teller ; in 1907 became cashier ; and in 1916 a director. He was among the active organizers of the Middletown Trust Company and is a director and treasurer of the same. He is also a direc- tor of the East Hampton Bank & Trust Company, and trustee of the Middletown Savings Bank, and a director and at one time president of the Morris Plan Com- pany of Middletown Connecticut. He is one of the corporators and a trustee of the Cromwell Dime Savings Bank; a di- rector and vice-president of the Arrigoni Coal Company; and in these various responsibilities finds plenty of occupation for his time. Mr. Warner is numbered among the progressive citizens of Middle- town, is highly esteemed in its social cir- cles; and respected and trusted as a busi- nessman. He is a member of the Con- gregational Church of Cromwell, of St. John's Lodge, No. 2, Free and Accepted Masons, and Washington Chapter, No. 6, Royal Arch Masons of Middletown. Mr. Warner married, January 21, 1898, Nellie C. Bliss, of Cromwell, daughter of Frank W. and Mary L. (Edwards) Bliss, of that town. They have one daughter, Helene Bliss Warner.
REGAN, Francis J., Man of Great Usefulness.
Manufacturing life holds many of the ablest and most representative men in its grasp, and Francis J. Regan, one of the
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most prominent and progressive manu- facturers in Connecticut, acquired marked success in his line. He was born in Rock- ville, Connecticut, February 25, 1861, the eldest son and second child of James J. and Mary Jane (Wilbur) Regan.
Francis J. Regan was educated in the schools of Rockville. When eighteen years old he became associated with his father, entering the factory as an em- ployee to learn the business. He made a thorough study of all the details of manu- facture, and then went on the road as salesman for part of the time. In this manner he was able to better secure an insight into the wants of his customers. By personal contact he made many last- ing friends for the firm because of his upright business dealings and pleasing personality. Following the death of his father, August 6, 1897, Francis J. Regan became general manager of the business. Heretofore it had been under the firm name of James J. Regan, and in June, 1898, it was incorporated as The James J. Regan Manufacturing Company, each of the children of the founder receiving an equal share of stock. At this time Mr. Regan became president and treasurer of the company, and a younger brother, Her- bert J. Regan, vice-president and assistant treasurer.
Mr. Regan immediately began plans for the development of the business and to widen its scope of operations. That he has been successful in this respect is evident. In 1900 the firm purchased the Fitch Mills, where forty looms were established and a line of woolen goods added to the knitting business. This increased greatly the volume of business, and four years later a new mill was built on Brooklyn street, where the looms from the Fitch Mills were placed. A further purchase was made in 1913 of the Hockanum Mills Company on West street, and additional
machinery installed therein. The woolen looms now number one hundred. During these years of growth an excellent name had been attained by the firm for its high quality of goods and workmanship, as well as integrity in business dealings. They sell direct and do not operate through any middlemen, maintaining a salesroom in the Fifth Avenue building, New York City. In 1917 the capital stock was increased from $240,000 to $600,000, and the volume of business equals $2,500,- 000 annually. There are about four hun- dred expert workmen employed. A specialty of the firm is woolens for men's wear, suitings, and overcoatings. Sixty- five per cent. of the woolen production of the firm are United States government orders, goods suitable for uniforms. For many years fleece lining was manufac- tured at the plant of The James J. Regan Manufacturing Company. A large quan- tity of this product was used by the manu- facturers of rubber footwear in this coun- try and Canada. This business, together with the machinery, was recently sold.
At the death of Colonel Francis J. Regan, which occurred October 10, 1919, Rockville lost a rare citizen, and Tolland county and the State of Connecticut an honored man of affairs, who had the con- fidence and respect of all who knew him. When measured by the standards of worth and success, which after all are the only true standards, he approximated the ideals of superb manhood. He was the friend of all who were willing and worthy. He spared not himself and his departure was from the ranks of the active, not the retired. It seems strange that Providence should take away from the activities of life this man of strong character, who was able to do so much good, be of so much service, and do so much kindness to his fellowmen. His death left a keenly felt vacancy and
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brought a sharp pang to many hearts. Such a man is hard to spare. No man in Rockville will be missed or mourned more. "God touched him and he slept." There are hundreds of men and women in Rockville whose lives were brightened and whose days were gladdened because Mr. Francis J. Regan went in and out among them. To his heart there was ever an open window that enabled all who saw him to look into his soul, from which emanated those splendid qualities he dis- played in his daily association with his fellowmen. He wrote his name with love, mercy and kindness on the hearts of those about him. Mr. Regan's record in Rockville was one which many men might covet and which he regarded with becoming modesty. Indeed, he shrank at commendation justly earned and honestly bestowed. Those who knew him inti- mately could say most gently, "Your great nature was too large to be little and too good to be mean."
The story of Francis J. Regan's life for twenty-five years preceding his death is closely interwoven with the history of the city of Rockville, to which he was loyal to the core. He had an integral part in the upbuilding of his community. He did not wait upon success ; he achieved it. A leader in his business, Colonel Regan, as he was known to many, stood at the very forefront. He had a remarkable capacity for work and just as remarkable executive ability. He conducted his business on a broad and humane basis. He was just, generous and honest. He did what he thought was right and then clung to it. He was wise in counsel, cool in judgment and vigorous in action. His ideals were pure and lofty. He trod with firm and unfaltering step the paths which led to rectitude and honor. Among all Rock- ville's citizens no man stands higher in his character, his work and the opinions
of his fellowmen. He was a man of varied and marked abilities who accomplished a most important work in much less than the full span of human life.
While Colonel Francis J. Regan was distinctively and preeminently a captain of industry and gave himself primarily to his business, he was a man of broad brotherhood and service, of clear public vision and true democratic ideas. It is not strange that a man of his qualities became identified with numerous enter- prises and various institutions, business, financial, civic and charitable. In all his relations in life, he was a good, clean- souled gentleman. A man of modest re- serve, he did not thrust himself immod- estly into affairs. In all the attributes of his character, he was frank, open, positive. His judgment was always sought on weighty matters. What he advised al- ways went a long way, because he always thought out things. He served as a direc- tor of the Savings Bank of Rockville, and of the First National Bank of Rockville, and was its president at the time of his death. For several years he was presi- dent of the Rockville Water & Aqueduct Company. He was a trustee of the Rock- ville City Hospital and the Rockville Pub- lic Library. He was one of the best friends the Rockville Visiting Nurse As- sociation had, and also served as vice- president of the association. The visiting nurses miss the interest he had in their work and the means he took to lighten it. They are mentioned not as an excep- tion, but in illustration of many thought- ful ways he had of doing good. He was ever generous and thoughtful of others. Lovable in his character, tender in his sympathies, he gave freely of his material substance to every worthy cause. His charity, gentleness and kindness were like flowers blooming by the wayside of life. The lowliest among his employees could
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seek him at any time and be assured of every courtesy and consideration. Throughout his entire life he gave his best to those who worked with and for him in an effort to build up the concern of which he was the directing genius and to con- tribute to their mutual progress and pros- perity and the progress and prosperity of Rockville.
In religion, Colonel Francis J. Regan was a devout Catholic and a member of St. Bernard's Church. He was also a member of the Rockville Chamber of Commerce, a charter member of Rock- ville Lodge, No. 1359, Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, and a trustee at the time of his death. He also be- longed to the Hartford Club and the Hart- ford Golf Club. Although a Republican in politics, Mr. Regan never sought public office. He attended the Republican Na- tional Convention at Chicago in 1912 as a delegate from the Second Congressional District of Connecticut, and at the time of his death was serving his fifth year on the staff of Governor Marcus H. Holcomb, as quartermaster general, with rank of colonel. Governor Marcus H. Holcomb and Colonel Francis J. Regan were close personal friends. It can be said of Mr. Regan that he gave to his church, his busi- ness, his city, his home, the best there was in him. There was no selfish pur- pose in his makeup. His home life was ideal. He possessed those domestic vir- tues which stand for the integrity of the home. Within the sheltering privacy of the family circle were revealed those lov- able traits of his sterling character that will ever endear his memory to his friends. No one who enjoyed access to that circle could fail to approximate him at his true worth. At his death all hearts went out to his sweet wife, Mary (Burke) Regan, who graces Rockville with her splendid accomplishments and her beautiful life.
The city of Rockville has gained much through Colonel Francis J. Regan. It would have gained more had he lived longer. The immortelles of memory, which fade not in a day, will cluster around this man's kind deeds and noble, useful life until memory itself is no more.
REGAN, Herbert J., Manufacturer.
One of the most prominent manufac- turers of Eastern Connecticut, and a lead- ing man of affairs in his native town of Rockville, Connecticut, Herbert J. Regan is held in high esteem as a citizen and business man.
He was born in Rockville, Connecticut, February 9, 1867, second son of James J. and Mary Jane (Wilbur) Regan. His father, James J. Regan, was a gentle- man of the old school and believed in young men starting to work at an early age, beginning at the bottom and learn- ing the business. Consequently when Herbert J. Regan finished his primary schooling, he immediately began work in his father's mills, although only a lad of twelve years. There has been no phase of the business that he has not performed, and by applying himself diligently to his work he rapidly progressed upward so that upon the death of his father he was competent to take an active part in the management of the affairs of the com- pany, and for several years past has held the office of vice-president and assistant treasurer of the concern. A Republican in politics, Mr. Regan has never been a seeker for office, although ever interested in all public movements. A real lover of the great out-doors. he finds pleasant recreation from the arduous duties of business life in the pastime of baseball, hunting and fishing. The genial, pleas- ant personality of Mr. Regan makes it a
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pleasure to know him and greet him; the years of his youth spent in hard work have developed the fine physical strength which he naturally possesses, and the qualities of the man of ability and power are present in abundance in his character. Mr. Regan married, in 1899, Mary Jane Eccles, daughter of Thomas Eccles, of Rockville, Connecticut. Mr. and Mrs. Regan are the foster parents of a son, Thomas E., whom they are liberally edu- cating and fitting to become a useful cit- izen. They are bringing up two daugh- ters, Catherine E. Eccles and Helen Ger- trude Eagan, giving them the comforts of a pleasant home and a good education, fitting them for their place in the world. These are only a few of the kind acts per- formed by Mr. Regan and his wife, to whom "kindness of heart is second nature itself."
RUSSELL, Thomas Macdonough,
Mechanical Engineer, Manufacturer.
The Russells of New England came of distinguished English ancestors. The name has been prominent in Connecticut, and is numerous in all of the New England States. As early as 1826, there were forty-seven of the family graduated from New England colleges.
The name is compounded of two Nor- man-French words, roz, castle, and el, a synonym for eau, water. The name was first given to a castle in Lower Nor- mandy, in 1045, and implied, later, to any tower or castle by the water. Hugh, son of William Bertrand, was invested with this stronghold and took its name, call- ing himself Hugh Rozel, from which came Rosel, Rousel, and, finally, the pres- ent Russell.
The immigrant ancestor of the family herein under consideration was William Russell, who came, in 1638, from Eng-
land, and died January 2, 1664, at New Haven, the death of his wife, whose maiden name was Sarah Davis, occurring December 3 of the same year. Their son,
Rev. Noadiah Russell, was born July 22, 1659, in New Haven, and in 1681 graduated from Harvard College. For a time after his graduation he was a tutor there. He was one of the founders of Yale College, and one of the original trus- tees of that institution, serving in that capacity from 1701 to 1713. Rev. Noa- diah Russell was also one of the framers of the famous Saybrook platform. For a quarter of a century he was the revered and beloved pastor of the First Church of Middletown, and it was written of him at that time that "He was accounted a man of wisdom and weight throughout the colony." So well did he win the hearts of his congregation and fellow- citizens that, after his death, his son was asked to succeed him. He married, Feb- ruary 20, 1690, Mary Hamlin, born Feb- ruary II, 1662, daughter of Honorable Giles and Hester Hamlin, of Middletown. Their son,
Rev. William Russell, was born No- vember 30, 1690, and in 1709 was gradu- ated from Yale, where subsequently he was a tutor. From 1745 to 1761, he served as trustee, and was offered the po- sition of president or rector of Yale Col- lege, being the first of the alumni to be thus honored. He did not accept, how- ever, accepting instead, the pastorship of the First Church of Middletown, succeed- ing his father, which charge he held until his death, June 1, 1761, a period of forty- six years. He married, August 19, 1719, Mary Pierpont, born November 23, 1703, in New Haven, died June 24, 1740, in Mid- dletown, daughter of Rev. James and Mary (Hooker) Pierpont, of New Haven.
James Pierpont was one of the original founders of Yale University and a trus-
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tee from 1701 to 1714. His wife, Mary Hooker, born July 3, 1673, in Farmington, was a daughter of Rev. Samuel and Mary (Willett) Hooker, of that town, and granddaughter of Rev. Thomas Hooker, one of the founders of the Hartford Colony.
Samuel Russell, son of Rev. William and Mary (Pierpont) Russell, was born July 7, 1727, in Middletown, where he made his home. There he married, Au- gust 29, 1757, Ruth Wetmore, born Au- gust II, 1737, youngest child of Daniel and Dorothy (Hale) Wetmore, of Mid- dle-town, descended from Francis Wet- more, a pioneer of that town, formerly of Cambridge, Massachusetts. Samuel Rus- sell and wife were the parents of :
John Russell, who was born August 19, 1765, died December 7, 1801. He mar- ried, June 29, 1788, Abigail Warner, who was born December 4, 1759, died July II, 1846, daughter of Joseph and Alice (Ward) Warner, of Middletown. Their son,
Samuel Russell, was born August 25, 1789. He was the founder of the house of Russell & Company, in partnership with other gentlemen, in Canton, China, in 1824. He married, October 6, 1815, Mary Cotton Osborne, a descendant of Cotton, Increase and Samuel Mather, born December 29, 1796, died September 4, 1819. She was the mother of
George Osborne Russell, who was born July 5, 1816, in Middletown, and married (first), May 16, 1843, Augusta Harriet Mather, born July 17, 1824. She died April 8, 1844, and he married (second) Amelia Charlotte Mather, daughter of Thomas and Sally A. (Williams) Mather, of Middletown, and sister of his first wife.
Samuel Mather, son of Richard and Catherine (Wise) Mather, was born Jan- uary 3, 1684, in Lyme, and died there July 12, 1785. He married, January, 1712,
Deborah S. Starr, and their eldest son, Richard Mather, was born December 22, 1712, in Lyme, where he lived. He mar- ried, May 18, 1742, Deborah Ely, and their eldest son, Samuel Mather, born February 22, 1745, married, November 14, 1765, Lois Griswold. Their eldest son, Thomas Mather, born October 10, 1768, in Lyme, died March 6, 1849, in Middle- town. He married (second) Sally A. Williams, daughter of Benjamin Wil- liams. Their daughter, Amelia Charlotte, became the wife of George O. Russell, as previously noted. To his second mar- riage were born two children: Samuel, of further mention; and George Osborne Russell.
Samuel Russell, son of George Osborne and Amelia Charlotte (Mather) Russell, was born September 8, 1847, in Middle- town, and educated at the Russell School in New Haven, and in the Phillips Acad- emy, Andover, Massachusetts. He spent two years in an architect's office in New York City, for twelve years he served as vice-president and a member of the board of directors of the Russell Manufacturing Company, and from 1918 to the present has again served as vice-president. He was a director of the Bombay Tramway Company of India; and vice-president of the Middletown Savings Bank, and is now (1922) trustee of the Connecticut Hospital for the Insane, of the Connecti- cut Industrial School, of the Russell Li- brary, and .of St. Luke's Home. His clubs are the Union and Lenox, and the Car- rituck Shooting Club. Mr. Russell is an independent in politics, and a member of the Episcopal church of Middletown. He married Lucy Macdonough Hubbard, born November 6, 1846, died February 2, 1876, daughter of Henry G. Hubbard, and a descendant of George Hubbard, who was settled in Hartford in 1639.
George Hubbard, born in 1601, in Eng-
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land, was in Hartford as early as 1639, and in the following year married Elizabeth, daughter of Richard and Elizabeth Watts. In the same year he was assigned a home lot on the east side of the river and in March, 1651, was one of the band which settled Middletown. He was admitted as a freeman in 1654, and owned much land on both sides of the river, with a home on what is now Main street. He was one of three who contributed land for the Sec- ond Meeting House, and died March 18, 1684. His widow, Elizabeth, died in 1702. His eldest son, Joseph Hubbard, born De- cember 10, 1643, in Hartford, died in Mid- dletown, December 26, 1686. The inven- tory of his estate, made in December, 1686, included one hundred forty-six acres of land, live stock and tools, and other property valued at one hundred forty pounds. He married, December 29, 1670, Mary Porter, born February 5, 1655, died in Middletown, June 10, 1707, daughter of Dr. Daniel and Mary Porter, of Farming- ton. Their second son, Robert Hubbard, born October 30, 1673, in Middletown, died there June 19, 1740. He married, March 4, 1703, Abigail Atkins Ward, born September 11, 1676, died April 23, 1735, daughter of Josiah and Elizabeth (At- kins) Ward, of Middletown. The only son of this marriage, Robert Hubbard, born July 30, 1712, in Middletown, died there January 29, 1779. About 1730 he settled on East Long Hill, where he en- gaged in agriculture. He married, Octo- ber 9, 1735, Elizabeth Sill, born Novem- ber 20, 1707, in Lyme, second daughter of Captain Joseph and Phoebe (Lord) Sill, granddaughter of Joseph and Jemima (Belcher) Sill, and great-granddaughter of John Sill, born in England, who came with his wife, Joanna, to Cambridge, Mas- sachusetts, in 1637, and was made a free- man the following year, both he and his wife being members of the Cambridge
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