USA > Connecticut > Encyclopedia of Connecticut biography, genealogical-memorial; representative citizens, v. 9 > Part 47
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born December 19, 1641, in New Haven, died January 6, 1722, daughter of Thomas and Alice Kimberly. Their eldest son, Isaac Boardman, born July 21, 1666, was the first to adopt the present spelling of the name. He died in Wethersfield, May 9, 1719, just before his father. He mar- ried, December 7, 1699, Rebecca Benton, daughter of Edward and Mary Benton.
Josiah Boardman, third son of Isaac and Rebecca (Benton) Boardman, was born June 30, 1705, removed to the town of Middletown, and settled in Westfield society November 29, 1727. About this time he purchased from Samuel Galpin, of Kensington parish, half of a one hundred acre tract in the northwest corner of Mid- dletown, adjoining the farm of his brother, Edward Boardman. With his wife, he joined the Kensington Congrega- tional Church, which was nearer their home than that at Middletown, and con- tinued in this relation until his death, January 29, 1781. He married, August 5, 1734, Rachel Cole, born in 1712, died Feb- ruary 29, 1782.
Their child, Nathan Boardman, born June 17, 1757, lived in Westfield, on a portion of his father's farm, which came to him by inheritance, and died July 7. 1828. His death was very sudden, while in the act of descending from a load of hay. He married, February 12, 1777, Anna Porter, born in 1752, in East Hart- ford, died October 12, 1807.
Ira Boardman, eldest child of Nathan and Anna (Porter) Boardman, born Jan- uary 5, 1779, lived on the homestead in Westfield, and engaged in its cultivation until his death, June 28, 1833. He mar- ried, November 26, 1800, Sybil Treat, born May I, 1782, daughter of Amos and Mary (Wilcox) Treat, descended from Robert Trott (as the name was spelled in England), a resident of Pitminster, Som- erset, England, a communicant of the
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church there. His wife's name was Joanna, and they were the parents of Richard Trott, baptized August 28, 1584, at the Pitminster church, died in Wethersfield between October 11, 1669, and March 3rd of the following year. In 1637, he came to New England, and with Matthias Trott was the founder of the Treat family in that part of the country. One of the foremost men of the colony in civil, religious and military affairs, he was one of the nineteen patentees in the charter of 1662 granted by Charles II. He owned nine hundred acres of land in the Glastonbury section, known as the Treat farm, a portion of which is still held in the family name. He was given the title of Mr., which was held by only three others in the list of Wethersfield freemen in 1659, and was a very wealthy man for the period. He married, April 27, 1615, Alice Gaylord, daughter of Hugh Gaylord, also a resident of Pitminster, and their children were born in England. One of these, Robert Treat, baptized February 25, 1625, in Pitminster, came to Wethers- field with his father, but was very early in Milford, Connecticut, where he died July 12, 1710. He returned for a time to Wethersfield and was a member of the church there, but in 1648, was again in Milford. He was very prominent in pub- lic affairs, was seventeen years deputy governor of the colony, and thirteen years governor. He married, in 1647, Jane Tapp, only daughter of Edmund Tapp, who died April 8, 1703. Their son, Cap- tain Joseph Treat, born September 17, 1662,, in Milford, died there August 9, 1721. In 1708 he was captain of the train band. His second wife, Mrs. Elizabeth Merwin, was the mother of Stephen Treat, born October 10, 1715, in Milford, youngest child of Captain Joseph Treat, died November 13, 1794, in that part of Middletown which is now Cromwell,
where he was admitted to full com- munion in the church August 18, 1765. He married, June 12, 1746, Miriam Clark, who was born March 15, 1727, died July 12, 1754, eldest child of Joseph and Miriam (Cornwall) Clark.
Amos Treat, third son of Stephen and Miriam (Clark) Treat, was born October 23, 1757, and lived in Cromwell, where he died November 6, 1788. He married, February 8, 1781, Mary Wilcox, born September 13, 1756, in Cromwell, died September 1, 1787, daughter of Israel and Martha (Barnes) Wilcox, descended from John Wilcox of Middletown, who was a son of John Wilcox of Hartford, both mentioned at length elsewhere. Israel Wilcox, eldest son of John Wilcox, and his second wife Catherine Stoughton, was born June 19, 1656 in what is now Crom- well and died there December 20, 1689. He married, March 28, 1678, Sarah Sav- age, born July 30, 1657, daughter of John and Elizabeth Savage, Cromwell pioneers. Israel Wilcox, son of Israel and Sarah (Savage) Wilcox, was born January 16, 1679, married, December 16, 1717, Mary North, who died July 6, 1734. Their eld- est son, Israel Wilcox, born September I, 1720, married April 4, 1749, Martha Barnes of Easthampton, Long Island, and they were parents of Mary Wilcox, who became the wife of Amos Treat. Their daughter, Sybil Treat, became the wife of Ira Boardman, as previously noted.
Emilius Boardman, son of Ira and Sybil Boardman, was born January 7, 1809, in Westfield, where he was a farmer, located a short distance north of the present home of his grandson, Frank E. Boardman. An industrious husband- man, he accumulated considerable prop- erty, and died March 28, 1883. He was a Congregationalist. He married Amanda Stone, who was born February 9, 1807,
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daughter of Heman Stone, of North Mad- ison, died November 4, 1858.
George Franklin Boardman, only son of Emilius and Amanda (Stone) Boardman, was born June 25, 1842, and was educated in the district school and preparatory school of Daniel H. Chase, in Middle- town. He continued to assist in the cul- tivation of the home farm until he pur- chased a tract of forty acres upon which he settled. To this he added at various times until he was the possessor of two hundred acres at the time of his death, April 21, 1890. He was a man of slender build, but gifted with a sound constitu- tion, and was capable of great labor and accumulated a handsome property. Of
quiet nature, he cared nothing for public office, but was a supporter of the Republi- can party from the time of its organiza- tion. He was one of the organizers of the Westfield Grange, in which he held various offices, including that of treas- urer. An active member of the Westfield Congregational Church, he filled various offices in that body. He married, Novem- ber 20, 1865, Mrs. Anna Elizabeth Ken- yon, born May 10, 1837, died June 30, 1903, daughter of John H. and Anna (Kenyon) Knowles, and widow of John C. Kenyon of South Kingston, Rhode Island. The last named was a soldier in the Civil War and was killed at the Bat- tle of Fredericksburg. Mr. and Mrs. Boardman were the parents of two sons; the younger, Clarence E., born March 18, 1869, is unmarried, and resides near his brother in Westfield.
Frank Elmer Boardman attended the district schools of Westfield, the Middle- town High School, and graduated from the Wilbraham (Massachusetts) Business University, in 1883. At the age of seven- teen years he left his classes to assist in the cultivation of the home farm, which he inherited at the death of his father. He
long engaged in rearing thoroughbred Holstein cattle, which won many prem- iums at various exhibitions, and for many years held the State agency for the sale of gas engines and machinery, manufac- tured by the D. M. Osborne Company of Auburn, New York, and the W. Eddy Plow Company of Greenwich, New York. He also engaged in the manufacture of "Broadman's Complete Fertilizer" for potatoes and general crops. He began the sale of this in 1896, having previously acted as agent for other manufacturers, but found his own to be superior, and his- sales were quite extensive.
He is a member of the Westfield Con- gregational Church, of which he has been deacon and clerk, and is also associated with the Westfield Grange, and the Cen- tral Pomona Grange, in both of which he has held the office of master and various. other important chairs. He is also a mem- ber of Mattabessett Council, No. 12, Jun- ior Order of United American Mechanics, in which he has filled all the principal chairs. His political affiliations are with the Republican party, and he has been elected on its ticket to various important offices. He is now serving his second term as assessor, was representative in 1915 and 1917, serving on the committees. on Agriculture, Women's Suffrage, and Joint Rule. For several years he was superintendent of the Westfield Sunday School. Mr. Boardman has always been energetic, and entertains many progres- sive ideas, which make him useful in grange work and town affairs.
He married, October 9, 1888, in West- field, Edith L. Clark, who was born Au- gust 1, 1869, in Moodus, daughter of Francis L. and Lydia M. (Dodge) Clark. Mr. and Mrs. Boardman are the parents of two sons: Harold E., born November 2, 1892, married Hazel Umba, daughter of Arnold Umba, of Durham, and resides.
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in Hartford, where he is an office man- ager; Ray H., born November 5, 1895, is a draftsman employed by the Connecticut Electric Company of Meriden. At the entrance of the United States into the World War, he enlisted in the Ambulance Corps, and was attached to Squadron H in the Aero Service. Later he became attached to another squadron, and dur- ing all of his time abroad, was employed in hospital work.
ZWICK, Frank,
Physician, Hospital Official.
A prominent citizen of New Britain, Connecticut, and a leading physician, Dr. Frank Zwick was born in Naugatuck, Connecticut, July 25, 1889, son of Andrew and Wilhelmina (Rempfer) Swick. His father left his home in the Old World when he was but six or seven years old and came to America with his parents. The latter located in Naugatuck, and there Andrew Zwick attended school and grew to manhood. He learned the moulder's trade, which he followed for many years, and later learned the trade of pattern-maker, and this occupation he followed the rest of his life. From the time he was sixteen years of age he was employed by the United States Rubber Company until his retirement. Mr. Zwick was a member of the Germania Maennerchor. He married Wilhelmina Rempfer, and they were the parents of eight children, six of whom grew to man- hood and womanhood, as follows : Henry, a resident of Naugatuck; Lena, wife of Hans Griesback, of Naugatuck; Kather- ine, wife of Frederick Kirschner; Bertha, married John Ziegler; Andrew, of Naug- atuck; and Frank, of further mention. The family attended the Episcopal church of Naugatuck.
Frank Zwick attended school in Naug-
atuck, and after completing the high school course, entered the Vermont Acad- emy at Saxtons river and spent a year there in study. Then he went to the Uni- versity of Vermont, where he spent four years in the Medical School, graduating in 1913 with the degree of Medical Doctor. Following his graduation, Dr. Zwick was at the New Britain General Hospital for a year and for three months was at the Lying-In Hospital, in New York City.
At the end of this time Dr. Zwick en- gaged in practice in New Britain, Con- necticut, where he has attained well de- served success. He made a specialty of surgery, and is a member of the staff of the New Britain General Hospital ; he is president of the City Hospital staff and president of the Southern New England Vermont Alumni Association, and chair- man of the Board of Health. Dr. Zwick has made a brilliant start in the world of medicine and still has the best part of his life before him; it is safe to assume that he will succeed in adding further honor to his name and to his profession. He is a member of the City, County, State and American Medical associations.
Fraternally Dr. Zwick is a member of Centennial Lodge, Free and Accepted Masons; Giddings Chapter, Royal Arch Masons ; Doric Council, Royal and Select Masters; and of the Loyal Order of Moose.
Dr. Zwick married Lurene Hooker Mitchell, daughter of Robert C. Mitchell, of Mount Vernon, New York, and they attend the Center Congregational Church of New Britain.
HALL, Frank Isaac,
Business Manager, Manufacturer.
While not a descendant of the old Mid- dletown family of Hall, Mr. Hall partakes in large degree of the Yankee character-
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istics of energy, adaptability and industry. His grandfather came from England, and located in New York City, where his son, John W. Hall, was born, September 9, 1837. Later he moved to Troy, New York. There the son, John W. Hall, was reared and educated. Early in life he was apprenticed to a file maker and later en- gaged in the business of manufacturing files at Troy. In those days all the work was done by hand, and in association with
a brother, under the title of Hall Brothers, a very high reputation was at- tained. They removed to Middletown, where they continued operations, with a rooster as a trade mark, and their wares enjoyed the highest reputation in the country. When they were ready to retire their business in 1906, they notified Pratt & Whitney, of Hartford, one of their largest customers, and the latter concern immediately engaged a year's supply of files, which order was completed, and Mr. Hall retired from business in 1907. He died February 1, 1917, in Middletown. Mr. Hall was a member of the North Con- gregational Church, and of Central Lodge, No. 12, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, of Middletown, and was a staunch Republican in political principle. Being of domestic tastes, he did not par- ticipate in political movements. He mar- ried, in Middletown, Elizabeth M. Hutch- ings, who was born there, of parents who came from England. Mr. and Mrs. Hall were the parents of five children : Charles W., resides in Brooklyn, New York; Frank I., of further mention; Fannie Elizabeth, is the wife of Thomas Draper, now residing in Absecon, New Jersey ; Harry H., resides in Wethersfield, and is secretary of the Draper & Hall Company, manufacturers of machinery and tools in Middletown; and Harriett Louise, now Mrs. Walter M. Keen, residing in Flush- ing, New York.
Frank Isaac Hall was born December 12, 1872, in Middletown, and was educated in the city schools. An ambitious lad, during his vacations he worked at weav- ing in the shops of the Russell Manufac- turing Company, for which he received fifty cents per day. At the age of nine- teen years he entered the office of the Rockfall Woolen Company, near Middle- town, having attracted the attention of Joseph Merriam, the president of that es- tablishment. Young Hall justified the expectations of his patron, and took hold with such application and persistence that he soon rose above the postion of office boy. For some time he spent one-half of his time in the office and one-half in the mill, where he rapidly learned the details not only of manufacturing, but of the selling business. For several years he has been office manager, and is now a di- rector of the Rockfall Woolen Company, a close corporation. Mr. Hall is inter- ested in some undertakings outside of this business. For several years he has been president of the Draper & Hall Com- pany of Middletown, which was founded by his brother-in-law, Thomas Draper, his brother, and himself. This busines was sold in 1921. He has been quite ac- tive in real estate operations, building and selling houses, is a director of the Middletown Building & Loan Associa- tion, was formerly a director of the City Savings Bank, and is esteemed by his acquaintances as a sound practical busi- ness man.
Mr. Hall was baptized by Dr. A. W. Hazen, pastor of the North Congrega- tional Church, and has since been identi- fied with that organization, being presi- dent of the Men's Fraternity of the North Church. During the existence of the Uni- versalist Church in Middletown, he was active in that body, but when it ceased to exist he united with the Congregational
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church. He is a member of St. John's Lodge, No. 2, Free and Accepted Masons ; Washington Chapter, No. 6, Royal Arch Masons; and Cyrene Commandery, No. 8, Knights Templar. He has passed through all the degrees up to and includ- ing the thirty-second, Scottish Rite, and is a member of Sphinx Temple, No. I, Ancient Accepted Order Nobles of the Mystic Shrine, of Hartford. A Republi- can in principle, he served as a member of the City Council under Mayor Critten- den, and was six years a member of the Board of Education, during which he es- tablished many practical economies in the management of the city schools. For five years he was secretary of the body, and through his influence the school taxes were kept at the lowest practical limit. For two years he was a member of the City Water Commission. Wherever Mr. Hall has been placed, he has been active and useful, and has taken very few vaca- tions. While he has relinquished some of his activities, he is still an important fac- tor in the business and social life of the community.
He married, July 29, 1898, Jennie Allen, daughter of John and Emma (Edwards) Allen, of Middletown. They are the par- ents of a son, Frank Allen Hall, who was born June 24, 1899, graduated from Mid- dletown High School, and from Lehigh University in 1921, and is now associated with Judd & Puffer, insurance brokers, of Waterbury, Connecticut.
BREWER, Lowell Horton, Tobacco Grower.
The name of Brewer is an old one in the annals of East Hartford, Connecticut, and to-day are found many worthy scions of this ancient family. One of these, Lowell Horton Brewer, has upheld to the highest degree the prestige long maintained by
his ancestors. The common ancestor of nearly all the Brewers of Connecticut was Thomas Brewer, who was living in Lynn, Massachusetts, in 1672, then being four- teen years of age, later becoming a resi- dent of Glastonbury. On July 28, 1684, he married Sarah, whose surname is not known, and their son,
Daniel Brewer, was without doubt a resident of Middletown, Connecticut, where his will was dated, January 19, 1749. His wife was Eleanor Goodale. and their son, Daniel Brewer, married (first) Anna Van Sant. The only child of this marriage was
Daniel Brewer, born May 14, 1751. He was the father of a large family; one of his children,
Allen Brewer, was born March 23, 1789, and died November 19, 1853. He was a farmer and served in the War of 1812. He married Velina, daughter of Ashbel Bidwell. Their son,
Ashbel Brewer, was born in East Hart- ford, August 4, 1810. He grew up with the country boy's environment and at- tended school when not working about the homestead with his father. On attain- ing manhood he also followed agricul- tural pursuits, making a specialty of rais- ing potatoes, corn and rye, and also raised considerable live stock. For one year, 1849, he conducted a grocery store, but discontinued this to take up farming again. However, instead of the usual farm produce, Mr. Brewer embarked in the growing of tobacco, at that time a comparatively new industry in his sec- tion. His farm comprised one hundred and twenty-five acres, and for almost forty years he was one of the most extensive tobacco growers in East Hartford and vicinity. Mr. Brewer also took an active interest in town affairs and was often called upon to assume positions of trust. He was a member of the school commit-
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tee, was town surveyor, tax collector, and held several other minor offices. The church was also fortunate in having a man of Mr. Brewer's caliber at the head of its affairs. He was a member of the Congregational church when he was sev- enteen years of age, at the same time be- coming a member of the choir, and con- tinued for over fifty years. He had charge of the Hockanum cemeteries for twenty-three years, and for six years was deacon of the First Church; after becom- ing an original member of the Hockanum Congregational Church he was a deacon there for three years, at the end of this time becoming deacon emeritus. He was a member of the Putnam Phalanx. Deacon Brewer married (first), in 1833, Mary Whaples, of Newington, Connecti- cut, who died in 1858; in 1863, he married (second) Margaret Barnard, who died in 1890. He was the father of eight chil- dren, of whom
Lowell Horton Brewer is the next in line of descent. He was born November 27, 1847, twin of Louise H. Brewer. He at- tended the local schools of East Hart- ford and Hockanum until he was seven- teen years of age, at which time he began his farm duties. He was the only son of his family and this brought him greater responsibilities. From the time he began to care for the farm he was successful, and never ceased to make a study of the best possible means for increasing the output of tobacco per acre and also the quality. His tobacco has always brought a price commensurate with its quality, and Mr. Brewer has attained a wide rep- utation for his successful cultivation. His five sons are now associated with him in the tobacco raising and they cultivate ninety-three acres annually. He is a Re- publican in politics, and has served as a member of the school committee and the sewer committee.
Mr. Brewer married, January 29, 1874, Charlotte Edna Vibberts, born April 14, 1852, daughter of Captain Charles and Jane M. (Babcock) Vibberts. Mrs. Brewer was educated in the Hockanum schools, the New Britain high and normal schools, and for a few years prior to her marriage was a teacher. Mr. and Mrs. Brewer were the parents of the following children : Millard V., born December 7, 1874; Lowell H. Jr., born December 4, 1876; Harry F., born September 22, 1879; Ashbel Allen, born December 27, 1882; Charles H., born November 5, 1885. mar- ried Marion Lattimer.
FOOTIT, James Henry,
Public Servant.
Mr. Footit was born December 2, 1865, on the farm where he now resides in the Westfield section of Middletown, a son of William F. and Bridget (Fitzgerald) Footit. His grandfather, John Footit, came from Baroby, Lincolnshire, Eng- land, and settled in the town of Cromwell, Connecticut. He removed to the West- field section of the town of Middletown, where he engaged in farming and there ended his days. His wife Jane died be- fore him. They were members of the Westfield Congregational Church at the time of their death.
William F. Footit was born in Baroby, and was about twenty-two years of age when he came to America on his wedding trip. His wife soon died, and he married (second), Bridget Fitzgerald, who was born in Queenstown, County Waterford Ireland. He engaged in farming, and also in trucking for the J. O. Smith Manufac- turing Company. His farm embraced about forty-five acres, part of which has been sold in recent years. He was a member of Company F, 24th Connecticut Volun- teers, during the Civil War, but was soon
Conn-10-22
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discharged through the influence of the J. O. Smith Manufacturing Company, in whose service he was very valuable. He was a member of the Roman Catholic church, and a Democrat in politics, but never took any part in the conduct of public affairs.
James Henry Footit was educated in the public schools in Westfield, continu- ing as a student until fifteen years of age, when he entered the employ of the East Berlin Bridge Company, where he con- tinued three years. Subsequently, he spent one year in the construction of the Meriden & Cromwell railroad, a part of which has now been abandoned. Fol- lowing this he was employed for four years by the J. O. Smith Company, later employed in New Britain for a period of four years, at the end of which time he was called by the death of his father to take charge of the farm, and estate. A part of this, embracing twenty-three acres, he now owns. Mr. Footit is much employed in the public service, having been eighteen years a member of the Board of Selectmen, many years a justice of the peace, for the past eight years fish and game warden of Middlesex county, and for four years he was a member of the State militia. For several years he has operated motor cars in trucking and transportation, and is now engaged in transporting children from outlying sec- tions to the Westfield School. He is a member of St. John's Roman Catholic Church of Middletown; of Forest City Lodge, No. 3, Knights of Columbus; of Middletown Lodge, No. 771, Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks; Middlesex Aerie, No. 681, Fraternal Order of Eagles, and of Westfield Grange, some of whose minor offices he has filled. Politically Mr. Footit is a Democrat, and his frequent election to office in a Republican town testifies to his standing in the community.
He married, June 6, 1901, Ann Fagan, who was born in Rocky Hill, daughter of John and Julia Fagan, the former a native of northern Ireland, and the latter of Queens county, Ireland. Their children are: Julia, wife of Hugo Matsen, of New Britain; William J., a machinist, in Springfield, Massachusetts. He served as a courier for two years in the 326th Infantry, 82nd Division of the Expedi- tionary Force in France during the World War, and passed through several battles. The others, all minors, are: James H., Helen M., Gerald Washington, Melbert J., Loretta M:, Joseph S., Charles E., and Marie. James H. served nearly two years in the navy at the experimental station in New London. He is now employed as an automobile mechanic in Middletown.
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