USA > Connecticut > Encyclopedia of Connecticut biography, genealogical-memorial; representative citizens, v.2 > Part 42
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50
From his boyhood Mr. Robinson was interested in fish culture, and early in life gave considerable study to the sub- ject. In 1866 Governor Hawley appoint- ed him fish commissioner of the State, and notwithstanding his large and exact- ing law practice, Mr. Robinson entered upon the duties of that position with zeal and did all in his power to promote the fishing industry. He secured the passage of laws forbidding the use of fish pounds at the mouth of the Connecticut river. Before the good effects of these laws could be fairly observed, certain selfish interests succeeded in having them re- pealed, and other statutes enacted, which experience has shown to be valueless in conserving the shad fisheries. Under Mr. Robinson's direction the first hatch of American shad was made a demonstra- tion in which Professor Agassiz was greatly interested as a spectator. Mr. Robinson was a firm and efficient sup- porter of Republican principles in poli- tics, but such was his popularity that he was elected mayor of Hartford by a large majority, though the city was usually Democratic in politics. During his term and largely as the result of his influence
and efforts Hartford became the sole capi- tal of the State. He instituted many economies in city government which were effective without in any way curtailing efficiency or hindering the advancement of necessary improvements. As a result of his suggestions a number of depart- ment commissions were established. His administration was distinguished as a clean and business-like management of city affairs, which served to strengthen his hold upon the confidence and esteem of the people. In 1879 Mr. Robin- son was a member of the General As- sembly, and as chairman of the judici- ary committee and leader of the House he had the exceptional gratification of seeing the actions of his committee substantially sustained in every instance. This com- mittee accomplished some very impor- tant results, including enactments decid- edly improving legal procedures. Three times. in the spring and fall of 1876 and again in 1878, he was nominated by accla- mation in the Republican State Conven- tion to the office of Governor. On the third occasion he declined the nomina- tion. In 1880 he was a member of the Republican National Convention at Chi- cago and the author of a large portion of its platform. In 1887 he was the com- missioner for Connecticut at the Consti- tutional Centennial Celebration in Phila- delphia. President Harrison offered to him the position of minister to Spain, but this and other appointments to eminer positions he was compelled to decline in order that his extensive legal practice might not suffer.
He was interested in many leading financial and other institutions. being a director of the New York, New Haven & Hartford Railroad Company, Connecticut Mutual Life Insurance Company, Hart- ford Steam Boiler Inspection and Insur- ance Company, Pratt & Whitney Com-
291
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
pany, Connecticut Fire Insurance Com- pany; was a trustee of the Connecticut Trust and Safe Deposit Company, and a member of the Hartford Board of Trade. His range of interest took in every phase of human activity, and his broad sym- pathies were awake to all human needs. He gave liberally of his means, time and effort to eleemosynary institutions, and served on almost innumerable commit- tees, boards of trustees and similar organ- izations. As a trustee of the Wadsworth Atheneum and of the Hartford Grammar School, he testified to his keen interest in education and literary progress. He was a member of the Hartford Tract So- ciety, and most active in the Bar Associa- tion of Connecticut, of which he was vice- president, and in the Hartford County Bar Association. He served the Yale Alumni Association, of which he was a faithful and enthusiastic member, as pres- ident, and was one of the founders of the Connecticut Society of the Sons of the American Revolution. In this brief review it has been possible to touch only the high- est points in a distinguished career, but enough has been said to make any enco- miums superfluous. Mr. Robinson died February 14, 1900. He was a man of great intellectual force, of broad sym- pathy and benevolent heart, and left his impress not only upon his own genera- tion, but upon those to follow. He was a leader in public service and the promo- tion of the general welfare, and to him the people of the State are greatly in- debted for some of its most beneficent laws.
On August 28, 1862, Mr. Robinson was united in marriage with Eliza Niles, daughter of John F. Trumbull, of Ston- ington, Connecticut. She was born July 15, 1833. They were the parents of the following children: I. Lucius F., born June 12, 1863 ; graduated at Yale in 1885;
was associated with his father in the prac- tice of law, and since the latter's death is senior member of the firm of Robinson, Robinson & Cole; he married Elinor Cook, of Paterson, New Jersey, and they have sons: Lucius F., Jr., Barclay and Henry Cornelius. 2. Lucy T., born July 19, 1865, is the wife of Sidney Trow- bridge Miller, of Detroit, Michigan ; they have two children: Elizabeth T. and Sid- ney T., Jr. 3. Henry Seymour, whose sketch follows. 4. John T., born April 25, 1871 ; is a member of the law firm of Rob- inson, Robinson & Cole, of Hartford ; he married Gertrude Coxe, of Utica, New York; they have two children: Gertrude and John T., Jr. 5. Mary S., born May 17, 1873; married Dr. Adrian V. S. Lam- bert, of New York City; they have four children : Mary, Adrian, John and Ruth.
Mrs. Henry C. Robinson died June 25, 1916, at the advanced age of eighty-two years, dearly beloved and deeply rever- enced throughout the city of Hartford by friends whose name was legion. She was a Christian in every sense of the word, not only in the name, but in the deeds of daily life. She gave constantly and un- reservedly of her energy, strength, and financial support to the charitable work of the city of Hartford, and was one of the founders of the Union for Home Work, of which she was a member of the board of trustees for several years. Mrs. Robinson's work was well known in the city, and it served to raise her to a stand- ard in the hearts of hundreds to which only the truly worthy can attain. By one who knew her, as a friend of years, the Rev. Dr. Edwin Pond Parker, pastor emeritus of the South Congregational Church, of which she was a member, the following tribute was paid :
For more than half a century it has been my inestimable privilege to know with some good degree of intimacy Mrs. Henry C. Robinson. I
292
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
turn for a moment or two from my paper to in- terrogate the picture of her husband on the wall nearby-that most trusted and most faithful friend of my active life-and memories too nu- merous and precious for relation, of him and of her, and of their home, their family, their hospi- tality, their unfailing friendship and unbounded kindness throng into the chambers of my mind and heart. Loving and honoring her at first for his dear sake, it was soon and ever after honor and love of her for her own no less dear sake. She was one of those who as wife, mother and friend "show us how divine a thing a woman may be made." Recalling her domestic devotion, her attunement in all wisdom and simplicity to the appointments of her life, her fervent charity, her fragrant purity, her contagious cheerfulness, her delightful humor, her quick sympathy with the sorrows of others, and her calm serenity in her own sorrows, her unaffected modesty and meek- ness combined with a rare intellectual brightness and a beautiful spiritual insight and taste, and all that combined for reverence and lovableness in her character, I may best use Wordsworth's lines and say :
God delights In such a being; for her common thoughts Are piety, her life is gratitude.
This, I am aware, is eulogy; but no less a true testimony.
ROBINSON, Henry Seymour, Attorney, Insurance Officer.
Henry Seymour Robinson, son of Henry Cornelius and Eliza Niles (Trum- bull) Robinson, was born April 16, 1868, in Hartford, where he grew up, and was prepared for college at the Hartford High School, graduating in 1885. He at once entered Yale, and was graduated with the degree of Bachelor of Arts in 1889. He pursued the study of law with his father's firm, and was admitted to the bar in 1891, soon after which he became partner in the law firm of Robinson & Robinson. This relation continued four years, at the end of which time he withdrew from the firm to become secretary and manager of the trust department of the Connecticut Trust & Safe Deposit Company. which position he occupied for a period of ten
years. At the end of this time he was elected to his present position of vice- president of the Connecticut Mutual Life Insurance Company. Wherever placed he has brought to the performance of his duties a keen intelligence, a thorough preparation and an active industry which inevitably brings results. As a citizen he is esteemed, as a business man respected, and is a power in the social and business life of the State capital. He is interested in various institutions, being a director of the Connecticut Trust and Safe De- posit Company, the Hartford Fire Insur- ance Company, the Hartford Accident and Indemnity Company, the Connecti- cut Mutual Life Insurance Company, and the Mechanics Savings Bank. He is a trustee of the Wadsworth AAtheneum and Watkinson Library of Hartford, and the Loomis Institute at Windsor. He is a member of the Psi Upsilon and Skull and Bones societies of Yale, of the Hartford Club, the Hartford Golf Club, the Yale Club of New York, the Yale Alumni As- sociation of Hartford, the Graduates' Club of New Haven, the Society of Colo- nial Wars, and the Twentieth Century Club. In the conduct of public affairs Mr. Robinson adheres to the principles avowed by the Republican party, and has been elected to positions of trust and re- sponsibility. For the five years from 1903 to 1907 he was a member of the Hartford Common Council, and during that period was a member of the Hart- ford board of finance two years, and con- tinued on that board one year after his retirement from, the council, covering the period from 1905 to 1908. As a lawyer. Mr. Robinson gained distinction in his profession, and he is among the best known insurance men of the State. His personal qualifications and career entitle him to respect and esteem, and he ex- emplifies in marked degree the qualities of a most worthy ancestry.
293
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
Mr. Robinson married (first) Novem- ber 9, 1898, Sarah Morgan, daughter of Rev. Francis Goodwin, of Hartford, whose biography appears on other pages of this work. She died February 8, 1909, leaving two children : Sarah Goodwin and Elizabeth Trumbull. Mr. Robinson mar- ried (second) January 10, 1917, Marion Cornelia Armstrong, of Hartford, formerly of Pasadena, California, daughter of Al- fred C. Armstrong. Mr. Robinson attends Trinity (Protestant Episcopal) Church of Hartford.
HART, Artemas Elijah, Financier.
mas Elijah Hart was born, but since 1860 Hartford has been his home. He has won commanding position in the city of his adoption, and as an official of two of the important financial institutions of the city, has borne a full share in the affairs of his day.
(I) The line of descent is from Deacon Stephen Hart, who came to the Massa- chusetts Bay Colony in 1632 from Brain- tree, England, was an original settler of Hartford in 1635, one of the eighty-four proprietors of the town of Farmington in 1672, and is of record in that town as one of the members of the church in 1652.
(II) Captain Thomas Hart, youngest son of Deacon Stephen Hart, born in 1664, was a captain of militia in 1695; deputy to the General Court from 1690 to 1706; speaker from 1700 to 1706; justice of the peace from 1698 to 1706, and divided with John Hooker the distinction of being the most prominent man in the town. He married Ruth, daughter of An- thony Hawkins, of Farmington.
Nine generations of Harts have flour- ished in Hartford, Connecticut, and vicin- ity, Deacon Stephen Hart, the American founder of the family, coming from Braintree, England, about 1632. He came to Connecticut with the Rev. Thomas Hooker's colony, and in 1635 was one of the original proprietors of the city now known as Hartford. His house lot was (III) Deacon Thomas Hart, second son of Captain Thomas Hart, was born at Farmington, in April, 1680, moved to Kensington, Connecticut, where he died January 29, 1773, at the great age of ninety-three years. He was one of Ken- sington's most prominent men, and was to that town what his father was to Farm- ington. He married (first) December 17, 1702, Mary, daughter of John Thompson, of Farmington, who died in October, 1763. He married (second) January II, 1764, Mrs. Elizabeth Morton. on the west side of what is now Front street, near the intersection of Morgan street, and there is a tradition that he discovered and used a ford across the Connecticut at a low water gauge, that was known as Hart's Ford, the city tak- ing its name Hartford from the old Hart's Ford. There is a strong element of probability in his tradition, but there is ample justification for the city bearing the family name, for Harts were both prominent and influential in the early Colonial as well as all subsequent periods (IV) Deacon Elijah Hart, son of Dea- con Thomas Hart, and his first wife, Mary (Thompson) Hart, was born at Kensing- ton, Connecticut, June 18, 1711, died at New Britain, Connecticut, August 3, 1772. He was a prosperous farmer, and both he and his wife were charter members of the of Connecticut's history as colony and commonwealth. New Britain has been the principal seat of this branch of the family, Deacon Elijah Hart, of the fourth generation, settling there. Four succeed- ing generations were prominent there in church and in business, and there Arte- First Church of New Britain, organized
294
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
April 19, 1758, he filling the office of dea- con for many years. He married, Decem- ber 26, 1734, Abigail Goodrich, born De- cember 14, 1714, died at Simsbury, Con- necticut, January 21, 1809, at the wonder- ful age of ninety-five years, daughter of Allen Goodrich.
(V) Deacon Elijah (2) Hart, son of Deacon Elijah (1) Hart, was born at Kensington, September 26, 1735. died at New Britain, December 10, 1800. He was also one of the original members of the First Church of New Britain formed in 1758, was a deacon thereof and led the singing. He held closely to the observ- ance of Puritan law, and in his occupa- tion as farmer was very successful. He married, May II, 1757, Sarah, daughter of Ebenezer Gilbert, who survived him until September 22, 1809.
(VI) Deacon Elijah (3) Hart, son of Deacon Elijah (2) Hart, was born at New Britain, May 7, 1759, died from the effects of a bee sting, August 4, 1827. He was a prosperous farmer and miller, and developed an extensive trade with the West Indies in mill products. He served in the Revolutionary army for three years, enlisting, March 18, 1778, and was with the army which compelled the sur- render of Burgoyne at Saratoga. He married, December 21. 1780, Anna An- drews, born September 6, 1760, died De- cember 2, 1835, daughter of Hezekiah An- drews.
(VII) Jesse Hart, son of Deacon Eli- jah (3) Hart, was born at New Britain, April 20, 1789. died there February 21, 1825. He was a blacksmith by trade and maintained a shop in New Britain for many years. He married, April 5. ISIO, Lucinda Cowdry, born September 17, 1788, daughter of Asa Cowdry, who bore him two children: Artemas Ensign, and Lucina C., born December 3, 1821, who married John H. Goodwin, and died in Paris, France, in the spring of 1885.
(VIII) Artemas Ensign Hart, only son of Jesse and Lucinda (Cowdry ) Hart, was born at New Britain, February II, 1812, died at West Hartford, in 1884. His youth was spent at the old homestead in New Britain, now the site of the Hotel Russwin. He built a home on Washing- ton street, New Britain, that later was used as the Episcopal rectory, and for a long time worked in a jewelry establish- ment in his native town, having learned the jeweler's trade in his youth. He late in life moved to West Hartford, where he died, but his remains were returned to New Britain for burial. He was a devoted member of the Congregational church, a man of high character but very retiring and modest in his nature. He married. August 24. 1836, Ann Elizabeth Clark, born December 7, 1816, daughter of Abel and Catherine (Eckerst) Clark, of Litch- field, Connecticut. . \rtemas Ensign and Ann Elizabeth (Clark) Hart were the par- ents of five children : Virginia Veeder, married (first) Harry Pember, of Rock- ville, married (second ) John Charles Smith, of Hartford ; Charles R., deceased ; Artemas Elijah, of further mention ; Lu- cinda, died in infancy: Ann Elizabeth, married (first) Charles Mackin, of New- ark. New Jersey, and (second) Alfred Huber, of Paris : she resides in Paris, he died in 1909.
(IX) Artemas Elijah Hart, son of Ar- temas Ensign and Ann Elizabeth (Clark) Hart, was born at New Britain, June 20, 1842. He attended the public schools of New Britain, completing a high school course, then attended Edward Hall's boarding school at Ellington, Connecti- cut. He began business life as clerk in the drug store of W. H. Coggswell at Rockville. Connecticut, the drug store also being the village post office. In 1860, at the age of eighteen years. he began his residence at Hartford. the home of his ancestor. Deacon Stephen Hart, two and
295
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
a quarter centuries before him. His first position in Hartford was as clerk in the dry goods house of H. E. Mather, but in 1861 he became clerk in the Society for Savings, a connection that has never since been broken. From clerk he has risen through many promotions to the office of treasurer, having filled that office since 1890. He is also a director of the Eagle Lock Company of Terryville, Connecti- cut, trustee of the society and a director of the State Bank and Trust Company, the latter an office he has filled since 1888. He is a wise and able financier and under his guardianship the treasurer's depart- ment of the society has been a bulwark of strength and a model of efficiency. True to the traditions of eight generations of his family, Mr. Hart is allied in close relations with the Congregational church, and for many years was treasurer of the Park Church. He is an Independent in politics, and has been active in public affairs, particularly the public schools, serving as treasurer of the Second North School District, later as a member of the West Middle School committee. He is a member of the Sons of the American Rev- olution; Hartford Club of Hartford; the Laurentian Club of Montreal, and the Country Club of Farmington.
Mr. Hart married, October 12, 1865, Katherine A. O. Litchfield, of Hartford, born September 29, 1845, daughter of Thomas J. Litchfield, of Hartford, a gro- cer of that city for many years. Fifty years later, on the evening of October 12, 1915, at their home, No. 846 Asylum ave- nue, Hartford, Mr. and Mrs. Hart cele- brated their golden wedding, children and grandchildren gathering to do them honor. Mrs. Hart is also of patriotic ancestry and is a member of Ruth Wyllys Chapter. Daughters of the American Revolution. Children: Elizabeth Katherine, married Harmon S. Graves, of Rye, New York,
of the law firm of Graves & Miles, of New York; Alida May, died at the age of three years; Sarah Litchfield, married Ogle Tayloe Paine, of Troy, New York; Harold Gross, broker of Hartford.
BRENNAN, Edward Joseph,
Clergyman.
Beyond the success of those who achieve fame and fortunte is that of them who deny them to themselves, and that is a correct conclusion which places the hum- blest priest above the greatest king in dignity. For surely, if it be the objects that a man works for that above all else distinguish him and which, in the final judgment, shall weigh most heavily in the balance, then we must place those who work for that greatest of all objects-to make the will of God prevail upon this earth-above those whose ends are ma- terial, no matter how successful the latter may be in their efforts. But it is the chief and final sacrifice of those who are the ordained priests in the Catholic church to turn away not merely from the things that the world holds precious, but even from the praise which that act would normally call forth. What praise is theirs, they willingly turn over to the great insti- tution in which they merge their individu- ality to the extent of their power. For it is the wise policy of the church, a policy in which her loyal sons acquiesce the more readily since they experience its beneficial results, to maintain a discipline in the conduct of its priests that shall remove their thoughts as far as possible from earthly ambitions and fix them upon the things of another world. And this it does by teaching them to sink their wills in the presence of its rulings, to accept with the same thankfulness the highest or the lowest of its posts, the greatest or least of its services. For this reason therefore,
296
Ef. Brewnay
THE NET
٣١٦٠٠٠
ILE.
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
it is not appropriate in the case of Father Edward Joseph Brennan to express all the praise which his faithful and efficient service merits, but rather to confine this notice of him to the simple statement of the facts of his career, leaving these to speak for themselves and him.
Edward Joseph Brennan, while himself a native of this country, having been born in New Haven, Connecticut, September 28, 1867, is of Irish parentage, both his father and mother having been born in that country. His father was Michael Brennan. a man of great energy and enter- prise, who came from his native town of Sligo in one of the most picturesque parts of Ireland. while still a young man, and settled in New Haven where he engaged in a trucking business, meeting with much success. He continued in this line until his death in 1875 at the age of fifty- two years. His wife, who was before marriage Margaret Quinn, was born in County Clare, Ireland, and came to the United States in early youth. She sur- vived him for nearly thirty-five years, however, and died in 1909 at the age of sixty-three years. Seven children were born to them as follows: Nellie, died at the age of twenty-six; Annie, now resid- ing in New Haven; Mary, resides with Father Brennan in Waterbury : Hannah, a resident of New Haven; Edward Jo- seph, with whose career this sketch is concerned; Winifred, who resides with Father Brennan in Waterbury: and Mi- chael, who married Margaret Magner and resides in New Haven where he holds the position of assistant superintendent of the National Paper Box Company.
Father Brennan was educated in the ex- cellent public schools of New Haven and from there went to St. Charles College at Ellicott City, Maryland. It was while attending this institution that Father Brennan first made up his mind definitely
to enter the priesthood. He had always had a strongly religious clement in his nature and here, under the influence of the many learned and pious masters and the great number of fellow students who were studying with the priesthood in view, this side of him was greatly de- veloped and he became conscious of his vocation. He made a record for himself as an earnest and devoted student, and upon graduating with the class of 1889 went to St. Mary's Seminary in Balti- more, and after five years of study there was ordained to the priesthood by Cardi- nal Gibbons. December 22, 1894. His first work was at Torrington, Connecti- cut, where he was assigned to St. Francis Church, remaining there six years. He was then sent to St. John's Church at New Haven, but was there only six months, when he was appointed chaplain in the navy by President Roosevelt. His appointment dated from October, 1901. and from that time on for the next seven years he led an interesting and eventful life and made himself extremely popular with the men to whom he ministered. In 1908 he resigned from this position and was sent to Waterbury, Connecticut. where he has remained ever since until he is one of the best known figures in the city. He founded the parish of St Mar- garet in Waterbury on July 20. 1910, and since that time has had the growing parish in charge and has already had the pleas- ure of seeing it grow to occupy an im- portant place in the religious life of the community.
The work that Father Brennan is do- ing in the city at the present time is a very valuable one. He is an extremely public-spirited man and identifies himself with every movement that is undertaken for the welfare of the community gener- ally, provided they are of such a nature as to commend themselves to his good
297
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
judgment. He possesses the ability to make himself highly popular with men and as a member of the Knights of Columbus and the Spanish Veterans he keeps in touch with many of those with whom it would not be so easy otherwise. The natural leadership which he exercises among his fellows has drawn many of them into a more religious mode of life, and there are few men in the community held in such high respect as he.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.