USA > Connecticut > Encyclopedia of Connecticut biography, genealogical-memorial; representative citizens, v. 9 > Part 57
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ton, and was surveyor general of arms and ammunition. His eldest son, Isaac Johnson, born in England, was made a freeman at Roxbury, March 4, 1635, was a member of the Artillery Company in 1645, captain in 1667, and was killed by Indians while at the head of his company in the "Narragansett Fight," December 19, 1675. He married, January 20, 1637, Elizabeth Porter, and they were parents of Isaac Johnson, baptized January 7, 1644, died 1720, in Middletown, leaving a good estate. He married, in Roxbury, December 26, 1669, Mary Harris, who died August 1, 1740. Joseph Johnson, fourth son of Isaac and Mary Johnson born March 9, 1677, in Middletown, was a prominent citizen of that town, and married, January 25, 1698, Elizabeth Blake, who was born March 16, 1679, and died March 24, 1720, fourth daughter of John Blake, of Middletown. Their eld- est son, Joseph Johnson, born August 26, 1702, in Middletown, married February 2, 1726, Mehitabel Hamlin, born February 6, 1710, eldest child of John and Eliza- beth (Partridge) Hamlin, of Middletown. On the 26th of April, 1773, both were ad- mitted to full communion in the Middle- town Church. Their son, Elijah John- son, born December 3, 1734, baptized five days later at the Middletown Church. married, July 19, 1756, Mary Hall, born in June, 1727, fourth daughter of Giles and Hester (Hamlin) Hall, of Middle- town, descendant of John Hall, a Middle- town pioneer. They were the parents of Phoebe Johnson, wife of Seth Paddock. Elijah Paddock, son of Seth and Phoebe (Johnson) Paddock, was baptized Janu- ary 27, 1782, married Hannah Sears, born September 15, 1779, and they were the parents of Nancy Paddock, who became the wife of Daniel Bailey, as previously noted. Hannah Sears was descended from Francis Sayre, a mercer, who died intes-
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tate, in London, in 1645. He married Elizabeth Atkins, and their third son, Thomas Sayre, built a house on what is now the main street of Southampton, Long Island, on the west side, north of the academy, in 1648. This was recently standing. Thomas Sayre was baptized July 20, 1597, in Leyton-Buzzard, Bed- ford, England, was at Lynn, Massachu- setts, in 1638, and had sixty acres of land. He was a member of the colony which removed from Lynn to Southampton, was a farmer and tanner, prominent in local affairs, a large land holder, and died in 1670. His second son, Daniel Sayre, lived in Bridgehampton, Long Island, was a weaver, in 1683 was assessed on three polls and property valued at £207 3s. 2d. He died in 1708. His wife, Hannah Fos- ter, was a daughter of Christopher and Frances Foster. Their son, Nathaniel Sayre, inherited from his father fifty acres of land and sold land, August 3, 1719, in Southampton. He removed to Middletown, where he purchased a house and one-hundred-fifty acres of land in the Maromas section, November 25, 1720. His wife's name was Mary. Their sec- ond son, Elisha Sayre, born about 1710- 1711, died June 23, 1801, aged ninety-one years. About this time the form of the name was changed to Sears. He mar- ried, December 8, 1735, Tabitha Miller, born January 21, 1710, died January 3, 1774, third daughter of Joseph and Re- becca (Johnson) Miller, granddaughter of Thomas and Sarah (Nettleton) Miller. Elias Sears, youngest child of Elisha and Tabitha (Miller) Sayre, was born April 16, 1751, in Middletown, died September 18, 1829. He married, December 16, 1777, Patience King, born about 1751, probably a daughter of Benjamin and Elizabeth King, of Southold, Long Island. They were the parents of Hannah Sears, who became the wife of Elijah Paddock. as
previously related, and the mother of Nancy Paddock, wife of Daniel Bailey. Their daughter, Lucy U. Bailey, became the wife of Samuel B. Daniels, as above stated.
James Elmer Daniels, elder son of Samuel B. and Lucy U. (Bailey) Daniels, was born July 28, 1865, in the Johnson Lane district, and there attended the pub- lic school, after which he was a student at Durham Academy, and in the Middle- town High School. At the age of sixteen years he began to perform a man's service on the home farm, and when eighteen years of age, went to New Britain to learn the carpenter's trade with F. L. Nor- ton, of that town. After remaining there nearly three years he returned to the pa- ternal homestead at the request of his father, whose health was much impaired, and there he continued to live until No- vember, 1913, when he purchased the in- terests of the heirs, and removed to the farm on West Long Hill, where he now resides, which had been for many genera- tions in the possession of the Atkins fam- ily. At various times in the intervals be- tween farming seasons, he constructed a number of houses and several barns in Middletown. The farm on which he now resides embraces some fifty acres, and he rents other lands adjoining, making more than one-hundred acres, which he tills, his principal crops being tobacco and corn. Most of the corn which he grows is sweet corn, which is cultivated for the seed. For several years, while living in the Johnson Lane section, he engaged quite extensively in the dairy business, which industry he still follows, and for over thirty years has engaged in the sale of agricultural machinery. He has made great improvements on the farm where he now resides, on which he has laid more than five miles of drain tile. Mr. Daniels is a member of Mattabessett Grange,
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Patrons of Husbandry, and Apollo Lodge, No. 33, Knights of Pythias, of Middle- town. He attends religious service at the chapel on the Durham Turnpike not very far from his home. Politically, he is a staunch Republican, but has stead- fastly refused to accept any office, though he exercises considerable influence in the party councils. An intelligent man, of genial nature and pleasing manners, he naturally enjoys the friendship of many people.
He married, June 13, 1894, Marion A. Atkins, born May 15, 1872, daughter of Egbert H. and Caroline A. (Smith) At- kins, descended from Luke Atkins, whose son, Josiah, was a very early resident of Middletown. He married, October S, 1673, Elizabeth, daughter of Thomas, Sr. and Sarah (Hall) Whetmore, of Middle- town, born 1648, who died about 1700. Josiah Atkins died September 12, 1690, leaving an estate valued at £67 IOS. Their fourth son, Ephraim Atkins, born March 9, 1685, died December 26, 1760, lived in Middletown, where he married June 16, 1709, Elizabeth, eldest daughter of Thomas, Jr. and Elizabeth (Hubbard) Whetmore, his cousin. She was born September 2, 1686. Their eldest child, Thomas Atkins, born April 5, 1710, in Middletown, built a house on the Dur- ham road, in 1734, in which he lived. He married, August 6, 1735, Martha Miller, born March 28, 1705, daughter of Gov- ernor Benjamin and Mercy (Bassett) Miller, granddaughter of Thomas and Sarah (Nettleton) Miller. Mrs. Atkins was a determined woman, who cherished bitter hatred toward the Tories during the Revolution. In her ninety-third year, a gentleman called upon her to ascertain if she still bore the same hatred. When she was informed that he was a Tory (which was, of course, merely a pretext on his part), she armed herself with a
broomstick and drove him out, saying: "I will not have a Tory in my house." Her youngest child, Ithamar Atkins, born November 16, 1757, was a prominent cit- izen of Long Hill, and erected the dwell- ing now occupied by his descendant, Thomas Atkins, in 1807. He owned more than eight hundred acres of land, was a man of sound judgment and much influ- ence. He married, November 27, 1783, Anna Hubbard, born October 10, 1762, the ninth child of Nehemiah Hubbard, who had six sons who served in the Rev- olution. He was born July 22, 1721, was a soldier in the old French War, and died at his home on Long Hill, March 11, 181I. He married, October 12, 1748, Sarah Sill, who was born January 2, 1728, and died August 10, 1814, youngest daughter of Joseph and Phoebe (Lord) Sill, of Lyme, Connecticut. The descent of this branch of the Hubbard family is from George Hubbard, the pioneer, through his sixth child, Nathaniel Hubbard, born Decem- ber 10, 1652, in Middletown, died May 20, 1738, at the Cross Roads on Long Hill, where he was an extensive farmer. He married, May 29, 1682, Mary Earle, born in 1663, in Northampton, Massachu- setts, died April 6, 1732, daughter of John and Mary (Watts) Earle, of Northamp- ton, later of Middletown. Nathaniel Hubbard, eldest child of Nathaniel and Mary Hubbard, born September 14, 1690, in Middletown, died there October 14, 1765. He married, April 12, 1715, Sarah Johnson, born August 6, 1696, eldest child of Isaac, Jr. and Margaret (Mil- ler) Johnson, of Middletown, mentioned above. They were the parents of Nehe- miah Hubbard, born in 1721, previously mentioned. Jacob Atkins, eldest child of Ithamar and Anna Atkins, was born De- cember 26, 1786, and died November 10, 1857. He was an intellectual man of much ability, was a farmer on West Long
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Hill, residing in the oldest house in that district. He married, January 6, 1813, Mary Miller, of Middlefield, born Janu- ary 18, 1784, fourth daughter of Elisha and Elizabeth (Miller) Miller. They were the parents of Egbert H. Atkins, born December 4, 1815, died May 10, 1879, who lived on the paternal farm, now occu- pied by J. E. Daniels. He married, Octo- ber 23, 1862, Caroline E. Smith, born Jan- uary 25, 1839, died April 19, 1908, and they were the parents of Marion A. Atkins, the wife of James E. Daniels. Mr. and Mrs. Daniels are the parents of the fol- lowing children: Caroline Lucy, born February 24, 1895; Walter B., born May 8, 1897; Egbert A., born May 12, 1899; Stanley Paddock, born December 26, 1900; Jennie Margaret, born February 23, 1902 ; Marion Esther, born February 27. 1907; and Orrin Elmer, born November 2, 1909.
ACKERMAN, Richard, Dairyman.
The success of Mr. Ackerman is due to his own shrewdness, industry and perse- verance, and he enjoys the respect and esteem due to those essential qualities in men.
He that by the plow would thrive, Himself must either hold or drive.
Richard Ackerman was born April 22, 1875, in New Haven, son of Adolph and Emma (Mailhouse) (Mehlhaus) Acker- man. The father was a native of Posen, Germany, and came to America in com- pany with older brothers when fourteen years old, from Posen, settling in New Haven. One of the brothers settled at Middletown, New York. Adolph Acker- man learned the trade of moulder, and worked twenty-six years as journeyman in the lock department of Sargent's foun- dry at New Haven. In the autumn of
1889, he purchased a small farm in North? Madison, Connecticut, which he occupied and tilled until 1917, when he died there, at the age of sixty-nine years. He was a member of St. Paul's Protestant Episcopal Church, of New Haven, an Odd Fellow, and a Republican. He married Emma Mehlhaus, born near Leipsic, in Soxany. Germany. She came to America with relatives when fifteen years of age, and now resides in North Madison.
Richard Ackerman was reared in New Haven to the age of fourteen years, at which time he was ready to enter high school. The removal of the family to North Madison caused a change, and he was accustomed to aid in the cultivation of the homestead for two years. On Washington's birthday, in 1891, he came to Middletown, and entered the service of Richard Davis, a large dairy farmer of West Long Hill. For many years he drove a milk wagon, making deliveries in the city of Middletown, and continued to assist Mr. Davis and his widow after his death, becoming owner of the farm when it passed from their control. In 1921 he constructed a handsome residence north of the original home of Mr. Davis, and this is equipped with modern conven- iences, including water and electric lights. Mr. Ackerman continues in the dairy busi- ness, and is rated as one of the most suc- cessful farmers of the State. He is a member of Mattabessett Grange, of Mid- dletown, of which he was two years over- seer, is a member of Apollo Lodge, No. 33, Knights of Pythias, and supports the Methodist church, with which his family is affiliated. Politically, a Democrat, he has always refused to be a candidate for office, though as a matter of civic duty he has acted as a member of the local school committee.
He married, June 6, 1900, Grace Davis, who was born July 14, 1876, daughter of
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Richard Davis, further mentioned below. Mr. and Mrs. Ackerman are the parents of three children, namely: Annie, born June 13, 1901, a graduate of Sargent's School, Cambridge, Massachusetts, now a teacher ; Richard (2), born November 15, 1905; and Marion, born June 22, 1909.
Richard Davis, long a prominent citi- zen of Middlesex county, was descended from an old Killingworth family, and justified the expectations of those who believe in good blood. Extended men- tion of his ancestors will be found else- where in this work. John Davis, of New London, had a son, Andrew Davis, who lived in that town and was the father of Solomon Davis, first of the name in Kil- lingworth. His son, Samuel Davis, was the father of Lemual Davis, whose son, Peter Davis, lived on Pea Hill, in Killing- worth. He married Polly Kelsey, and they were the parents of Lewis Talcott Davis, a farmer of that town, residing near his father. He married Sarah Burr of Higganum, and both lie buried in Stone House Cemetery, of Killingworth.
Richard Davis, sixth son of Lewis T. and Sarah (Burr) Davis, was born May 27, 1848, in North Killingly, where he at- tended the public schools until seventeen years of age, when he entered a lock shop in Branford. His mechanical genius soon became apparent, and he was induced to join his maternal uncles, Jabez and Henry Burr, in the Russell & Erwin shops at New Britain. After a year of confinement he was compelled to seek out-door em- ployment on account of his health. Re- fusing the offer of a foreman's position to induce him to remain, he spent a short time on the paternal farm. He became manager of the farm of Richard Atkins, on West Long Hill, Middletown, June 10, 1869, and continued on that farm until his death, at which time he was its owner. This is still known as "Oak Grove Dairy
Farm," and occupied by Richard Acker- man. Here Mr. Davis maintained a large dairy herd, including from fifty to one hundred cows, and supplying many people in the city of Middletown with milk and other dairy products. On this farm he made many improvements in the way of buildings, and in the construction of an immense cistern on its most elevated point, which supplies water to all the buildings. This is fed by wells. from which windmills are constantly raising the water by pumps. While he employed many men in the operation of his large farm, Mr. Davis was one of the most active in conducting its labors until his death, which occurred September 5, 1917. In many ways he was active in promoting the general welfare, was a member of Mattabessett Grange of Middletown, of which he was three times master, declin- ing a fourth election; of the State Pomo- logical Society, and the State Dairymen's Association, of which he was a director. He was one of the foremost in organiz- ing the Pine Grove Burial Association, of which he was long president, was a mem- ber of Apollo Lodge, Knights of Pythias of Middletown, and a liberal supporter of the Methodist church. A Democrat in political principle, he was often called on to serve the public, was eight years a member of Board of Selectmen, in 1903 was elected high sheriff of the county, and served eight years in that office. Wherever placed, Mr. Davis was true to his responsibilities, and justified the con- fidence placed in him. A popular citizen he had many friends.
Mr. Davis married, October 17, 1871, Annie T. Atkins, born on the homestead where both lived, only child of Richard and Melinda (Edwards) Atkins, de- scended from Luke Atkins, one of the first at New Haven, Connecticut. Mr. and Mrs. Davis were the parents of five
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children, namely: Mary Gray, wife of Burton Atkins, of Long Hill; Sarah Ed- wards, wife of Robert Hubbard, of John- son Lane; Grace Atkins, wife of Richard Ackerman, mentioned above; Alice Hub- bard, wife of Frederick Harris; William Atkins, died when seven months old.
Luke Atkins, abovemention, was the father of Josiah Atkins, first of the name in Middletown, whose son, Ephraim At- kins, was born in 1685. His son, Thomas Atkins, built a house in 1734, now occu- pied by J. E. Daniels, whose sketch pre- cedes this, and was the father of Ithamar Atkins, one of the most prominent men of his time. His son, Richard Atkins, was born August 29, 1792, and lived near his birthplace on Long Hill until his death, December 19, 1868, his farm now occu- pied by Richard Ackerman, and known as "Oak Grove Farm." He was gifted witlı musical talent and was widely known for his refined intelligence and kindly man- ners. He married, October 17, 1838, Malinda Edwards of Middletown, and their only child, Annie Talmage, became the wife of Richard Davis, as above re- lated, and lived on the farm now owned by the third Richard, who well merits his good fortune.
BARTON, William, Maker of Bells.
The Barton family was very early iden - tified with the manufacture of bells in East Hampton, Connecticut. The ances- try of this family is difficult to trace be- cause of the many variations in spelling of the name. It is often spelled Burton, Burden, and Bartol.
John Barton, a tanner, was in Salem, Massachusetts, from 1637 to 1684. Wil- liam Bartol, of Marblehead, was prob- ably the father of William Bartol, who was baptized in Salem, July 25, 1669. His
son, William Bartol, was baptized in Salem, December 2, 1716, and was the father of William Barton, who married, September 3, 1739, in Salem, a Miss Ramsdell, whose baptizmal name is not decipherable. The record of this mar- riage appears in Lynn. He removed to the central section of Connecticut, and his son, William Barton, born in 1740, is found in that portion of Farmington, which is now Bloomfield, in 1756, when he chose his guardian. During the War of the Revolution he was an armorer at Springfield, Massachusetts.
His son, William Barton, born No- vember 26, 1762, worked with his father, and subsequently engaged in the making of firearms in what is now Bloomfield, then the Society of Wintonbury, in the town of Windsor. In 1790 he removed to New York City, where he engaged in the manufacture of andirons and other brass goods, and in 1808 removed to East Hampton, where he began the production of bells of a solid pattern, making hand bells and sleigh bells. From 1826 to 1846 he resided at Cairo, Greene county, New York, and again returned to East Hamp- ton, where he died July 15, 1849. He mar- ried Clarissa Betts, who survived him until October 4, 1858, when she passed away at the age of ninety-one years. Their daughter, Nancy, became the wife of Vine Starr, of East Hampton (see Starr, Ambrose M.).
ADORNO, Salvatore,
Business Man.
A natural ability for accomplishing his aims and an entire devotion to his work are the chief factors in the success at- tained by Salvatore Adorno, owner of one of the leading theatres of Middletown, Connecticut. Several years ago, a stranger in a strange land, Mr. Adorno
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came to America with the feeling in his heart that he must succeed. In spite of the handicaps, the new language, differ- ent customs, and many other drawbacks. he has managed by his indefatigable will to rise above these and take his place as one of the most substantial and honored citizens of Middletown. Mr. Adorno was born June 20, 1879, in Italy, son of Michele and Concetta (Salonia) Adorno. His father was a clothing and flour mer- chant; he died in August, 1917, and is still survived by his wife. The public schools of his native home afforded Mr. Adorno his early education ; at the age of eighteen years he came to America and settled in Middletown, which city has since continued to be his home, and where he has attained his success. It was imper- ative that the young lad secure work soon after his arrival, and at that time there was not the demand for labor such as now. His first position was in a tin shop, where he received two and one- half dollars a week. Soon after he ac- quired a little knowledge of the language and, fortified by his ambition to better himself, he changed his work and went into the brickyard of the Tuttle Brothers Company, where he received one dollar and thirty-five cents a day. He remained there for seven months, and out of his salary not only supported himself but sent money home to his parents as well. Mr. Adorno was all the time improving him- self in every respect and applied for a position with the Russell Manufacturing Company. He was successful in obtain- ing the work, and for seven years re- mained in their employ as a weaver. He has the distinction of being one of the first of his nationality to work there. By being thrifty and adding to his small competence, Mr. Adorno was able to en- gage in business for himself as a manu- facturer of macaroni, in connection with
which he also conducted a small grocery. This might be called the turning point in his career, as it was from this date that his success was rapid. From small be- ginnings the business grew until two thousand pounds of macaroni were the daily output. This part of the business was disposed of eventually and his whole attention given to the grocery end. In 1913, this was also given up, and in the same year Mr. Adorno opened a theatre, known as the "Star." In consideration of its size, it was successful enough, but it was not large enough to accommodate very many patrons. Mr. Adorno then purchased the Crescent Theatre, as well as the ground on which it stood, and con- ducted it for three years. He still owns the property, which is now used as a store and apartments. In 1915 he built and opened the "Grand" on a site of which he has a twenty-year lease. He conducted this theatre himself until 1919, when he leased the theatre for a term of years. In 1919 he bought the Mitchell Block, which embraces three stores and two floors of apartments.
During the World War there were many demonstrations of allegiance to their adopted country by those of for- eign birth; the cause of America and the Allies was their cause, and particularly notable was Mr. Adorno's activities in this direction. He was a member of the War Bureau of Middletown, and donated the use of the theatre for both the Fourth and Fifth Liberty Loan drives, on both of which occasions Mid- dletown went "over the top." He also gave a benefit performance and do- nated the gross receipts, amounting to $800, to the Men's Service Club. He re- ceived several flattering cards commend- ing him for his patriotism, among them a letter from the president of the Hartford Manufacturers' Association. It is to be
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naturally expected that a man. of Mr. Adorno's prominence is active in the social and civic life of Middletown. His politi- cal views are those of an independent, but he is always ready to give his support to the best man. Fraternally, he is a mem- ber of Council No. 3, Knights of Colum- bus, Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, Loyal Order of Moose, Fraternal Order of Eagles, and the Italian Society, Sons of Italy.
Mr. Adorno married, in 1901, on Thanksgiving Day, Maria Pinto, daugh- ter of Andrea and Cesaria Pinto, all na- tives of Italy. Their children are: Michael, Andrew, Joseph, William, Salva- tore, Jr., and Concettina. Two daughters died in infancy. The family are attend- ants of St. John's Roman Catholic Church of Middletown, and Mr. Adorno gener- ously aids in the support of its charities.
LEHMANN, George Frederick, Business Man.
In 1909 George F. Lehmann came to Thompsonville, Connecticut, and estab- lished a bakery and is now the leading baker of that town. He is a son of Gott- leib Lehmann, born in Brandenberg, Ger- many, a farmer, and Emma (Kletch) Leh- mann, born in Saxony. They were mar- ried in Germany and were the parents of of ten children : Max Hedwig, George Frederick, Bernhard, Einhard, Arthur, Anna, Wanda, and three who died young.
George Frederick Lehmann was born in Birge, Brandenberg, Germany, Octo- ber 21, 1878, and there attended school until the age of fourteen. In December, 1892, he came to the United States, locat- ing in Rockville, Connecticut, where for two years he was employed in the mills there. He then left the mills and began learning the baker's trade in the same town. Later he was in the employ of
Frank Goertz, in Manchester, Connecti- cut, where he became very skillful in his trade and a master baker. In 1909 he lo- cated in Thompsonville, Connecticut, where he is well established as the lead- ing baker of the town. He is a member of the Thompsonville Board of Trade, is independent in politics, and a member of the Lutheran church.
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