USA > Connecticut > Encyclopedia of Connecticut biography, genealogical-memorial; representative citizens, v.2 > Part 24
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Mr. Clark traces to an ancient English family, his American ancestor, that John Clark, first of Newtown (now Cam- bridge), Massachusetts, who was of the company who came to Hartford, Con- necticut, in 1636, and whose name appears on the monument in the old cemetery of Center Congregational Church, dedicated to the memory of the early settlers of the city. He later settled in Farmington, was a soldier in the Pequot War, held various offices, and was a pillar of the First Church of Farmington. The line of de- scent is through his son, Matthew Clark, born before 1674, married about 1704, Ruth, daughter of John and Mary (Haw- kins) Judd. Their son,
John Clark, born in 1712, married, in 1742, Elizabeth, daughter of Captain John and Elizabeth (Hawkins) Newell, and resided in New Britain. Their son,
Abel Clark, born in 1750, married, in 1774, Abigail, daughter of James and Hannah (Andrews) Judd. Abel Clark was one of the seventy men who on Sep- tember 3, 1774, signed an agreement "to be in readiness and duly equipped with arms and ammunition to proceed to Bos- ton for the relief of our distressed brethren there." Their son,
John Clark, born in 1787, married, in 1812, Prudence, daughter of Joshua and Prudence (Curtis) Woodruff, and lived
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at the old homestead in Stanley Quarter, New Britain. He was a soldier in the War of 1812, serving as corporal in Cap- tain Dean Deming's company, Colonel Brainerd's regiment. He died in 1835. Their son,
Abel Newell Clark, father of William Braddock Clark, was born at New Britain, Connecticut, June 12, 1819, died in 1867. For several years he was a merchant of Hartford, then became bookkeeper and general business manager and one of the owners of the "Hartford Courant," con- tinuing as such for twenty years until his death, a potent factor in shaping the course of that journal. He possessed an enormous capacity for hard work, and was deeply conscientious. The "New York Times" said of him: "In the death of Mr. Clark the editorial fraternity has lost one of its most useful members, and the city one of her most active, upright business men." He married, April 27, 1840, Emily I. Braddock, born December 7, 1821, died May 6, 1896, daughter of John and Emily (Welles) Braddock.
From such ancestry and from such a father and mother, William Braddock Clark inherited his capacity for hard work, his conscientious devotion to duty, a heritage of priceless value that, im- proved and given scope for action under later nineteenth and early twentieth cen- tury conditions and opportunities, has brought forth a harvest so abundant. Born at Hartford, June 29, 1841, he was educated in public schools, New Britain High School and N. L. Gallup's College, Green School. He began business life in the office of the "Hartford Courant," con- tinuing for one year, then in 1857 entered the employ of the Phoenix Fire Insur- ance Company as a clerk. He found. the business to his liking, and with all his talent, energy and aptitude applied him- self to mastering every detail of the insur-
ance business, whether it came within the circle of his appointed task or beyond it. He pursued such a course of action for six years, and although advanced in rank, the first important recognition of the fact that the company possessed a valuable asset in his services came on August 27, 1863, a few weeks after he had passed his twenty-second birthday, in his election as secretary of the company. He filled that position for four years, not only to the satisfaction of his own company, but in a manner that attracted the attention of the officials of other companies in the in- surance business. In all he spent nearly eleven years with the Phoenix Fire In- surance Company, and so thoroughly had he impressed his individuality upon the insurance men of his city that in 1867 the Ætna (Fire) Insurance Company made overtures to him and on December I, 1867, he was elected assistant secretary of that company. This was his first and last change of companies, but not of rank. As assistant secretary of the Ætna, a position he held for twenty-one years, he won high reputation as a fire underwriter, ranking as one of the ablest in that city of able insurance men.
A few weeks after the death of L. J. Hendee, president of the Ætna (Fire) In- surance Company, which occurred Sep- tember 4, 1888, Mr. Clark was elected vice-president of the company. In that position he found a wider field of oppor- tunity for the exercise of his well proven talents and for the practical expression of the ideas as well as the ideals that he had developed as a result of his long and careful study of insurance problems. Four years later President Jonathan Goodnow died (November 19, 1892), and shortly afterward Mr. Clark was elected president of the company. His elevation to that office, by coincidence only, oc- curred on the twenty-fifth anniversary of
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his entering the company's service as as- sistant secretary, December 1, 1867. At the time of assuming the executive chair he was with one exception the youngest fire insurance president, although in years of service he was the senior insurance official in his city. His selection met with the unanimous approval of the insurance world, but the tribute he most appreci- ated came from his own company, his subordinates in office, an expression of their appreciation of the fairness and con- sideration they had always received from him, as well as a tribute to his ability. This came in the form of an ovation given Mr. Clark by the entire office force, and as an expression of their high esteem and good will he was presented with a beauti- ful gift of cut glass and silver.
Nearly a quarter of a century has since elapsed, but that feeling of confidence in his fairness, his consideration for them, has but deepened and the esteem and good will with which they welcomed him has grown stronger with the years. That his management of his company has been wise and progressive, is attested by the fact that the Ætna (Fire) Insurance Company is the leading fire insurance company in this country. While the executive manage- ment of Ætna is his first and chief con- cern, Mr. Clark is identified officially with many other corporations and institutions of Hartford, financial and otherwise. For forty years he was a director of the old City Bank, and is now a director of the Travelers' Insurance Company, the First National Bank, the Society for Savings (vice-president), and Cedar Hill Ceme- tery Association. In 1896 he served as president of the National Board of Fire Underwriters, declining reëlection.
Nor has he been neglectful of the obli- gations of good citizenship. In 1880-82 he represented the old Third Ward of Hartford on the board of aldermen, serv-
ing as chairman of the ordinance and printing committees. He accepted ap- pointment to the board of water commis- sioners in 1882, serving through reap- pointments a term of nine years. He was a member of the famous committee on Out- door Alms which in 1890 effected impor- tant city reforms. In political faith he is a lifelong Republican.
All his life he has been interested in military affairs, becoming a member of the noted "Wide Awakes" before he was of age; was treasurer of the civil organ- ization and paymaster on the major's staff. His father was an active member of the Governor's Foot Guard, and Mr. Clark, the subject of this article, was a member and served as vice-president and president of the Veteran Corps of the Guard. It was as a result of his persistent efforts that the Veteran Corps was re- vived, many of the old members of the Guard induced to join, and the Corps placed on a sound financial basis, now paying rent to the Guard for the quarters they formerly occupied by favor.
Mr. Clark is a member of the First Baptist Church, and a believer in a prac- tical religion for every day use. A man of broad sympathy and generous to a fault, he has always been a friend of benevolent and charitable institutions. Since 1880 he has been a member of the corporation of Hartford Hospital, and since 1890 a director of the Retreat for the Insane, also of the Municipal Art So- ciety.
Mr. Clark married, May 13, 1863, Caro- line H. Robbins, born March 22, 1844, daughter of Philemon F. and Emily (Strickland) Robbins. They have three children: Charlotte B .; Alice Robbins, who married Edward S. Allen, and has three sons: William B. Clark, Edwin Stanton and Francis R. Allen; Caroline Emily. Two children died in childhood.
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Ever careful in his life, Mr. Clark, despite his years and load of responsi- bility, is at his desk every day, and shows little to indicate those years with which the calendar accuses him. He is a man of forceful personality, with a will to over- come every obstacle to the accomplish- ment of a purpose. He is a constructive executive, and has the faculty of inspir- ing confidence and winning the loyal sup- port as well as the esteem of those associ- ated with him.
LUTHER, Rev. Flavel S., Jr., President of Trinity College.
Rev. Flavel Sweeten Luther is a direct descendant of one of the few families of purely German extraction which settled in America in the early part of the colo- nization period. The family traces its lineage to Johannes Luther, brother of Martin Luther, the great leader of the Reformation. Johannes Luther was born in Eisleben, Saxony, the son of Henry Luther. The date of his birth is placed between the years 1475 and 1490. His descendants of the third or fourth gener- ation emigrated from Germany to Holland, whence after a period of about a century they went to England, some of them set- tling in County Sussex, where there is record of one Wilhelm Luther, who reached the age of one hundred and eight years. Some branches of the family in England attained great prominence and became the owners of much landed prop- erty in the vicinities in which they settled. An anglicized form of the name generally used at the time was Luton, the original form being employed in legal documents, however. The American branch of the family, of which Hon. Flavel S. Luther, is a descendant in the ninth generation, was established in this country in the early part of the seventeenth century, by
Captain John Luther, a member of the English branch of the ancient German family.
Captain John Luther, the progenitor, was a native of Shrewsbury, England. He left England in 1635, sailing from Dorset county, England, and arriving in the port of Boston, in Massachusetts Colony. In 1637 he became one of the first purchasers and settlers of Swansea. He is mentioned in early records of the town as the owner of ninety acres of land which are said to have been purchased from the Indians for a peck of white beans. It is thought that the land was assigned by the government, and the ex- change of the beans made with the In- dians to preclude any opposition. Cap- tain Luther remained in Swansea until 1642, when he sold his interests and be- came one of the original settlers of Gloucester. He was a mariner, and was employed by one of the merchants of Boston as captain of a vessel to go to Delaware Bay on a trading voyage. He was killed by the Indians on this expe- dition in 1644. It is evident from early court records of the time that his son accompanied him on the voyage and was captured at the same time. On May 2, 1646, the General Court of Massachusetts decreed that the Widow Luther should have the balance of her husband's wages according to sea custom, after the mer- chants had been reimbursed for expenses incurred in redeeming her son.
Hezekiah Luther, son of Captain John Luther, was probably born at Taunton, Massachusetts, in 1640, and died July 23, 1723. He was one of the first settlers of Swansea, Massachusetts, and his de- scendants settled in the adjoining town of Rehoboth, and in various parts of Rhode Island. He married (first) Eliza- beth -; (second) Sarah Their son, John (2) Luther, was born
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in 1663, and died April 14, 1697 ; he mar- ried, January 25, 1687, Hopestill Butter- worth. Their son, Nathaniel Luther, was born August 17, 1692, and married, June 4, 1715, Mercy Boomer. Their son, Mat- thew Luther, was born August 26, 1721, and married, December 20, 1747, Eleanor Gansey. Their son, Peleg Luther, was born August 18, 1756, and married, in 1780, Mary Nichols; he later removed to Providence, Rhode Island, where he died, November 4, 1810. Their son, Job Luther, was born April 3, 1793, in Swansea, and died in Rehoboth, Massachusetts, on March 22, 1875; he followed the occupa- tion of teamster in Providence, where he resided ; he married (first) Lucy Ann Peck, daughter of Darius Peck, of See- konk, December 15, 1823; he married (second) October 13, 1829, Caroline Reed Ormsby.
Flavel Sweeten Luther, son of Job and Lucy Ann (Peck) Luther, was born in Providence, Rhode Island, November 9, 1825. He received his early education in the public schools of the city, and later attended a private school in Providence, kept by Benjamin Burns. After leaving school he was employed for several years in various stores, after which he served an apprenticeship of four years at cabinet making in Pawtucket, Rhode Island. Mr. Luther later became interested in the business of organ building. He owned a farm at Brooklyn, Connecticut, where he purchased a news agency, which he conducted successfully for thirty years, becoming a prominent member of the community there. He died August 16, 1913, in Hartford, Connecticut. He was a member of Trinity Protestant Episco- pal Church of Brooklyn. His political sympathies were with the Republican party.
Flavel Sweeten Luther married, March 26, 1849, at Brooklyn, Connecticut, Jane
Jerusha Lillie, born at Brooklyn, January 20, 1824, daughter of Jacob and Joanna (Manning) Lillie. Her father was a farmer there, and also a butcher; served as an ensign in the War of 1812, stationed at New London, Connecticut. Children, born at Brooklyn, Connecticut : 1. Flavel Sweeten, mentioned below. 2. Hermon Lillie, born March 12, 1855; graduate of Racine College, took post-graduate course at Harvard, and after a few years of teach- ing studied law and was admitted to the bar of Minnesota, later becoming a suc- cessful lawyer in that State ; married, De- cember 29, 1885, Kate C. O. Blake; died February 2, 1904; child: Hermon Blake, born October 31, 1886, died February 2, 1887. 3. Riverius Manning, born June 30, 1868; was a graduate of Trinity College, Hartford, Connecticut, in the class of 1890; electrical engineer by profession ; died, unmarried, November 28, 1891.
Rev. Flavel Sweeten Luther, son of Flavel Sweeten and Jane Jerusha (Lillie) Luther, was born in Brooklyn, Connecti- cut, March 26, 1850. He was educated in the local schools of Brooklyn, and at the age of seventeen years entered the sopho- more class of Trinity College in Hartford, from which institution he was graduated in his twentieth year, the third in his class. He took high honors in mathe- matics, and won the first prize in that subject in his sophomore year. In the fall of 1870 he went to Troy, New York, where he assumed charge of a parish school of one hundred members, and in addition to his work began the study of theology under the Rev. Dr. Coit. When he became of age he was ordained a dea- con of the Protestant Episcopal church by Bishop Doane. His success as a teacher and disciplinarian in Troy was quite marked, and in 1873 he was appointed rector of a large Episcopal school in Racine, Wisconsin. In conjunction with
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his duties there he devoted much time to the study of mathematics, in which he had always been extremely proficient and which remained his favorite study. In 1876 he was appointed to the chair of mathematics in Racine College, which he filled until 1881, when he accepted a simi- lar post with Kenyon College, in Gambier, Ohio. After two years at Kenyon Col- lege, he returned to the East, to accept a call to the chair of mathematics in Trin- ity College, Hartford, thirteen years after his graduation therefrom.
In 1903 Professor Luther became act- ing president of Trinity, and in 1904 its president, succeeding in that office Dr. George W. Smith. While teaching mathe- matics and astronomy at Trinity, he also was consulting engineer for the Pope Manufacturing Company, the largest and most important bicycle company in the country, and was actively connected with its development. While engaged in this work, Professor Luther showed a mechan- ical and inventive genius of a high order, and one of his inventions for the bicycle is used on every bicycle manufactured to- day. In appreciation of his services to the company in the invention of this part, he was given a handsome present in ad- dition to his salary.
President Luther has brought to the administration of the affairs of Trinity College a spirit of progress which has achieved much for the college. In ad- dition to the long experience in teaching and directing schools, his theological training, his service as a college professor, his love for and thorough knowledge of the field of mathematics and engineering, he has brought to his work the keen judg- ment and foresight of the man who has been in actual touch with the business world, and who knows the science of han- dling men and affairs, not theoretically but practically. Trinity College is not a rich
college and this business ability has been of much value in inspiring trust among those who support it by endowments and gifts. President Luther has the gift of being able to bring to the front the loyalty and love of the students under him. Dur- ing his administration Trinity has pros- pered in every department of her work and affairs.
President Luther received the degree of LL. D. from Trinity College in 1904, shortly before his inauguration. He is a preacher of note, and has declined sev- eral offers of positions of prominence in the church, in the interests of the college. He is also an able public speaker and a fine conversationalist. Since his coming to Trinity he has done much to advance the athletics of the college to a higher plane in the scale of inter-collegiate sports and was chiefly responsible for the new athletic field of the college. He refused an offer to become president of Kenyon College while still a professor at Trinity. President Luther has always maintained a keen interest in public affairs, and has been prominently identified with many movements for civic betterment. He was twice elected to the State Senate, serving from 1907 to 1910, inclusive. During his terms in the Legislature he rendered valu- able services as chairman of the commit- tees on education and contingent ex- penses, and as a member of the com- mittees on military affairs and legislative expenses. In discussing the advantages of a commission form of government in the State, at a City Club Civic Luncheon, President Luther made the following re- marks: "If we put the responsibility of our affairs into the hands of a small body of trained men and pay them enough to keep them there things would be very greatly improved. Select this body of not more than fifteen from the state at large to consider such legislation as is necessary
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and to repeal such laws as are unnecessary -- and there are a tremendous lot of them -and pay them a living salary. Let us select these men because they know some- thing about their jobs. Let them stay in office until they become familiar with their work. This method will be found to be cheaper, more satisfactory and to the best interests of the State. According to the present plan of State government some good men get into office, but they don't know anything about parliamentary law. As soon as they learn, somebody else comes in and takes their seats. I don't expect to see the plan just outlined to go into effect next year, and it prob- ably never will, but the tendency to fix responsibility is growing." Dr. Luther advocated the elimination of politics, "But," said he, "if we must have Repub- licans and Democrats and Socialists and Prohibitionists and others, let us all vote for this small body of selected men any- way." Dr. Luther made a comparison between State and National legislation. He pointed out that five supreme court judges could repeal any action that repre- sentatives and senators might take if they were satisfied that the legislation was not favorable to them. President Luther is a member of the American Society of Me- chanical Engineers, and of the Delta Upsilon fraternity. During 1915, on leave of absence from Trinity, he traveled ex- tensively throughout the United States, visiting many colleges from coast to coast.
Rev. Flavel Sweeten Luther married, No- vember 2, 1871, Isabelle Blake Ely, born in Hartford, Connecticut, August 27, 1848, daughter of Alfred Eli and Mary Jones (Bull) Ely. They have no children. Mrs. Luther is a member of the Colonial Dames of America.
(The Ely Line).
Mrs. Isabelle B. (Ely) Luther is de- scended directly from Nathaniel Ely, the
progenitor of one of the very numerous Ely families in America. The published genealogy entitled "Nathaniel Ely and His Descendants" contains an interesting statement of the results obtained in an effort to trace the family in England ; but as 10 positive knowledge of the ante- cedents of Nathaniel Ely was obtained, we shall begin this brief narrative with the record of the immigrant ancestor.
It has been assumed that Nathaniel Ely was born in 1605, in Tenterden, County Kent, England. He married Martha -, and came to America about the same time as Robert Day (1634), who was his nearest neighbor in Newtown, now Cambridge, Massachusetts. They both took the freeman's oath at Cam- bridge, May 6, 1635. The following year they were members of the company who came to Connecticut with the Rev. Thom- as Hooker and settled at what is now Hartford. Nathaniel Ely became pos- sessed of ten parcels of land in Hartford. He was constable in 1639; selectman in 1643 and 1649. His name appears on the Central Monument in "The Ancient Burying-Ground of Hartford" erected to the memory of the "Founders of Hart- ford." He was one of the leaders in the settlement of Norwalk. Connecticut. In 1649, on the petition of Nathaniel Ely and Richard Olmsted, of Hartford, the Gen- eral Court gave permission for the settle- ment of Norwalk, and about four years later invested the inhabitants with town privileges. In 1654 he was elected a con- stable of Norwalk; selectman in 1656; representative to the General Court in 1657. Two years later he sold his prop- erty and removed to Springfield, Massa- chusetts, where he spent the remainder of his life. There he was prominent in public life as he had been at Norwalk and Hartford; was selectman in 1661, 1663, 1666, 1668, 1671 and 1673. In 1665 he
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became the keeper of the "ordinary," or tavern, and continued in that business until his death in 1675. In granting him his license, the County Court released him "from Trayning in ye Towne soe long as he continues to keep ye Ordinary." The Ely tavern occupied a prominent site on Main street until about 1845 when the building was removed to the corner of Dwight and Sanford streets, where it was still standing not many years ago. He died December 25, 1675, and his widow died in Springfield, October 23, 1688.
There is no record of where or when their son, Samuel Ely, was born. His name first appears as a witness on a deed given by the Indians to his father and others dated February 15, 1651. That was in Norwalk. He was industrious and thrifty and left a considerable estate. He married, in Springfield, Massachusetts, October 28, 1659, Mary Day, daughter of Robert and Editha (Stebbins) Day, who was born in Hartford, Connecticut, 1641. He died in Springfield, March 19, 1692. His widow was married twice after his death, and she died as the widow of Dea- con Jonathan Coleman, of Hatfield, Octo- ber 17, 1725.
Deacon John Ely, son of Samuel and Mary (Day) Ely, was born in Springfield, Massachusetts, January 28, 1678, and died in West Springfield, January 15, 1758. He married, December 30, 1703, Mercy Bliss, born July 18, 1680, died in West Springfield, May 5, 1763, daughter of Sam- uel and Mary (Leonard) Bliss.
Caleb Ely, son of Deacon John and Mercy (Bliss) Ely, was born in West Springfield, Massachusetts, October 25, 1714, and died there, May 16, 1754. He married, May 21, 1740, Mary Edwards, born in Hartford, Connecticut, August 20, 1721, died in West Springfield, Massachu- setts, March 7, 1783, daughter of Deacon John and Christian (Williamson) Ed- wards (see Edwards).
William Ely, son of Caleb and Mary (Edwards) Ely, was born in West Spring- field, Massachusetts, June 15, 1743, and died there, March 2, 1825. He married, October 12, 1766, Drusilla Brewster, born November 3, 1745, died October 13, 1828, daughter of William and Damaris (Gates) Brewster (see Brewster).
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