USA > Connecticut > Illustrated popular biography of Connecticut > Part 46
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WILLARD A. COWLES, TORRINGTON: Dairy Farmer.
Willard Albro Cowles of Torrington was born in that town Sept. 17, 1858, and was educated in the Torrington high school and at the Claverack col- lege and Hudson River Institute. With the ex- ception of a brief period at Waterbury his business life has been spent in Torrington, where he is engaged in the milk trade as a member of the firm of Patterson & Cowles, wholesale and retail deal- ers in milk and cream. Mr. Cowles is a republi- can, and has been an as- sistant in the town clerk's IV. A. COWLES. office at Torrington and census enumerator! He has also held the position of tax-collector, member of the board of assessors, and secretary of the school board, of which he has been a member for nine years. He represented Torrington in the legislature in '89-90, and served as clerk of the joint select committee on con- stitutional amendments. He is at present a commissioner of the superior court. His religious associations are with the Congregational church,
and he is a member of the Patrons of Husbandry and of the Knights of Pythias. His wife was Miss Mary E. Mckinstry of Chicopee, Mass., prior to her marriage. There are no children in the family, their only child having died in infancy.
E. J. SMITH, HARTFORD, 'Merchant.
Edwin J. Smith was born in Washington, Litch- field county, Jan. 19, 1844, and was educated in the Brown School of Hartford, and in the Harris Mili- tary Institute. The par- ents of Mr. Smith moved from Washington when he was a mere lad, resid- ing at first at Cabotville, Mass., and afterwards in East Hartford. They also lived for a number of years in this city. At the outbreak of the war the subject of this sketch was employed in the clothing trade with William F. Whittelscy. Being under age at the time, he met E. J. SMITH. with considerable difficulty in his attempts to en- list. After rejection in the Sixteenth on account of his minority, he waited until the organization of the Twentieth, when he succeeded in his desire, becoming a member of Company K of that com- mand. The Twentieth, which was commanded by Colonel Ross of the regular army, was a participant in the great battles of Chancellorsville and Gettys- burg, and subsequently took part in Sherman's march to the sea. Mr. Smith was made a sergeant in his company, and served with credit through the war. After returning home he accepted of a busi- ness situation with Messrs. Dunning, Tooker & Co., New York city, and remained one year with that firm. He then returned to Hartford, and was as- sociated with H. W. Conklin as clerk or business partner until the organization of the firm of Covey & Smith, of which firm he was the senior member. After a few years Mr. Smith purchased the interest of Mr. Covey in the business and has since been at the head of the company. He has visited Europe twice in the interest of the house. Mr. Smith has been prominently identified with republican politics in this city, and has held the office of councilman from the seventh ward, member of the board of fire commissioners for twelve years, occupying the position of president during the last five; member of the republican town committee and fire marshal three years. In the fall of 1890 he was elected a member of the board of selectmen, and assumed the duties of the office in January. He was origi-
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nally appointed fire commissioner by Mayor Sum- ner. He was reappointed twice by Governor Bulke- ley, and once by Mayor Root. As president of the fire board he proved himself an invaluable official. The present development of the depart- ment has been largely due to his energy and intel- ligence. He has been the president for two years of the Interstate Polo League, and is the president of the Hartford Amusement Association. He is a mem- ber of the Veteran City Guard, Robert (). Tyler Post, G. A. R., and of the Army and Navy Club of Con- necticut. He is connected with the highest Masonic bodies in the state, having taken all the degrees of York and Scottish Rite masonry. He is also a member of the Mystic Shrine, and belongs to the Hartford Club. One year ago he was elected a member of the North School District building com- mittee, and has taken an active and influential part in securing the new school structure in that district. Commissioner Smith has a family of five children. His wife, who was Miss Sarah H. Moses, daughter of Luther M. Moses, died May 9, 1890. The oldest son, Harry C. Smith, is connected with the Hart- ford Courant, and the daughter, Miss Gertrude C. Smith, is a student at the Hartford high school. The family are attendants at the Park Congrega- tional church. -
E. O. GOODWIN, EAST HARTFORD: Leaf Tobacco Dealer.
Edward O. Goodwin of East Hartford was born in that town May 22, 1839, and received a public school and academic education. He was a member of the Connecticut house of representatives from East Hartford during the session of 1886, serving as clerk of the railroad com- mittee, and has held most of the offices within the gift of the town. He has been a trial justice for nearly twenty years, member of the board of relief, treasurer of the cen- ter school distriet eight years, clerk of the board E. O. GOODWIN. of health, and treasurer of the Street Light Association since its organiza- tion in October, ISSI. He has served two terms on the democratic state central committee, and is one the most prominent democrats in his town. He is engaged in the tobacco business, being the agent since 1868 of the successful New York firm of E. Rosenwald & Bro., leaf tobacco dealers. He was acting first assistant foreman of Charter Oak, No. I, when the volunteer fire department in this city was disbanded. He is a member of the Veteran
Firemen's Association, the East Hartford Bicycle Club, and is the president and treasurer of the East Hartford Gun Club. He is one of the past masters of Evergreen Lodge, F. and A. M., past grand of Crescent Lodge, I. O. O. F., and is an ex-member of the Putnam Phalanx. The wife of ex-Repre- sentative Goodwin was Frances L. Sanford of Hart- ford, prior to her marriage. There are no children in the family.
REV. DANIEL M. MOORE, COLEBROOK: Pastor of the Congregational Church.
Daniel M. Moore was born in Athol, Mass., July 31, 1848. His father died when he was but nine weeks old. His mother, a thrifty, energetic, and capable woman, took the entire care and responsi- bility of his early years. Most of the time up to his eleventh year was spent in his native village. About this time his mother married again and he was taken to live with his step-father in Win- chendon, Mass. Here and at Orange, Mass., whither his parents soon removed, he had a some- what severe drill in farm- D. M. MOORE. ing. At about the age of sixteen, not succeeding in getting apprenticed to a trade, he took a clerk- ship in a country store. He continued at this until the proprietor closed out his business. Soon after this, receiving the offer of a somewhat tempting job in a furniture manufactory, he engaged in this with considerable success for about two years. In the fall of 1868, at the earnest solicitation of a cousin, he entered with him Kimball Union Acad- emy, Meriden, N. H. He expected to spend only a term or two at school and then engage in busi- ness, but it had been his mother's earnest desire for several years that he should get a thorough. and, if possible, a collegiate education. The favor- able opportunity seemed to have come. He con- tinued his studies, graduating at Kimball Union Academy in the class of 1871, at Amherst College in the class of 1875, and at Vale Divinity School in the class of 1878. May 12, 1878, Mr. Moore was invited to preach at the Congregational churches in Canaan and Falls Village, Conn. This led to all engagement with these churches which continued until Nov. 1, 1887. In the winter of 1886 -; Canaan was visited by a great revival. There were very few families that did not feel the blessed influences of the Spirit. In several cases whole families were led to publicly confess their new found faith. As the fruit of this work large additions were made to
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the membership of the Methodist and both the Con- gregational churches.
May 17, 1881, Mr. Moore married Mary I. Hurl- butt, youngest daughter of Joseph W. Hurlbutt of Stamford, Conn. Two children, a son and a daughter, have been added to the family.
. Mr. Moore held the office of school visitor for several years in Canaan and is at present school visitor for the town of Colebrook.
JOHN HENRY HALL, HARTFORD: Vice-Presi- dent and Treasurer Colt's Patent Fire Arms Manufacturing Company.
J. H. Hall was born at Portland, in this state, March 24, 1849. He is a son of Alfred Hall, and is of the ninth generation of the family in the United States. He attend- ed the public school at Portland, and afterward Chase's school at Middle- town, finishing at the Episcopal academy at Cheshire. When others of his class entered col- lege, he turned his at- tention to business, enter- ing into an engagement with Sturgis, Bennet & Co., 125 and 127 Front J. H. HALL. street, New York, at that time the largest importers of tea and coffee in the United States, which con- nection he maintained for five years. After a brief and not very satisfactory experience in business alone, he purchased a large interest in the " Pick- ering Governor," at Portland, and made a success of what had previously been a small enterprise. Afterwards. on leaving Portland, the same busi- ness, formerly carried on as a partnership under the name of T. R. Pickering & Co., was organized as a corporation, Mr. Hall retaining his proprietary interest and holding the position of treasurer. In 1884 he was elected president of the Shaler & Hall Quarry Company of Portland, of which he was a large stockholder, and has held that office ever since. He went to Hartford in April, 1888, to as- sume the position of general manager of Colt's Patent Fire Arms Manufacturing Company. He has since been elected vice-president and treasurer, and holds these offices at the present time. He is a director in the Phoenix Insurance Company and Phoenix Mutual Life Insurance Company of Hart- ford, and of the First National Bank of Portland, besides sustaining other similar official relations with various institutions of Hartford and vicinity. He was appointed on the Hartford City board of water commissioners in April, 1890, for the term of
three years. He is a member of the Hartford Club of that city, and of the Manhattan Club, the New York Athletic Club, and Engineers' Club of New York city.
Mr. Hall married, Feb. 8, 1871, Miss Sarah G. Loines of New York; they have two children liv- ing, Clarence Loines Hall, 18 years of age, now at Trinity College, and Grace Loines Hall, aged 12 years. He has always been a member of the Episcopal church, and is now connected with the parish of the Good Shepherd in Hartford. Politi- cally he is with the democratic party, in the inter- ests of which he has been often unsuccessfully urged to accept nominations for both branches of the state legislature. He has taken no active part in politics, being too deeply absorbed in business.
REV. FLORIMOND DEBRUYCKER, WILLI- MANTIC: Rector of St. Joseph's Roman Catholic Church.
The Rev. Fd. DeBruycker was born in the city of Ghent, Belgium, October 6, 1832. He was or- dained to the priesthood at Ghent, December 20, 1856. In October, 1860, he began a course of studies in the American College, Louraine, prepar- ing himself and others for the American missions. On August 1, 1862, he left Antwerp for London and Liverpool. In Liver- pool he was delayed by missionary work during three months. On No- vember 5th he sailed for New York and Provi- REV. F. DEBRUYCKER. dence. After attending, during six months, to the spiritual wants of the French and German Catholic population of Con- necticut and Rhode Island, which two states then formed the diocese of Hartford, on May 11, 1863, he was assigned by the late Right Rev. Bishop McFarland to the Willimantic parish and mission, where he has ever since remained as rector. The Willimantic mission contains at present upwards of 3,500 Catholics; of which number one-third at least are French Canadians; the remainder, with the ex- ception of a few English and German, are of Irish nationality or descent. In the diocese of Hartford Reverend Father DeBruckyer occupies positions of great responsibility, being a member of the board of consultors to Bishop McMahon, and a member of the board of examiners of clergy. The two po- sitions indicate the high esteem in which he is held by the dignitaries of the church. The members of his parish at Willimantic regard him with the ut- most appreciation and affection.
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BIOGRAPHY OF CONNECTICUT.
OLIVER S. FRANCIS, SOUTH CANTERBURY: Postmaster.
Oliver S. Francis is a native of the town of Griswold, New . London county, Conn., where he was born in 1829. He was educated in the public schools, and has been variously engaged in agri- cultural and mercantile pursuits since leaving the home of his childhood. His life has chiefly been spent in Plainfield and Canterbury, in which lat- ter town he now resides, and holds the office of postmaster. He has been selectman and constable, and has filled other town offices with ability and O. S. FRANCIS. credit. Mr. Francis is a widower; his wife, who died some time ago, was Miss Sallie Ann Brown before marriage; and he has two children living. He is a democrat in poli- tics, of which party he has always been a member, and by whose votes he has been elected to the town offices above mentioned.
GEORGE ULRICH, HARTFORD: Banker.
Mr. Ulrich came to this country at an early age from Germany, where he was born August 13, IS51. He has lived the greater part of his life in Hart- ford, where he was educa- ted in the public schools. For upwards of 20 years he has been engaged in the banking business, most of the time with the State Savings Bank of Hartford. In politics Mr. Ulrich is a democrat, but not of the ultra kind. He is a member of the town committee, also an alder- man from the fourth ward, and chairman of the com- GEORGE ULRICH. mittee on waysand means. That he is popular with those who know him is evident from the fact that he was elected in the last city election from a strongly republican ward by a handsome majority, being the first democrat ever elected from that ward. As a member of the city government he is conservative, always found to fa- vor just measures of economy and reform, and in- sists upon a strict and rigid enforcement of the laws, and proper attention to business by all city officials. He has a strong antipathy to what is known as " ring rule." In private life he rides various hob-
bies: Is a capable art critic; writes with fluency and keenness; is skilled in the graphic and plastic arts, and has held the title of state chess champion. He is an active member of the South Congrega- tional church (Dr. Parker's), is a charter member of the Wangunk Tribe of Red Men, and is interested in numerous political and social organizations.
EDWIN IRVING BELL, PORTLAND : Proprietor of the Connecticut Steam Brown Stone Works.
E. I. Bell was born in Portland, Middlesex county, Conn., September 17, 1848. He is a grad- uate of the district school of that town and of East- man's Business College, Poughkeepsie, N. Y., in the year 1866. His first occupation was in the capacity of timekeeper in the Middlesex quarry. At the age of nineteen he entered into partnership with his brother, five years younger than himself, in the retail grocery trade, using the firm of E. Bell & Sons, being too young to responsibly conduct business under their own E. I. BEI.L .. names. After continuing this relation successfully for eight years, he sold his interest in the store to his brother in 1876, and started the wholesale flour and feed business under the name of " The Valley Mills." This mill was burned in 1884, and the same year he established the " Connecticut Steam Brown Stone Works," and built mill number one near the ferry. Business increasing, in the winter of 1886- S7 he built mill number two in the Middlesex quarry. This is one of the best stone-cutting plants in the United States, having cost about $75,000. Among the many fine buildings which Mr. Bell has erected, or for which he has furnished the dressed stone, is the United States custom house and post- office in Bridgeport, the United States custom house and post-office at New Bedford, Mass., and the Dunmore school at Dunmore, Pa.
Mr. Bell, in addition to his business, above stated. is president and two-thirds owner of the Washing- ton Steam Stone Company of Washington, D. C .; president and two-thirds owner of the James Mann Steam Stone Company of Philadelphia, Penn .: trustee of the Freestone Savings Bank of Portland; director in the Middlesex county National Bank of Middletown; vice-president of the Shaler & Hall Quarry Company of Portland; secretary and treas- urer of the Portland Wharf Company; and presi- dent of the Portland Building Association. He represented the town of Portland in the legislature
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in 1889, having been elected by the largest majority ever given in that town; is on the board of relief; is a member and president of the Portland club; is and has been for thirteen years treasurer of Warren Lodge, F. and A. M., of Portland; and is a member of the Putnam Phalanx of Hartford.
Mr. Bell has twice married. His first wife was Miss Hettie M. Cooper, by whom he has one son living; his second marriage was to Miss Elizabeth Ronald of Middletown, and they have one daughter.
THURLOW B. MERRILL, HARTFORD: Super- intendent of Agencies, Ætna Life Insurance Company.
Mr. Merrill is a native of Cassville, Oneida county, N. Y., born April 11, 1841. He received a common school education, and a two-years course at the Saquoit academy. He lived with his parents on the farm until he reached his majority, when he engaged for a time in the commission business, afterwards with the publishing house of Henry Bill & Co. of Nor- wich, Conn. Having de- veloped a fitness for so- liciting, and being fond of arithmetic, he entered T. B. MERRILL. the service of the Charter Oak Life Insurance Com- pany of Hartford, May 1, 1865, as special agent for A. M. Ward, the company's general agent for New York state. After one year's service in that state he accepted the general agency of the Charter Oak for the state of Iowa, removing, with his family, to Davenport. After establishing a most success- ful agency in Iowa, he disposed of his interest in the business, and in July, 1870, accepted the posi- tion of home office agent for that company, contin- uing for one year, when he was appointed superin- tendent of agencies of the Charter Oak, to succeed E. O. Goodwin. After another year's service he removed with his family to Chicago, and purchased an interest in the Illinois agency, that being the largest agency of the company. During the first year the business increased from less than $500,000 to $2,500,000 insurance written and delivered; but, owing to the depression following the 1873 panic, the business of life insurance became demoralized, and at the urgent request of the company he sold out his interest in that agency, and was re-appointed superintendent of agencies, which position he held continuously until 1884. After the re-organization of the Charter Oak in 1880 he removed with his family to Hartford, and, in addition to his other
duties, looked after the large real estate interests of the Charter Oak in the western states. When the company ceased writing new business the agency department was in a most flourishing con- dition, a large majority of the general agents hav- ing been selected by Mr. Merrill, who received a . compliment from Governor Jewell, after he was elected president of the company, as having the best and most successful corps of agents he ever met connected with any corporation.
Mr. Merrill resigned his position in January, 1884, to accept an engagement with the Ætna Life Insurance Company as manager for New York state. After reorganizing the company's business in that state, and making it one of their most suc- cessful agencies, and selecting a manager to suc- ceed him, he was appointed in January, 1888, superintendent of agencies, which position he now holds. Mr. Merrill is thoroughly familiar with all departments of practical life insurance, and is re- garded as one of the most efficient organizers con- nected with the profession.
HON. NICHOLAS STAUB, NEW MILFORD: State Comptroller.
Hon. Nicholas Staub has had an extensive legis- lative experience, having been a member of the general assembly during five sessions, serving two terms in the senate. Dur- ing the five terms he was was not absent an hour consecutively during busi- ness. A record of this kind cannot be surpassed. He was a member of the house in 1876, serving on the committee on banks, and assisted in reporting an important savings bank bill. In 1884 he also sat for New Milford, and was placed on the committee NICHOLAS STAUB. on insurance. He was returned again in 1885, when he was given the house chairmanship of the committee on new coun- ties and county seats, serving also on the commit- tee on railroads. He was elected to the senate in 1886 for the first time, representing the Nineteenth dis- trict. In 1887 he was returned for the first biennial term of the legislature. Comptroller Staub was nominated by the democrats at their state conven- tion in this city, September 16, 1890, and was elected by one of the largest majorities ever given a candi- date for the comptrollership. It may be truthfully said that he is the only state officer in this commonwealth at present universally recognized as holding his office legally. He has held import-
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ant offices and positions outside of politics, and is the president of the State Firemen's Association. He is one of the past masters of St. Peter's Lodge, No. 21, F. and A. M., of New Milford, a Knight Templar, member of the order of Odd Fellows, Knights of Honor, and Hartford Lodge of Elks. He has been a prominent tobacco dealer in the Housatonic valley, and is a member of the hard- ware firm of Soule & Staub in New Milford. Comp- troller Staub was born in Alsace-Lorraine, now Germany, February 1, 1841, and removed to the United States when sixteen years of age. He en- joyed the advantages of a common school educa- tion, fitting him for the successful business and political career which he has had. For thirty years he has been a resident of New Milford, and possesses. the fullest confidence and esteem of that com- munity. He is connected with the Congregational church. His wife was Miss Nancy J. Peck previous to her marriage, and is still living. There are three sons in the family. The official career of Mr. Staub has been one of which any citizen might be proud.
REV. JOHN C. WILSON, STONINGTON: Pastor First Congregational Church.
Rev. John C. Wilson was born in the city of Philadelphia, May 9, 1862, and was educated at Rugby Academy in that city, and at Amherst Col- lege, graduating from the latter in 1885. His theo- logical studies were pur- sued at the Yale Semi- nary in New Haven, from which he received the degree of B.D. in 1888, and of M.A. from Amherst College in June of the same year. He was immediately installed as pastor of the Stoning- ton church, and is re- garded as one of the REV. J. C. W11.SON. ablest of the younger preachers in the Congregational pulpit in Connec- ticut. He is a gentleman of admirable scholar- ship, and has edited a commentary on Sunday- school lessons. Some of his sermons have been published in the Christian Union. He also edited The Young Christian in Philadelphia, in 1876-80. He spent one year in the south, in 1880-81, had charge of the Home Mission work in Virginia during the summer of 1886, and has traveled through the west. He is married, his wife being Miss Lilian A. Barton of Washington, D. C., prior to her marriage. Mr. Wilson is an indepen- dent in politics.
J. GILBERT CALHOUN, HARTFORD: Attorney- at-Law.
Joseph Gilbert Calhoun was born in Manchester, July 20, 1856, and was educated in the Hartford High school, class of 1874, and at Yale, graduating from the university in 1877, his classmates in- cluding James P. An- drews, one of the leading members of the bar in this city; Thomas Dwight Goodelland Arthur H.Gul- liver, both of whom have been able instructors in the Hartford high school; and William Milo Barnum of Salisbury. The subject of this sketch occupies one of the first places J. G. CALHOUN. among the younger mem- bers of the Hartford county bar, and is an able lawyer. He was clerk of the city police court here from 1883 until 1889, and is at present a member of the council board from the first ward. His ser- vices have been of great value to the city. Council- man Calhoun is a republican in politics, and an intelligent observer of public affairs and interests. He is an attendant at the Center Congregational church. He is a son of Judge David S. Calhoun, and has received from him traits of character deserving of the highest recognition. Councilman Calhoun married Miss Sarah C. Beach of Brook- lyn, N. Y. They have no children.
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