USA > Connecticut > Illustrated popular biography of Connecticut > Part 28
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 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68
154
AN ILLUSTRATED POPULAR
has not been conspicuously prominent in public affairs, on account of his quiet disposition and habits; but his life has been one of great usefulness, and he has the confidence and respect of all who know him.
ADDISON KINGSBURY, COVENTRY: Box Manu- facturer.
Addison Kingsbury of South Coventry, senior member of the firm of A. Kingsbury & Son, is one of the most noted and successful paper box manu- facturers in New England. The business includes the product from five facto- ries which are located in" South Coventry, Rock- ville, New London, and Willimantic in this state, and at Northampton, Mass. Mr. Kingsbury is the inventor of the ma- chine for cutting the blanks for the boxes. The industry was started at ADDISON KINGSBURY. South Coventry in 1868 and rapidly developed, becoming in the course of a dozen years one of ex- tensive proportions and standing. Millions of boxes are now turned out annually by aid of the machin- ery devised by Mr. Kingsbury. In 1880, after hav- ing established an extensive plant at Rockville, the far-sighted manager of the industry located a fac- tory at Northampton. In 1883 Arthur L. Kings- bury was admitted to the firm and has since been an active participant in its interests and business. In 1885 the subject of this sketch invented a glue- ing machine, which is still in use, and also the ma- chine for cutting box blanks. These inventions have contributed materially to the firm's success. The combined production of the firm's factories amounts to upwards of ten million boxes a year, giving employment to over 150 hands and doing over $100,000 business annually. One of the spe- cialties by which Messrs. Kingsbury achieved their success is the furnishing of printed labels with the boxes. The founder of the business is also inter- ested in the Kingsbury & Davis Machine Company of Contoocook, N. H., which turns out the machine he invented for cutting blanks, as well as other pa- per-box machinery. He has spent much of his time in New York and is a gentleman of wide business acquaintance. His career has been one of superb success and may be adduced as an illustration of the prosperity that awaits ability and energy in the industrial pursuits of this country. The manufac- turers of America, of whom Mr. Kingsbury is a worthy representative, are entitled to the highest credit for the part which they have performed in the
development of the American people. Mr. Kings- bury was born at South Coventry, November 15, 1835, and received a common and select school ed- ucation. He began life as an accountant, but the most of his business career has been in connection with his paper box industry and inventions. In pol- itics he is a republican. He is connected with the Congregational church. He has been twice married. The second wife, who is still living, was Miss Sara M. Scott prior to marriage. There are two child- ren living, one of whom, Arthur L. Kingsbury, is associated with his father in the firm and business, as before intimated.
.HORACE JOHNSON, PLAINVILLE: Carriage Man- ufacturer.
Horace Johnson was born in Decatur, Otsego county, N. Y., December 25, 1822, and received a district school education. He was only five years old when his father died. Since that time he has made his own way in the world, working on a farm during his early years for his board and schooling. At the age of sixteen, after completing the sea- son on a farm at three dollars a inonth, he made his way back to Connecti- cut, where his parents were born, with only sev- HORACE JOHNSON. enteen dollars in his pos- session. The subsequent three years were spent in the town of Litchfield, where he learned the carriage-maker's trade. He then removed to New Britain and worked four years for Normand Warner, who is still remembered by many people in that locality. Mr. Johnson after- wards effected a partnership with L. S. Gladding and carried on a successful carriage business until the commencement of the war. The firm con- trolled an extensive business in the south and lost heavily. Mr. Johnson's partner died soon after the war was ended and the whole management of the business devolved upon him. His plant was de- stroyed by fire seven years ago, causing the loss of nearly one-third of his property. The works were rebuilt immediately and the business continued. Mr. Johnson manufactures only first-class goods, which are sent throughout the country, principally in the south. His "Jefferson spindle " buggy has taken several prize medals at state fairs, and is to be found in every city on the Atlantic coast. He has been a member of the board of selectmen at Plainville and treasurer of the grand lodge of Good Templars in this state. He is a prohibitionist in
155
BIOGRAPHY OF CONNECTICUT.
politics and a member of the Congregational church. Mr. Johnson also belongs to the Order of Odd Fel-
Jared W. Lincoln was born in Windham, Sept. 8, I 823. He attended the public school at North Windham, and private schools in Chaplin and Willimantic, and, at the age of seventeen com- menced teaching school. He taught fourteen win- ter terms. He was mar- ried to Joanna Spafford in April, 1844. They have had two children, Edgar and Clinton; the latter died in 1862; Edgar is liv- ing in Chaplin. Mr. Lin- coln moved to Chaplin in 1856, and entered the store of his brother Allen Lincoln, as a clerk. Soon J. W. LINCOLN. afterwards he bought the store and has conducted a business in general merchandise, until within a few years, having been succeeded in the business by his son, Edgar S. Lincoln. Mr. J. W. Lincoln has retired from trade and is farming on a small scale, preferring outdoor life for health, principally, but also for comfort and independence. Mr. Lin- coln has served his town in various public capaci- ties since his residence there. He was a represent- ative in the state legislature in 1862; was elected town clerk and treasurer in 1863, both which offices he now holds, and has held for twenty-seven years. Although a republican in politics, and the candi- date of that party whenever nominated for office, he has generally received the votes of both political parties. He was appointed postmaster of Chaplin in 1863, under President Lincoln, and held the office until Mr. Cleveland's accession to the presi- dency. He was again appointed in ISS9, under President Harrison, and is still in office. He re- ceived a notary public's commission from Governor English in 1868, and has held that office contin- uously since.
Mr. Lincoln is a member of the Chaplin Congre- gational church, of which he was elected clerk and treasurer in 1870, and has remained such to the present time, being still in office.
CHARLES H. LADD, SPRAGUE : Farmer.
Charles H. Ladd was born in the town of Frank- lows. His family consists of a wife and three child- - lin, July 31, 1848, and received a common school edu- ren. The former was Miss Susan L. Adams prior to marriage. In the management of his business since the war, Mr. Johnson has frequently visited the south and has extensive transactions in that section. His life has been characterized by the strictest business integrity, and he has thoroughly deserved the success which he has attained. cation. Most of his life has been devoted to agri- cultural pursuits, and he has taken an active part in advancing the interests of the town. He is a member of the board of trade, which was organ- ized for the purpose of re- viving the industrial en- JARED W. LINCOLN, CHAPLIN: Postmaster. terprises in Sprague, which in years past have made that town the cen- ter of so much interest. He has held the offices of selectman and justice of the peace, and was a C. H. 1.ADD. member of the general assembly from the town of Sprague in 1878. The legislature of that year was the first to occupy the new capitol, spending a few days there at the last of the session. In politics Mr. Ladd is a democrat. He is a member of the Methodist church. His family consists of a wife and three children. The former was Miss Rebecca A. Steere prior to her marriage.
GEORGE AUGUSTUS HARRIS, PRESTON : Division Freight Agent, New York & New Eng- land Railroad.
George A. Harris was born in the town where he now resides, August 12, 1840. After graduating from the public schools. at the age of sixteen he entered the employ of Nash, Brewster & Co., lumber dealers of Nor- wich, as bookkeeper and accountant, remaining with the firm four and a half years. In 1861, at the close of his connection with the above firm, he' began his career in the rail- way service with the old Norwich & Worcester Railroad Company-now a division of the New York & New England system. G. A. HARRIS.
His service on this line has been continuous since that date, covering a period of thirty years, and embracing by successive promotions the grades of receiving freight clerk, freight conductor, passen- ger conductor, clerk in the ticket department. superintendent's office, president's office, freight department, agent at Norwich, and division freiglit agent,- which latter position he now holds.
Mr. Harris is married and has five children; his
I56
AN ILLUSTRATED POPULAR
wife was Miss Catherine Amelia Dewey previous to marriage. He is a republican in politics, and as such has held the treasuryship of the town of Pres- ton. He is a member of the masonic fraternity, and has taken all degrees up to and including the thirty-second.
THEODORE I. PEASE, THOMPSONVILLE: Whole- sale Lumber Dealer.
Theodore Isaac Pease was born in the town of Enfield, September 18, 1844, and received a thor- ough common school and academic education, com- pleting the course at the Connecticut Literary In- stitute. His business ed- ucation was acquired at Eastman's College. In 1860-I he was assistant bookkeeper with the Nay- asset Paper Company. Subsequently, 1864-5, he served as bookkeeper with C. Blodgett & Son, whole- sale lumber dealers at Burlington, Vt. In No- T. I. PEASE. vember, 1865, he returned home and assumed the lumber business of Judge Seth Terry, who had been in partnership with his father, Theodore Pease, the new firm becoming T. Pease & Son. In 1869 Henry S. Pease, a brother, was admitted to the concern, which was rapidly increasing its transactions. The subject of this sketch obtained a complete knowl- edge of the lumber business in Michigan, Vermont, and Canada. He was president of the Pease, Rob- inson & Jackson Company of Stanton, Mich., for several years, till he sold out his interest in Janu- uary, 1889. He is treasurer and manager now of The Quebec Lumber Company, with dressing mills at West Burke, Vt., where the company dresses and ships annually nearly six million feet of pine, spruce, and hard woods, mostly imported from Can- ada. To this and the management of the whole- sale business of The T. Pease & Sons Company he devotes his whole time. The company keeps two salesmen on the road selling to the lumber dealers through New England, and it is known as among the largest shippers of lumber in this section of the country.
Although a very busy man, and for years carry- ing the burdens of a large and increasing business, he has been more or less identified with the devel- opment of the town. Hc is always public-spirited and interested in public matters. For years he has been an active member of the Enfield Congrega- tional church, and early identified himself with the Christian Endeavor movement. He became the
first president of the Christian Endeavor Society formed in his church, and one of the first to move for the organization of the Enfield Christian En- deavor Union, and was elected its first president. He is now serving his third term as superintendent of the Sunday-school of his church, and is earnestly engaged in religious and benevolent work.
He has held important offices in Enfield and rep- resented that town on the republican side of the state legislature during the session of 1874. He has held the offices of town clerk, treasurer, and regis- trar, and has been the clerk of the probate court. He is a member of Doric Lodge, No. 94, F. and A. M., of Thompsonville, and also belongs to the Knights of Honor. He is also a member of the Putnam Phalanx of Hartford, occupying the posi- tion of sergeant-major on the non-commissioned staff of Major O. H. Blanchard. He was married January 1, 1868, to Miss Jennie E. Ellis, and has one daughter, Miss J. Estella Pease, who was born January 15, 1874. His family hold a prominent place in the social life of Thompsonville, and have hosts of friends throughout the state.
LEWIS BISSELL, EAST HARTFORD: Farmer and Dealer in Real Estate.
Mr. Bissell was born in South Windsor, July 6, 1829, and grew up as does the average farmer's boy, dividing his time between the farm and the district school. His early life was spent in his native town, after which he removed to Vernon, then to Manchester, and finally to East Hartford, which has since 1886 been his permanent place of abode. Early in life he married Miss Cornelia A. Palmer of Vernon, a lady of many excellent traits of character, to whom he is indebted for much of the domestic happiness LEWIS BISSELL. with which his home has been filled, and to whose counsel and cooperation he attributes a good share of the success he has attained in business affairs. They have one child, a son, Robert P. Bissell, who is a prosperous merchant in North Manchester, in which town he has resided since infancy, having been a native of South Windsor, as was his father.
Mr. Bissell is a member of the Congregational church at North Manchester, with which he united when a resident of that town. His life in Man- chester was one of great activity, having been ex- tensively engaged in building operations. He built the largest block in the village, containing the
157
BIOGRAPHY OF CONNECTICUT.
hall that bears his name. While there he was called to fill the office of first or second selectman of the town for six consecutive years, and was prominent in various ways in improving the town and advancing its interests. More recently he has devoted himself exclusively to his business affairs, and has declined public offices of every kind. He is a republican in politics, having been connected with that party ever since its organization. H> is a good judge of values in real estate, and has made several successful ventures in this line. Since 1886 he has foreseen the advance which was likely to take place in East Hartford real estate, and has in- vested there quite advantageously. His sound judgment, honesty, and strict integrity are unques- tioned, and his superior ability as a business man is sufficiently attested by the fact that he began life without means or influential friends, and has by his own unaided exertions accomplished the degree of success and prosperity by which he is now attended.
JOHN M. HOLCOMBE, HARTFORD : Vice-Presi- dent Phoenix Mutual Life Insurance Com- pany.
Mr. Holcombe is a native and has always been a resident of Hartford, still living in the house where he was born June 8, 1848. He prepared for college at the Hartford High School, and graduated from Yale University in the class of 1870. In IS75 he became secretary of the Phoenix Mutual Life In- surance Company, and re- tained that position until elected to the vice-presi- dency in 1889. He has been a member and presi- dent of both branches of the Hartford city govern- ment for several terms, being elected to these J. M. HOLCOMBE. positions by the republicans of the second ward; and is at present a member of the board of health commissioners. His business connections, aside from the official relation he sustains to the Phoenix Life, are as director in the American National Bank, the Mechanics Savings Bank, and the Con- necticut Fire Insurance Company, and as vice-presi- dent of the Fidelity Company, all of Hartford. He is a member of the Center church congregation (Dr. Walker's), the oldest church organization in Connecticut.
Mr. Holcombe was married, in IS73, to Miss Emily S. Goodwin, daughter of E. O. Goodwin of Brooklyn, New York, and they have three children, two sons and a daughter.
BENJAMIN A. BAILEY, DANIELSONVILLE: Agent Quinebaug Company.
Mr. Bailey was born at Marblehead, Mass., June 19, 1828, and was educated in the public schools of Massachusetts. He is connected with the Quine- baug Company at Daniel- sonville and is a director in the Windham County National Bank of Brook- lyn. Mr. Bailey has been engaged in the manufac- ture of cotton products and in mechanical inter- ests during a large por- tion of his life. Since 1874 he has been the agent of the Quinebaug Company. He has resided at Great Falls, N. H., and at Biddeford and Lewiston, B. A. BAILEY. Me. In the latter city he was a member of both branches of the court of common council, serving as a republican. His wife, who is still living, was Miss Emily W. Burbank of Conway, N. H. They have had six children, five of whom, four sons and one daughter, are living. Mr. Bailey is a member of the Congregational church at Danielsonville.
MARCUS A. PINNEY, ELLINGTON: Dairy Farmer.
Marcus A. Pinney was born in Ellington, Octo- ber 14, IS50, the son of Albert and Lavinia Pinney, grandson of the once noted Benjamin Pinney, bet- ter known as Judge Pin- ney, who was justice of the peace for many years, judge of probate and of the county courts of Tol- land county several years; representative in the gen- eral assembly a number of
times; and senator from the old twentieth district in IS33. The Pinney fam- ily is the most ancient and one of the most numerous families that ever lived in Ellington.
M. A. PINNEV.
Marcus A. Pinney, the subject of this sketch. since completing his education at the Ellington high school, has followed the same occupation as his father - dairy farming. He has always shown a natural taste and inclination in that direction, and has managed his affairs in a way which entitles him to be considered a thrifty and successful farmer, In politics he is a democrat, and was elected by that party a representative in the general assembly of ISS9-90. He was one of the state delegates to the
158
AN ILLUSTRATED POPULAR
Washington centennial at New York in April, 1889. He was one of the charter members of the Elling- ton grange, and is prominent in the organization, having been unanimously elected to the office of worthy master for the present year.
Mr. Pinney married Julia E. Peck of Ellington, and has one child, a son.
GEORGE E. HOWE, MERIDEN : Superintendent of Reformatories.
He was born in Livonia, N. Y., May 31, 1825. It was while Mr. Howe was superintendent of the public or union schools of Painesville and of Hamil- ton, Ohio, from 1853 to 1859, that the attention of Governor Salmon P. Chase was drawn to him as an accomplished dis- ciplinarian and school
supervisor. The Ohio Reform School for boys, located near Lancaster, which was now in its rude incipiency, was in need of a superintendent; and Governor Chase sent for- ward to the Ohio state G. E. HOWE. senate the name of George E. Howe for the position. The senate at once con- firmed the nomination, and Mr. Howe entered in 1859 upon his life work in reformatories. He found the Ohio institution in a very crude condi- tion. Two of the buildings were built of logs. To the great work of improvement and develop- ment, he at once gave his best energies, and so signally did his enterprise and his methods com- mend themselves to the state officers of the time, that they became not only the official acquaintances of the superintendent, but many of them, like Gov- ernor Salmon P. Chase and the Hon. John A. Foot, state senator from Ohio, and commissioner of re- form schools, his personal friends. As soon as Mr. Howe revolved in his own mind what was the proper system for a reformatory of youth, he came to the same plans so successfully installed by the famous Dr. Immanuel Wichern of Germany. It seemed to him that the nearer a reformatory for youth could be constructed and carried on like an excellent Christian family, the more easily and suc- cessfully could it attain to its object. Accordingly he sought to apply the "family system" of Dr. Wichern to the Ohio reformatory. That system had not been known in this country, and Mr. Howe was the first to apply it. So natural a system did it prove to be, and so fraught with the best results, that Mr. Howe has had the satisfaction of seeing it transplanted into many other states. It has be-
come the popular system of the whole country, and the counsel of Mr. Howe, as the founder of the system in this country, has been sought for in establishing it in the many new institutions of the land. As soon as the achievements of the Ohio reformatory became known abroad, Mr. Howe was sought for at reformatory and prison congresses,- as in 1870, at Cincinnati, by the National Prison Re- form Congress; and in 1872, in London, England, by the International Prison Congress; in 1874, in St. Louis, Mo., by the National Prison Congress; and in 1880, in Cleveland, Ohio, by the national. meeting of the same distinguished body. In all of these deliberative assemblies he expounded the " family system " and its working; and at the Lon- don congress was called before the body three times, in sessions of twenty minutes each, to ex- plain as fully as he might the system as operating in the Ohio reformatory, as well as in other reformatory institutions of the United States.
While in Europe he visited the principal reforma- tories of Great Britain and the continent, and at Hamburg met Dr. Immanuel Wichern, founder of the celebrated " Rauhe Haus," from whom had been derived the germinal idca which had given its present form to the Ohio institution. He also was welcomed to an interview with the celebrated De Metz, in Paris, the founder of the colony at Mettray.
At Lancaster the old and rough buildings disap- peared; new, commodious, and architecturally beautiful buildings took their places; and the Ohio reformatory became a model for the erection of similar reformatories in other places, and an example of what may be done in public institutions for the building up of good character in vicious or wayward youth.
Mr. Howe has the gift of government, is able to rule by his presence, and does not need to employ the coarser means of discipline, except to a very limited extent. He teaches that all prison sugges- tions should be banished nearly or entirely from such reformatories, " believing that the strongest wall is no wall"; and that every family in the system should be well regulated by a kind, loving, family- like, confiding, but yet steady and firm discipline; and well supported by excellent school instruction, while yet our ambitious esprit de corp for good living, and reverence for things high and sacred, should pervade the whole life of the institution.
In April of 1878, Mr. Howe was called to the superintendency of the State Reform School of Connecticut, located at Meriden, and assumed the duties of the position on the 23d of that month. Here he applied the same system, and has seen similar results, similar growth, and similar pride in the institution spring up over the state. The courts no longer hesitate to send bad boys to his care and training, but rather seem to covet the opportunity.
159
BIOGRAPHY OF CONNECTICUT.
From the Connecticut, as from the Ohio reformatory, many boys once bad have gone out to become good citizens of the body politic, and worthy members of society, some of them attaining to professional dis- tinction. Five new large cottages, built of brick, have been erected, each one now tenanted by about fifty boys, while the large congregate department is also full, the superintendent presiding with such ease over the large farm and its appurtenances, the institution homes, and the inmates, as that not a ripple of disturbance is seen, and kind, joyous feeling prevails everywhere.
Mr. Howe has had tempting offers placed before him to draw him from his Connecticut position. In 1888 the board of managers of the State Industrial School of New York, located at Rochester, invited him to take the charge of that institution, to install there the "family system"; but he remains in charge of the Connecticut reformatory to the great satisfaction of the governing body of trustees, and of the citizens of Meriden with whom he holds relations of high esteem.
CLINTON PHELPS, EAST GRANBY: Farmer.
Mr. Phelps has been the town treasurer of East Granby for eleven years. He has been a deacon of the Congregational church in that town for eighteen years. It is needless to add that he is a highly es- teemed citizen, who pos- sesses the complete confi- dence and esteem of all his fellow-townsmen. Mr. Phelps is a native of East Granby, where he was born, July 1, 1842. His elementary education was acquired in the common school, and supplemented with a full course
of studies at Schofield's Commercial College in CLINTON PHELPS. Providence, R. I. He married Miss Mary J. Ris- ing, a daughter of David Rising of Suffield, by whom he has had four children, three of whom are now living. He is more extensively engaged in farming than any other person in his town, and combines with his agricultural pursuits the milk business, milling, and dealing in grain, feed, and fertilizers. He is an owner in and patron of the East Granby creamery, of which he was for a long time the president and manager. He has also had considerable experience in the settlement of estates. Politically he is a democrat, and as such represented East Granby in the legislature in 1887. Hischurch relations are with the Congregational society of his town, and, as already stated, he has maintained
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.