USA > Connecticut > Representative citizens of Connecticut, biographical memorial > Part 11
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
87
William R. Drcutt
tickets. Mr. Orcutt's religious affiliations were with the Congregational church, and in this as in all other matters with which he was connected he was an unselfish and indefatigable worker.
Mr. Orcutt married, September 6, 1848, Frances L. Skinner, a daughter of Nelson and Fanny (Skinner) Skinner, and a member of a prominent and honored family of that name, the history of which extends back to pre- Revolutionary days. Mrs. Orcutt was born in Vernon, Connecticut, Sep- tember II, 1828, and survives her husband, still residing in the old family home on East Main street, Rockville, with Mrs. William Francis Orcutt, her daughter-in-law. Mrs. Orcutt, Sr., is a member of the Sabra Trumbull Chapter, Daughters of the American Revolution. To Mr. Orcutt and her- self was born one child, a son, William Francis Orcutt, a sketch of whom follows.
William R. Orcutt's death occurred on May 15, 1882, from pneumonia, and removed from Rockville one of the most important factors in its de- velopment and progress. He was in the best sense of the phrase a self-made man, and his success was based on those fundamental virtues of honesty and integrity, without which it is never secure. There is an interesting and characteristic story of him, as a boy, and his possession of nine pence, his first capital. This modest sum he hoarded, adding gradually to it, until he had sufficient to buy him a gun, whereupon he procured a fowling piece and soon worked up a trade in game which in time made him independent. So from small to large he slowly worked, pursuing the same policy all through his life, until he had finally developed the great estate, now in the possession of his family. But though he worked so steadily and consistently for this purpose, he never compromised his ideals for its attainment, holding stead- fastly all his life to the standard he had set himself.
William Francis Orcutt
W ILLIAM FRANCIS ORCUTT, in whose death on March 25. 1911, Rockville, Connecticut, lost one of its most highly respected citizens, was a member of an old New England family which for many generations held an honorable place in the regard of the community. The two names, William and Orcutt, are in combination a sort of inheritance among the men of this family, there being at one time as many as four generations living at once who could claim it. In the present case not only our subject, but his father and grandfather, bore it, though in different combinations. William Francis Orcutt was a son of William R. and Fran- ces L. (Skinner) Orcutt, the latter surviving both her husband and her son.
Mr. Orcutt was born in the town of Vernon, Rockville, Tolland county, Connecticut, June 19, 1850, and with the exception of a few short periods lived there all his life. He inherited the sterling character and virtues of his father, and worthily took up the latter's work in and for Rockville, after the death of the elder man. As a child and growing boy he lived in Rockville and gained his education at the local public schools and the Munson Acad- emy. As he grew into young manhood his health was somewhat feeble, and after the completion of his schooling his father decided to send him abroad for a period of travel in the hope of his regaining it. The elder man planned to join his son after a time in Europe and complete with him a tour of the countries there. As health for the youth was the prime object of the trip, and time was no consideration, he embarked upon a slow sailing vessel, promising himself benefit from the long ocean voyage. Fate was not slow in seconding these attempts for a long voyage, and that with a vengeance. The vessel shortly after sailing encountered storm after storm which drove her so much out of her course that in time she lost track of her position altogether and it was six weeks before she finally recovered herself. In the meantime Mr. Orcutt, Sr., had taken a speedier craft, with the intention of meeting his son abroad, but he arrived long before him, and being totally unaware of what had befallen his ship, had to await in much anxiety his arrival. It all turned out well in the end, however, the two meeting and traveling all over Europe together, even taking in Egypt and spending nine months abroad. Mr. Orcutt was nineteen years of age at the time of this experience, which occurring at an extremely impressionable age, awakened in him a powerful interest in other lands and peoples, and gave him a strong taste for travel. Once in his later life he again gratified this taste by a trip in Europe, this time in his mother's company. Among other things accom- plished by the first journey was the renewal of his health in a great measure, and upon his return he secured employment in the Rockville National Bank at Rockville. He was highly gifted in mathematics, and devoted himself to the practical but complex subject of accounting to such good purpose that he became an expert accountant. His training in the Rockville bank was a great aid in this work, his accomplishments in turn rendering him a very
89
William Francis Orcutt
valuable adjunct to the institution. After a brief period spent in this service, one of the officers of the bank proposed to the young man that he accom- pany him to Paterson, New Jersey, where he intended joining another bank- ing firm. This Mr. Orcutt decided to do, as the offer held out considerable opportunity for advancement. There he remained for upwards of seven years in the employ of the bank and undoubtedly had a brilliant career before him in this field had not the failing health of his father, and the necessity for some- one to supervise his great interests in Rockville, caused him to return. After the death of the elder man in 1882, when only fifty-eight years of age, Mr. Orcutt at once entered into the possession and control of these great prop- erties, and thereafter spent his time in their management. The destructive fire of 1895, which did such great damage in Rockville, did not spare the property of Mr. Orcutt, who suffered a heavy financial loss thereby, many of the buildings standing on the property being destroyed. The property was in the very center of the Rockville business district and included many of the most important business blocks and individual office buildings in the town. Of course in such a locality, a loss such as that occasioned by the fire was merely temporary, and Mr. Orcutt set about rebuilding promptly. In this operation he confined himself almost exclusively to substantial brick business blocks of a few stories in height, and it is largely to him that Rock- ville is indebted for the handsome yet dignified appearance of its business district. Under the skillful direction of Mr. Orcutt and in response to the general growth of the town, the estate increased greatly in value, until at the present time it represents a large fortune to its owners. The property is located for the most part on the south side of East Main street, and the west side of Market street, and runs from the former thoroughfare to the canal, so that it contains much of the most thickly peopled region of the city, where the greatest demand for space exists, and as Mr. Orcutt carried out the policy of his father, never to sell any portion of the estate, the large tract remains intact and constitutes an unusual possession, a tribute to the far- seeing and good business traits of two generations of the family.
Mr. Orcutt followed in the footsteps of his father politically. Deeply interested in the political issues of his day, he was an intelligent observer of the problems which claimed the country's attention, and was a staunch sup- porter of the solutions of these problems offered by the Republican party. He did not, however, take an active part in local politics as did his father. and shrank from holding public office, preferring to exert such influence as he could in his capacity of private citizen.
Mr. Orcutt married, September 25, 1884, Ella L. Brown, a daughter of Jeremiah N. and Delia (Canin) Brown, of Palmer, Massachusetts. To Mr. and Mrs. Orcutt were born two children, as follows: Mildred F., now the wife of Professor F. T. Gilbert, of Hartford; and Dorothy E., who now lives with her mother and grandmother, Mrs. William R. Orcutt, in the old Orcutt family home on East Main street. Mrs. William Francis Orcutt is a woman of many admirable accomplishments. She occupies a prominent position in the social world of Rockville and her charm as a hostess is pro- verbial. She possesses a remarkable business ability also, the more unusual since it is found in a woman whose training was naturally in other direc-
90
William Francis Orcutt
tions, and now conducts, with great skill and a very high degree of success, the management of the great Orcutt estate, and the large real estate busi- ness founded by Mr. Orcutt, Sr., and now descended to her through her hus- band.
William Francis Orcutt was a man of the most sterling character. His death, which occurred when he was but fifty-nine years of age, and at the height of his powers, deprived the community of an influence at once great and beneficent. This effect was, indeed, of that subtle kind which is more the result of example than the direct fruit of striking deeds and works accomplished, and which is, of course, much more difficult to measure and gauge than the other. It is not, however, less potent nor less characteristic in its action. His honor and integrity were unimpeachable, and in all his business relations he maintained that high standard of justice and fair deal- ing which his father had instituted. He realized the value of credit in busi- ness, and made it his aim to preserve and increase the reputation of all the institutions with which he was at any time associated, a policy which resulted in their great good. Nor was he less scrupulous in the relations of private life. He was one of those for whom the mere profession of a formal religious belief is not sufficient. The moral principles which he held, he strove to translate into the terms of common, every-day conduct, that they might become a practical guide in life. His code of ethics was high and strict, and even a little stern, but no one could call it harsh or Puritanic as applied to anyone but himself. For other men and their shortcomings he had the readiest charity and tolerance, a tolerance which won for him not only the respect, but the affection of all those who entered into even the most casual relations with him. It was in his home, however, that these virtues found their most complete and graceful expression. There he was surrounded by the society which he loved best, that of his own household, and the intimate friends who formed a sort of larger family, and there he was most easily and completely himself. Those qualities which drew men to him were not of that external kind whose power flies almost as soon as it is felt, but rather such as only served to confirm the initial affection into a deep and abiding friendship. Thus it was that he possessed an unusually large group of faithful friends, for whom he maintained an equal fidelity. He was a man of great culture and a wide familiarity with life and the world at large. His travels abroad had given him that breadth of outlook which is so valuable to the man who deals in large interests in that it consists in a knowledge of the motives and ways of men. He was one of those men who mature slowly, but whose prime lasts indefinitely, and there is little doubt, if death had not found him at so untimely an age, that the influence of his personality would have assumed even larger proportions in the community of which he was a member. As it is that community will miss it greatly and find it impossible to replace.
Wilbur Brainard Foster
T 'HE death of Wilbur Brainard Foster, on March 20, 1906, re- moved from Rockville, Connecticut, while still in the prime of his strength and manhood, one of the most highly re- spected and prominent citizens of that place, a successful merchant and public man. He was a descendant of sturdy old New England stock, his parents having been old resi- dents of Monson, Massachusetts, and later moved to Tol- land county, Connecticut. His parents were William Joseph and Mary (Puffer) Foster, the former establishing a successful clothing business in Rockville, which since his death has been continued on a large scale by his family, notably by Wilbur B. Foster.
Wilbur Brainard Foster was born March 31, 1853, on his father's farm at Monson, Massachusetts, and there spent his childhood, attending the local public schools, and later the Monson Academy there. He thus had the benefit of that training in youth which has been the origin of the strongest and wisest Americans, that life of combined school and farm work, with healthy, strength-giving tasks, and recreation, and that close contact with the realities of nature, which develops and sweetens a man's character. While yet a mere youth, Mr. Foster accompanied his parents to Rockville, and there began his business career in the humble capacity of clerk in his father's store. His father bought out the Boston Clothing Store in Rock- ville and at his death his son took his place, being made president of that company. Later he formed a partnership with Mr. C. K. Gamwell and they had a store in the old Doane Block which was destroyed by fire; they then moved to a small building which was built for them west of the Exchange Block. Afterward they opened a branch store in Palmer, Massachusetts, which later Mr. Gamwell bought out. In 1885 Mr. Foster sold out to Mar- cus Harris and a year or so later Mr. Foster and Frank M. Bingham formed a partnership under the firm name of Foster & Bingham, which bought back the business. This partnership continued until 1896, when it was dis- solved, Mr. Bingham continuing the store. About a year later Mr. Foster formed a partnership with C. W. Morrill, of Hartford, and bought out W. H. Kelsey & Son. Later Mr. Foster returned to Rockville and established a clothing business on Market street under the firm name of Foster & Son, which he and his son conducted until 1904. He then retired from the mer- cantile business.
It was not alone in the mercantile field that Mr. Foster won distinction in Rockville. On the contrary, he was active in nearly every department of the community's life, and especially in the realm of public affairs. All his life he was keenly interested in political issues and questions of public polity, and his attention was strongly drawn to the conduct of the local public functions. He was a member of the Democratic party, and was conspicu- ously identified with the local organization in Rockville, and took an active
92
Wilbur Brainard Foster
part in politics. He did good service in the Democratic cause and was appointed postmaster of Rockville by President Cleveland, serving through- out that administration. He was greatly interested in the cause of public education, and for many years served the people of Rockville faithfully and well as a member of the school board. While occupying this responsible office, his course was always above suspicion in its disinterestedness, and he refused absolutely to have anything to do with partisan considerations, or to play politics in any way in connection with this duty. As a consequence his fellow townsmen, appreciating the unusual record, retained him in office for many years.
Mr. Foster was a man of wide interests and sympathies, and extremely fond of the intercourse of his fellows. He was a prominent figure in the fraternal and club circles of Rockville, and was a member of the Independ- ent Order of Odd Fellows, the Foresters of America and the American Asso- ciation of United Workmen. He was a man of strong religious feeling and beliefs and attended the Congregational church of Rockville. He was also an active worker in the cause of religion and supported materially the many charities and benevolences in connection with the Congregational work, con- tributing generously of time, money and energy. Worthy charity made a strong appeal to him, and he served for a term of years as trustee of the Insane Hospital in Rockville.
Mr. Foster married, December 26, 1872, Mary Edna Winchell, a native of Rockville, born March 16, 1851, daughter of Cyrus and Hester Ann (Bumpstead) Winchell, of that place. Mrs. Foster's father, Cyrus Winchell, was one of the leading citizens of Rockville in his time, a conspicuous figure among the men who were identified with the industrial and financial de- velopment, vice-president of the People's Savings Bank and was a director of the Rockville National Bank, and many other important concerns. To Mr. and Mrs. Foster were born three children, two sons and a daughter, as follows: William J., who married Lina C. Bentley, and now resides with his wife in Rockville; Minnie W., who married Dr. H. L. Riley, formerly of Hartford and now of Boulder, Colorado; Harry D., who died September II, 1907, at the age of twenty-eight years. Mrs. Foster and the two elder chil- dren survive Mr. Foster. Until October 5, 1914, Mrs. Foster's mother, Mrs. Cyrus Winchell, had lived with her, her death occurring on that date at the advanced age of eighty-eight years.
In spite of his many activities, which led him much into public and social life, Mr. Foster was essentially a domestic man. It was the ties of the fam- ily, the household, the home that bound him closest, and his happiest hours were spent by his own hearth-stone. He was an affectionate and faithful friend and enjoyed the society of his intimates only next to that of his own household. The affection and trustworthiness of his character begot the same in those who had dealings with him, and people rarely remained merely acquaintances, that relation strengthening to friendship easily, so that he had a very large circle of friends in fact as well as in name. He was a man who, not content with the mere profession of religion, strove to trans- late his beliefs into the terms of every-day life, and make it a practical guide
93
Wilbur Brainard Foster
to conduct. His sense of justice was extremely developed and his attitude towards his fellows was tolerant and unassuming, truly democratic, so that all men, alike the highest and the most humble, felt at home in their inter- course with him. His loss was felt deeply, not only by his immediate family and friends, but by the community at large.
Marcus Morton Bacon
T "HE death of Marcus Morton Bacon on September 6, 1911, at Hartford, Connecticut, lost to that city one of its most prom- inent merchants and public-spirited citizens and a member of a very old and honorable house, distinguished both in Connecticut and in the neighboring State of New York. The "war governor" of New York State, Edwin Denison Morgan, was a great-uncle of Mr. Bacon, Governor Mor- gan's sister, Phoebe Morgan, having married his grandfather. His parents were William A. and Caroline (Stone) Bacon, both natives of Connecticut and old residents of Hartford, their home being the old Morgan homestead situated on Front street, the principal thoroughfare of the city. It was William A. Bacon who founded the great bottling business which still is in full operation by the family, built the big works on Shelton street, where he afterwards met his death while at work. William A. and Caroline (Stone) Bacon were also parents of another son, Belma A. Bacon, living at the present time (1915).
Marcus Morton Bacon was born January 1, 1843, in the old Morgan mansion on Front street, Hartford, and there passed the years of his child- hood, attending the excellent public schools of the city and there gaining a fine general education. He completed this schooling early, however, and at the age of fourteen or fifteen years he began work in his father's bottling establishing. His life was no sinecure, for he was employed to drive the wagon over a long country route, and was obliged to be at work at five o'clock in the morning. He was an industrious, hard-working youth, how- ever, and managed to learn much of the detail of the business, so that he was soon promoted to more responsible positions, in all of which he did highly efficient work. As his father grew older, the young man came to take more and more of the direction of affairs on his own shoulders, and when the elder man met his tragic death in the accident at the railroad station, where he was on business connected with the factory, his son was able and ready to step into his place in the management. This control of the business he retained until the time of his own death many years later, and exercised it with such judgment and skill that the concern flourished greatly, and when the time came for him to turn the affairs of the company over to his suc- cessor, they were found to be in the most prosperous condition. The busi- ness, indeed, grew to very large proportions during his management, and became one of the largest of the kind within that region. His business talent was unusual and his policies were all based on the firm foundation of scrupu- lous honesty, so that his dealings with all his business associates was of a nature to win him the highest reputation, thus insuring permanence to his success. As he had succeeded his father in the ownership and control of the company, so he was succeeded by his son Herbert, who is now the successful head of the firm.
Mr. Bacon had many interests outside the conduct of his business, and
Marcus Horton Bacon
95
Marcus Horton Bacon
was an active participant in many departments of the city's life. He was extremely public-spirited and took a great deal of interest in the conduct of the community's affairs, and there were but few movements undertaken for the advancement thereof which appealed to him for aid in vain. He was also much of a thinker in the matter of the political issues of the day, both local and national, and a strong supporter of the principles and policies of the Democratic party. He was a retiring man, however, and never allied him- self actively with the local organization, nor desired to hold any public office, preferring to exert what influence he might in his capacity of private citizen. He did join the bucket corps of the volunteer fire department of that day in Hartford and worked energetically for the advantage of the department. Mr. Bacon was always a prominent figure in Hartford social circles, and his house was noted for its open hospitality and the delightful welcome accorded to such as were privileged to visit it. He was also the possessor of a great deal of taste and artistic appreciation, which his ample fortune per- mitted to find a natural expression in the graceful elegance of his home. He was very fond of horses and driving and owned many fine specimens of the animal, in which he took great pride. He owned as well a motor car, when that invention had become practicable, and took a great deal of pleas- ure in its operation.
Mr. Bacon was twice married, his first wife being Delia Case, of Hart- ford, Connecticut, daughter of Wallace Case, deceased, former citizen of Hartford. To them were born four children, as follows: Grace A., now Mrs. W. L. Wakefield, of Hartford, three children: Mildred, Helen, Eliza- beth; Catherine, now Mrs. George H. Coe, of East Orange, New Jersey, four children: Catherine, George H., Jr., Robert Bacon and Walter Wake- field, twins ; Frances D .; and Herbert Morton, married Isobella M. Hunting- ton, of Hartford, and is now the owner of the valuable Bacon Bottling Works, two children: Herbert Morton, Jr., and Jane Morgan. Some time after the death of his first wife, February 27, 1895, Mr. Bacon married Mrs. Sophia Smith, nee Michael, a daughter of John and Laura C. Michael, of Hartford, Connecticut. Mr. Michael was a native of Scotland, who came in young manhood to this country and settled in Hartford. Mrs. Bacon was the widow of James Sumner Smith, of the firm of Smith, Fowler & Miller, of Hartford, Connecticut, where he was a prominent figure in the business world. He was a son of Sumner and Mary (Goodwin) Smith, his maternal grandfather, having been Horace Goodwin, the first major of the Putnam Phalanx. Mrs. Bacon is the mother of two children by her first marriage, Allan Goodwin, who died in infancy ; and Julia, who is now Mrs. Andrew R. Mussel, of Hartford. Since the death of Mr. Bacon, Mrs. Bacon has resided with her daughter at No. 306 Maple avenue, Hartford. She is a woman of remarkable business ability and it has been due to her excellent manage- ment of it that some valuable shore property belonging to the Bacons has been developed.
With all his talents Mr. Bacon was essentially a domestic man. He was very retiring, and though he greatly enjoyed the society of his friends he shrank from putting himself in a position where he might become con-
96
Marcus Horton Bacon
spicuous. Though so uniformly successful and so universally liked and admired on account of his sense of justice by all whom he met in his business life, yet his chief happiness was found in the retirement of his own home and in the intercourse of his own household. The same qualities that made him a devoted husband and parent also made him a faithful friend, so that of the great number who were originally attracted to him because of his unusual personality, there were none who did not remain bound to him by a sense of his sterling worth and simple heart. To his family and to these devoted friends, and further yet, to the citizens of his native Hartford, his death is a very real loss and leaves a gap which it will be difficult indeed to fill.
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.