USA > Connecticut > Encyclopedia of Connecticut biography, genealogical-memorial; representative citizens, v. 9 > Part 52
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a member of the Re-valuation Committee, and at the time of his death was a mem- ber of the Board of Assessors. In fra- ternal matters, Mr. Brewer was affiliated with the Masonic order ; he was a mem- ber of Orient Lodge, No. 62, Free and Accepted Masons, and was elected wor- shipful master. He was later a member of the Past Masters Association.
He married, at Hartford, May 12, 1873, Irene A. Smith, born at West Davenport, Delaware county, New York, June 30, 1853, daughter of Philander and Ferina (Orr) Smith, of Scotch descent. Mr. and Mrs. Brewer were the parents of the fol- lowing children: I. Sarah F., born in 1874, became the wife of S. G. Harrison. 2. Janeway E., born September 23, 1875, married Alice Linton. 3. William E., born November 8, 1877, married Mrs. Ella Mallory. 4. Edward, born February 6, I 880. 5. Herbert G., born August 14, 1881.
The business acumen of Mr. Brewer won for him the high respect of his busi- ness contemporaries, and he enjoyed a very wide acquaintance. A man devoted to his home and family, he was a true type of the real American citizen. He was buried in Centre Cemetery.
BUCKLAND, George Hyde, Merchant.
After many years of successful business in East Hampton, Mr. Buckland is now living in retirement in that town. His forbears were long resident in Connecti- cut, and filled various positions of useful- ness. The first of the name in this coun- try, William Buckland, was a resident of Hingham, Massachusetts, in 1635, and was in Rehoboth, same colony, in 1658. His son, William Buckland, was living in what is now East Hartford in 1687, and
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died at East Windsor, May 13, 1691. From these, descended settlers in nun- erous towns in that vicinity. Charles Amos Buckland, a native of Tolland county, was born January 12, 1808, was employed in a foundry at Windsor Locks, and died at the age of forty-three years. He married, in Stafford, October 27, 1833, Sophia Hyde, born October 6, 1808. sec- ond daughter of Colonel Eli and Mehit- abel (Lyon) Hyde, of Stafford. She sur- vived her husband but a few years. They were the parents of three children, of whom George H., the youngest, is the only survivor.
This branch of the Hyde family was es- tablished in America by William Hyde, a man of means and social prominence among the founders of Hartford and Nor- wich, this State. His only son, Samuel Hyde, born 1637, was a leading citizen 'of Norwich West Farms, and died in 1677. He married Jane Lee, and they were the parents of Thomas Hyde, born in July, 1672, a farmer at West Farms, where he died April 9, 1755. He married in Decem- ber, 1697, Mary Backus, born in Novem- ber, 1672, in Norwich, died March 27, 1752, eldest daughter of Stephen and Sarah (Gardner) Backus, of that town. Captain Jacob Hyde, second son of Thomas Hyde, born January 20, 1703, in West Farms, was a farmer there, and died January 22, 1782. He married, October II, 1727, Hannah Kingsbury, born March 13, 1709, in Haverhill, Massachusetts, eld- est daughter of Deacon Joseph and Ruth (Denison) Kingsbury, of Norwich, grand- daughter of Joseph Kingsbury, born June 22, 1682, great-granddaughter of Joseph Kingsbury, born 1656, and his wife, Love Ayer, of Haverhill. Ruth (Deni- son) Kingsbury was born about 1685, at Ipswich, daughter of John Denison. Ephraim Hyde, second son of Captain Jacob Hyde, was born April 23, 1734, in
what is now Franklin, Connecticut, and settled in Stafford, where he died. His wife, Martha Giddings, was, like himself, a native of Franklin. Their youngest son, Captain Eli Hyde, was born May 4, 1772, in Stafford, where he was colonel of militia, and died March 29, 1842. His wife, Mehitabel Lyon, born 1776, died October 10, 1831. Their second daughter, Sophia, became the wife of Charles A. Buckland, as above related.
George Hyde Buckland was born No- vember 2, 1842, in Vernon, Connecticut, and was obliged to maintain himself al- most wholly from the age of ten years. Thus, his educational opportunities were limited, confined to an all too brief attend- ance at the common schools of his time. He worked on farms and was in various employment until his settlement at East Hampton in 1867, when he took a con- tract to carry the mail between East Hampton and Middletown, continuing thus until the completion of the Air Line railway, a period of ten years, also oper- ating a stage line. After working three years in some of the bell factories of East Hampton, in 1880 he engaged in general mercantile business, as partner in the firm of Pierce & Buckland. After some years the firm became Buckland & Barton, the junior partner being Clayton Durward Barton, a stepson of Mr. Buckland. In 1907 Mr. Buckland retired from active business. Blessed with a good mind, an intelligent reader, he has filled a useful station and enjoys the respect and good will of a wide circle. With his wife, he has long been active in the Methodist Episcopal church, and has been a stead- fast supporter of Republican policies in public affairs. An active member of the Order of United American Men, he ever sought to promote the general welfare and all progressive movements. Mr. Buck- land married, February 12, 1871, Victoria
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(Gates) Barton, born May 24, 1838, in up farming with success in his native East Hampton, daughter of Julius and Susanna (Strong) Gates, and widow of John W. Barton. She died in East Hampton, August 30, 1922.
The immigrant ancestor in America of Mrs. Buckland was George Gates, who was in Hartford in 1661, and was an original proprietor of Haddam in 1662. His wife, Sarah, born 1617, was daugh- ter of Nicholas and Sarah (Loomis) Olmstead, of Haddam, granddaughter of James and Joyce (Cornish) Olmstead, of Hartford, and of Joseph and Mary (White) Loomis, of Windsor. Thomas Gates, second son of George Gates, was born January 21, 1665, in Haddam, where he made his home. He married, October 3, 1692, Hannah Brainard, born Novem- ber 20, 1667, only daughter of Daniel and Hannah (Spencer) Brainard, pioneers of Haddam. George Gates, second son of Thomas Gates, born November 17, 1705, in Haddam, baptized next day, died in Haddam, December 29, 1756. He mar- ried, December 3, 1730, Sarah Olmstead, born 1705, died May 4, 1796. He joined the Haddam church, April 2, 1738, and she on the 16th following. Their eldest child, Nehemiah Gates, born July 6, 1732, baptized April 9, 1738, settled in East Hampton, where he died June 9, 1771. He married May 11, 1756, Anna Hart, daugh- ter of Judah Hart, of Farmington, and they were the parents of George Gates, baptized November 2, 1760, a deacon of the Baptist church in East Hampton, where he died April 6, 1826. He married (first) Phebe Peters, (second), February 9, 1796, in Chatham, Widow Sarah (Bar- ton) Marshall, of Winchester. She died April 5, 1846, aged seventy-eight, in East Hampton. Julius Gates, son of George and Sarah (Barton-Marshall) Gates, was born February 2, 1801, in Chatham; was teacher in early life, subsequently taking
town, where he continued until his death, March 14, 1879. His farm was about one mile east of the village of East Hampton. He married, November 28, 1822, Susanna Strong, born July 3, 1804, in East Hamp- ton, died January 6, 1878, daughter of Henry and Susanna (Cook) Strong, of Chatham. Elder John Strong, ancestor of all the known families of the name in New England, was born in 1605, in Taunton, England, lived at London and Plymouth, and became a sympathizer with the Puri- tan settlers of New England. In 1630 he crossed the Atlantic, resided in Hingham and Taunton, Massachusetts, Windsor, Connecticut, and was one of the most ac- tive founders of Northampton, Massachu- setts, where he was a tanner and husband- man. His first wife and her infant child died about the time of the immigration. He married (second) in December, 1630, Abigail, daughter of Thomas Ford, of Dorchester. She died July 6, 1688, the mother of sixteen children. He died April 14, 1699, leaving one hundred and sixty descendants. His son by his first wife, John Strong, born in 1626, in England, was a tanner at Windsor, where he died February 20, 1698. He married (second), in 1664, Elizabeth Warriner, who died June 7, 1684. Their son, Josiah Strong, born January II, 1678, married, January 5, 1698, Joanna Gillett, born October 28, 1680, daughter of Josiah and Joanna (Taintor) Gillett, of Simsbury. Josiah Gillett was a farmer in Windsor and moved in 1705 to Colchester, where he died April 5, 1759. Asahel Strong, young- est and thirteenth child of Josiah and Joanna (Gillett) Strong, born June 22, 1725, was a farmer in Colchester. He married, June 7, 1744, Betty Crouch, and they were parents of Adonijah B. Strong, who was born May 21, 1749, and was a farmer in Chatham, where he died May
Conn-10-24
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18, 1824. He married Mary Kellogg, who died in 1822, daughter of Daniel Kellogg, a farmer of Chatham. Henry Strong, son of Adonijah B. and Mary (Kel- logg) Strong, was born in 1779, and died July 2, 1828. He married Susannah Cook, and they were the parents of Susanna Strong, who became the wife of Julius Gates, as above noted. Their daughter, Victoria, became the wife of John W. Bar- ton, later, of George H. Buckland. The children of the first marriage were: Fred- erick Hiram and Clayton Durward Bar- ton. The children of Mr. Buckland were: John and Adeline, twins ; and Ernest, who married Anna Pratt, a native of Berlin, Connecticut, and now resides in East Hampton.
BEECHER, Eldridge Martin, Sales Manager.
The name of Beecher is of the class of names known as "place names," that is, it was originally derived from the locality in which the first of the family to adopt the name resided. Bardsley, an eminent authority on the derivation of surnames, states that "Beecher was a name taken by one who lived by some prominent beech tree." As early as the thirteenth century this name can be found on record. There have been many distinguished men of this name both in England and America. Among the latter may be mentioned Henry Ward Beecher, the famous preacher, and one of the most famed of the Beecher family.
A member of a branch of the Beecher family established in Connecticut since Colonial days, Eldridge Martin Beecher, sales manager of the Vulcan Iron Works of New Britain, Connecticut, was born in Waterbury, Connecticut, April 30, 1888, son of William Eldridge and Mary (Barnes) Beecher. He attended the pub- lic schools of Waterbury, and in 1907
graduated from the Waterbury High School. For two years subsequent to this time he was in the employ of the Colonial Trust Company, and then for about one and one-half years was engaged in the insurance business. Following this period he came to New Britain, in 1911, and as this was at the time of the death of Mr. Oldershaw, secretary of the Vulcan Iron Works, Mr. Beecher was engaged to put his records in order, and at the same time carry on the sales end of the business. This company deals in high grade malleable iron castings, and its product is sold in advance of manufacture, with a market throughout the country. Mr. Beecher is now sales manager of the firm and has well estab- lished himself among the business men of New Britain. He is also president of the Commercial Products Company of New Britain, of which he was one of the organizers. Their product is a general line of stampings and specialties.
Fraternally he is a member of Conti- nental Lodge, Free and Accepted Masons of Waterbury; the Aziz Grotto of New Britain ; New Britain Lodge, No. 97. Be- nevolent and Protective Order of Elks; Ansantavoc Encampment, Independent Order of Odd Fellows of Waterbury; member of the Shuttle Meadow Golf Club. Since 1917 Mr. Beecher has been a member of the Governor's Foot Guard. He married Florence Octavia Hanna- gan, daughter of John and Charlotte (Roberts) Hannagan, of Waterbury. Mrs. Beecher attends St. John's Protes- tant Episcopal Church.
BIELBY, William Foster,
Business Man.
From a subordinate position in the business which he now controls, Mr. Bielby has risen by his own efforts to the position of sole proprietor. He is a grand-
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ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
son of Samuel Bielby, who came from Yorkshire, England, and settled in the Mohawk Valley in New York, residing successively in Rome and Westmoreland. His second wife was a member of the Wishart family of Westmoreland, of Eng- lish descent. She died there about 1906, and they were the parents of a son and a daughter. William Foster Bielby, the son, born April 21, 1858, in Rome, died January 25, 1903, in Rensselaer, New York. He attended the high school and academy at Rome and was subsequently a student at St. Stephen's College, Annan- dale, New York, from which he was graduated in 1872. He then entered Berkeley Divinity School at Middletown, Connecticut, from which he was gradu- ated in June, 1878, and was ordained to the Protestant Episcopal priesthood by Bishop Williams in the following month. He became rector of St. Phillip's Church in Putnam, Connecticut, where he con- tinued three years, and was for about the same period rector of St. Mark's Church at Mystic, Connecticut. For several years he was in charge of St. John's parish, Rockville, Connecticut, and one year at St. Alban's, Danielsonville, now Daniel- son, Connecticut. For nearly a decade he was rector of St. Andrew's Church at Kent, Connecticut, and following that be- came rector of the Church of the Messiah at Rensselaer, New York, where he con- tinued until his death. Reverend Bielby was a hard-working, conscientious rector, and during his incumbency in various rural parishes walked many miles in look- ing after the welfare of his people. He was a member of the Masonic fraternity, affiliating with the lodge at Putnam, of which he was chaplain, and was subse- quently transferred to Rensselaer, where he was also chaplain. While he main- tained a conscientious interest in public affairs, he did not mingle in politics, and was independent of any party dictation in
voting. He married, in Durham, Con- necticut, July 24, 1878, Atala Agusta Par- sons, who was born April 25, 1852, in Dur- ham, daughter of Leophric and Catherine Cecelia (Strong) Parsons, of that town, descendant of two of the oldest New Eng- land families.
The founder of Parsons family in this country, Cornet Joseph Parsons, left Gravesend, England, July 4, 1635, in ship "Transport." He was a son of Sir Thomas Parsons, of Great Melton, Eng- land. The name is derived from persona, Latin for mask, and is derived from the wooden mask worn by actors in early times to throw out their voices. In eccle- siastical language, it had reference to a man of dignity, bestowed upon one with a benefice or living who was sponsor for a vicar. Thus, actors and parsons derived their name from the same root. Among those in America who have especially distinguished themselves have been the learned Theophilus Parsons, chief justice of Massachusetts, Andrew Parsons, gov- ernor of Michigan, and Lewis P. Parsons, governor of Alabama. According to the Herald's Visitations, the eldest known of the name was John Parsons, of Cudding- ton, England, 1284. In the Roll of Posi- tions in the Abbey of Malmsbury is the name of William LeParsons, in 1307.
Cornet Joseph Parsons was an associate of William Pynchon, who settled at Springfield, and on July 15, 1636, his name appears on a deed from the Indians to Pynchon Colony. He was a man of considerable importance in the settlement, was one of the founders of the new plantation at Northampton, and one of the first purchasers from the Indians there in 1645. He had sole right of bar- ter in furs in the valley, for which right he paid twelve pounds annually, and ac- cumulated a large estate in land and goods He died October 9, 1683. He mar- ried, November 26, 1646, Mary, daughter
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of Thomas and Margaret (Ford) Bliss, of Hartford. Their son, Samuel Parsons, was born January 23, 1652, in Spring- field, and went with his parents to North- ampton, whence he removed, in 1709, to Durham, Connecticut. He married (sec- ond), about 1691, Rhoda, daughter of Rob- ert and Thankful (Woodward) Taylor. They were the parents of Ithamar Par- sons, born June 9, 1707, in Northampton, died at Durham, June 21, 1786. The Christian name of his wife was Sarah. Curtiss Parsons, son of Ithamar and Sarah Parsons, was baptized November 12, 1758, in Durham. The records of that town say: "Curtiss Parsons and his wife, Lucy, were married October 3, 1782." Their son, Leophric Parsons, was born November 3, 1806, in Durham, and died October 11, 1869. He married, March 6, 1834, Catherine Cecelia Strong, who was born May 15, 1812, in Durham, daughter of Seth R. and Rhoda (Camp) Strong, descendant of Elder John Strong, a patriarch of a very extensive New Eng- land family.
Elder John Strong, founder, was born in 1605, in Taunton, England, son of Richard Strong. The family was orig- inally located in Shropshire. A descend- ant married an heiress of Griffith, of County Caernarvon, Wales, and went to reside there in 1545. Richard Strong, of this family, born there in 1551, removed in 1590 to Taunton, Somersetshire, where he died in 1613. His son, John, lived in London and Plymouth, and, being strongly in sympathy with the Puritans, he sailed March 20, 1630, in the ship "Mary and John" and settled in Dorches- ter, Massachusetts. In 1635 he removed to Hingham, was admitted freeman there in 1636, and moved to Taunton before the close of 1638, being a proprietor there, continuing until 1645 or later. For three years he represented the town in the Gen- eral Court of the Plymouth Colony, but
removed to Windsor, Connecticut, and finally settled in Northampton, with which his name is prominently associated. He was for forty years an influential cit- izen, prospered as a tanner and husband- man, and maintained a tanyard on what is now Market street, near the railroad station. His estate included some two hundred acres in that vicinity. He was ordained ruling elder of the church, May 13, 1663. He married (second), in De- cember, 1630, Abigail, daughter of Thomas Ford, of Dorchester, born about 1608, died July 6, 1688. He died April 14, 1699, and at that time had one hundred and sixty descendants, among whom were eighteen children and at least thirty-three grandchildren. He made over his lands during his lifetime to his children. The second son, Thomas Strong, born about 1635, was a trooper under Major Mason at Windsor in 1658, and the next year set- tled in Northampton. He died October 3, 1689. He married (first), December 5, 1660, Mary Hewett, daughter of Rev. Ephraim Hewett of Windsor; she died October 20, 1671. The name of his second wife is unknown. Of his fifteen children, fourteen were living at the time of his death, none of whom were under fifteen years of age, and one was born to his sec- ond wife after his death. His eldest child, Thomas Strong, born November 16, 1661, removed after 1708 to Durham, Connec- ticut, where he was a farmer. He mar- ried, November 17, 1683, Mary Stebbins, born September 10, 1666, in Northampton, daughter of John and Abigail (Bartlett) Strong, granddaughter of Roland Strong, who came from Ipswich, in Suffolk, Eng- land, in 1634, to Roxbury, removing soon after to Springfield, and finally to North- ampton, where he died December 14, 1671. Lieutenant Eliakim Strong, second son of Thomas and Mary Strong, born Septem- ber 26, 1688, engaged for a time in farm- ing at Northampton, and continued at the
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ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
same occupation in Durham, whither he removed after 1725, and died January 24, 1746. He married, April 13, 1712, Mehit- abel King, born March 13, 1690, daughter of John and Mehitabel (Pomeroy) King, of Northampton, granddaughter of Me- hitabel and Experience (Woodward) Par- sons, of that town. Their eldest son, Lieutenant Eliakim Strong, born March 7, 1720, was a large farmer in Durham. In 1793 he removed with his sons to Dur- ham, New York, where he died in 1800. He married, June 4, 1751, Hannah Seward, born February 2, 1731, in Durham, daugh- ter of Lieutenant Joseph and Hannah (Crane) Strong. Their fifth son, Lieuten- ant Seth Strong, born May 8, 1761, died November 15, 1818, was a farmer in Dur- ham. He married Rachel Robinson, bap- tized April 18, 1762, in Durham, daughter of Ashur and Margery (Butcher) Robin- son, of Durham and Boston, respectively, died February 10, 1850. Seth Robinson Strong, eldest son of Seth and Rachel Strong, was born December 15, 1788, in Durham, and died there September 19, 1835. He married, September 29, 1811, Rhoda Camp, born March 18, 1791, died April 16, 1856, daughter of Rejoice and Ruth (Pickette) Camp, of Durham. Their eldest child was Catherine Cecelia Strong, who became the wife of Leophric Par- sons as previously noted. They were the parents of Atala Agusta Parsons, who be- came the wife of Rev. William Foster Bielby. She died February 6, 1922.
William Foster Bielby, son of Rev. William Foster and Atala A. (Parsons) Bielby, was born October 31, 1885, in Rockville, Connecticut. His education was supplied by various public schools in the towns where his father was laboring, the last point being Rensselaer, New York. At the age of fifteen years he came to Middletown and became an apprentice with Lyman D. Mills at the plumbing and
tinning trade. Since that time he has been continuously associated with the same business. By his industry and reliability he earned not only the good will of his employer, but the means with which he acquired an interest in the business, in 1908, at the death of Mr. Mills. Since 1915 he has been sole owner of the busi- ness, which has experienced a steady ex- pansion ever since his association there- with. He now does business throughout the Connecticut Valley in Middlesex county. The business was incorporated and is still conducted under the name of the Lyman D. Mills Company. Mr. Bielby is a communicant of the Church of the Holy Trinity in Middletown, and is prominently identified with the Masonic fraternity, affiliating with St. John's Lodge No. 2; Washington Chapter No. 6, Royal Arch Masons; Columbia Coun- cil, No. 9, Royal and Select Masters; Cyrene Commandery, No. 8, Knights Templar; and with Sphinx Temple. Ancient Arabic Order Nobles of the Mystic Shrine of Hartford. Mr. Bielby maintains an independent position in politics, and has served as a member of the City Council. In 1917 he purchased a residence on Lincoln street in Middle- town, where he resides with his mother and sisters.
He married May 31, 1913, Helen Mc- Mahon, born in Middle Haddam, Con- necticut, daughter of James A. Mc- Mahon. Mr. and Mrs. Bielby are the parents of three children: Eleanor Fos- ter, William Foster (3rd), and Margaret Strong.
LANE, Frank Adolphus,
Business Man.
The career of Frank Adolphus Lane ad- mirably illustrates what ambition and de- termination may do, and of the importance
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of a strong and single purpose in life. Mr. Lane was born February 8, 1850, at Springfield, Massachusetts, and died No- vember 26, 1918, at Fort Myers, Florida, where he was accustomed to spend his winters. He was a son of Adolphus and Helen (Marshall) Lane, the former being a prominent farmer in his day and at one time keeper of the town farm in Hartford and in Meriden, Connecticut. Mr. Lane was a leader in community affairs, and a staunch Republican.
The early education of Frank A. Lane was obtained in the public schools of Hartford, he graduating from the high school. In early life he engaged in the milk business in association with his father, and during the summer season aided in other work about the home farm. As a young man Mr. Lane became interested in real estate development in Florida, and for over a quarter of a century spent each winter there, also making a specialty of certain kinds of farming. One of the pro- gressive achievements of Mr. Lane was the building of the Bayview Hotel at Captiva Island, Gulf of Mexico; this island acquired its name from the tradi- tion that pirates buried their treasure there, and it is situated between the gulf and San Carlos.
Mr. Lane made a very extensive study of the culture of tobacco, and at the re- quest of Mr. McGregor, of the Standard Oil Company, proved that tobacco could be grown in Florida, but owing to the climate could not be treated successfully. In politics Mr. Lane was a Republican, and he was an ardent worker in the inter- ests of this party ; on several occasions, he was honored with positions of trust and responsibility, serving as alderman and councilman. While a resident of Olga, Florida, he was appointed post- master there. He was a member of the Old Horse Guard, and was a member of
St. John's Lodge, No. 4, Free and Ac- cepted Masons.
For many years during his residence in Hartford Mr. Lane was a member of the Windsor Avenue Congregational Church, and in his latter life, he became an Ad- ventist. His recreation was mainly in fishing, and one of the largest tarpons caught in Florida waters was his achieve- ment. This specimen was mounted and is now in his home, and was among his most cherished possessions. The city of Hartford can well be proud of such a citi- zen as Mr. Lane. With the foundation of a high school education, he began to earn his living at an early age, and through hard, intelligent work, he made his way upward, to the position he held, one of the city's most successful and pro- gressive business men.
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