USA > Connecticut > Representative citizens of Connecticut, biographical memorial > Part 37
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As has already been remarked, Mr. Rockhill's achievements were not by any means confined to the diplomatic world, although what he did there was enough to establish his record as one of the leading citizens of his country, but extended into many other departments where they were equally distinguished. He had taken advantage of his long residence in eastern lands to learn many of their languages and was a most accomplished linguist, reading and speaking as many as eight tongues among which were included Chinese and their cognate dialects. He was also regarded as one of the foremost authorities on the ethnology of these races and an orientalist of distinction. His reports on various phases of Chinese rural life, some of them but little known to the outside world, attracted favorable attention from the Smithsonian Institute, which later twice commissioned him to make long journeys through the central parts of Asia, especially Thibet, in the interests of ethnological science. Many of these regions were forbidden to strangers because of the jealousy and suspicion of the natives, but Mr. Rockhill was allowed to go and returned laden with stores of the most important knowledge which he afterwards classified and combined in his great work on Thibet and several lesser books and monographs. What he has done for our knowledge of the far east, as he has also done, though on a slightly smaller scale, for that of the near east also, entitles him to great credit, and there are but few scholars who have equaled him in the extent and accuracy of his knowledge of the entire Asiatic continent. He was a corresponding member of the French Academy (Academie des Sciences et Belles Lettres) having been admitted to membership in 1913. He was an officer of the Foreign Legion and served three years in Africa.
Although born in Philadelphia, Mr. Rockhill's life had been spent almost entirely abroad or in the national capital. The place that he regarded
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more in the light of home than any other was Litchfield, Connecticut, where he spent as much of his leisure time as possible and which was the native place of his wife. He married, April 25, 1900, Edith H. Perkins, daughter of J. Deming and Margaretta (Dotterer) Perkins.
This necessarily brief article cannot be more appropriately ended than by the quotation in part of editorials appearing at the time of Mr. Rockhill's death in two such representative papers as the "New York Post" and the "Boston Herald." In the course of its remarks the former paper says:
His was an exceptionally useful and varied career. Few Americans have ever obtained so wide a knowledge of the Far East as has come to him during eight years of diplomatic service in China, in addition to three years in China and Thibet on scientific expeditions in the interest of the Smithsonian Institution. When it is added that he served four years in the State Department, was for two years Minister to Greece, Rou- mania and Servia, and was Ambassador to Russia and Turkey, from 1909 to 1913, his remarkable diplomatic experience is evident. For special missions such as the repre- sentation of the United States in the settlement of the Boxer trouble, he was frequently called upon.
Said the "Boston Herald:"
Just thirty years ago in the administration of Chester Arthur, William W. Rockhill entered the diplomatic service of the United States as Secretary of Legation. He has been either in the Department at Washington or at foreign posts most of the time since then. This has given him an exceptional experience in diplomacy for an American, and particularly for one destined to enjoy but sixty years of life. His record, which may be found in another column, tells an impressive story of preparation, training, capacity. And in no other line of the world's activity do the advantages of accumulated experi- ence count for more. It is to be regretted that the Wilson administration saw fit to break the line of such distinguished service. He had been advanced so regularly during the two earlier Democratic administrations that many persons thought him a Democrat ; in reality he was as free from all partisan, sectional and factional impulses as would be expected of one of his cosmopolitan tastes and training. We need more such men in our public service, and when we get them we ought to give them an adequate tenure.
J. Deming Perkins
I T IS SELDOM that one can say with absolute truth that the labors of the successful man have been, without exception, of benefit to the community, that his task has been a purely unselfish and altruistic one, that he has consistently placed the good of his fellows above his own interest in his heart and worked for that first and foremost, relegating his own personal affairs to the background. Yet that such was true of J. Deming Perkins, of Litchfield, Connecticut, no one who came into even the remotest contact with him will deny and one of the best witnesses to its verity was the universal mourning that followed his death on March 20, 19II.
J. Deming Perkins was a member of a fine old New England family and was connected with many illustrious names on both sides of the house. His parents were Charles and Clarissa (Deming) Perkins, the father one of the Norwich family of that name and the mother a daughter of Julius Deming, for many years the foremost merchant and business man of Litchfield and related to Bacons, Champions and other prominent families in that region. J. Deming Perkins was born March 16, 1830, in Litchfield, but did not remain there long, his childhood and early youth being passed in New York City, where he gained his education and later engaged in the importing business. He lived in New York until about 1867, when he came to Litchfield, and there he threw himself heart and soul into the affairs of the region and soon assumed a leading place among the business men of affairs in that part of the State. Indeed, the advantage of the community became well nigh a ruling passion with him and from that time onward absorbed the major part of his attention and time. Perhaps the greatest service he performed for the place was in connection with its railroad communication with the rest of the world. The natural advantages of Litchfield and the surrounding country side fitted it preeminently as a summer resort, but its isolation pre- vented its charms from being generally known, and those who were aware of them from taking advantage of their knowledge. This shortcoming it became the purpose of Mr. Perkins to remedy, truly a herculean task. It was necessary for him to convince his fellow townsmen, some of them con- servative enough, of its desirability in the first place, and secondly to per- form the same conversion for the powers in control of the New Haven & Hartford Railroad Company, the great concern controlling all the transpor- tation facilities in the State at that time. Nothing daunted, Mr. Perkins set about his great enterprise with a will, his powerful and attractive personality making itself immediately felt. In this work he had a most enthusiastic and effective colleague in the person of his brother-in-law, Edwin McNeill, who seconded his efforts indefatigably. Between them they gained the sympathy and support of the majority of Litchfield's leading men, as well as those of the surrounding towns of Roxbury, Morris and Washington, and began an earnest campaign for the accomplishment of their purpose. The
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gentlemen thus combined were in control of a very large amount of capital and eventually were able to finance and build the Shepaug Valley railroad which the New Haven road later took over and which constitutes the present Litchfield branch of the road. The difficulties of all kinds being finally overcome the first train ran over the new rails in January, 1872. Most appropriately, Mr. Perkins was elected first president of the company and it was under his most capable management that the concern grew and pros- pered and with it the town of Litchfield.
Although, as above remarked, this was probably the most far-reaching in its effects of all the achievements of Mr. Perkins, there is another with which his name is even more warmly remembered by his fellow citizens. This is in connection with the water supply and formation of the fire depart- ment, with which he was most closely identified, more closely, indeed, than any other member of the community. His activity in this matter followed the second of the two fires which in 1886 and 1888 did such great damage to the town. With his usual energy he pushed matters to a rapid con- clusion and, as a sort of climax to his efforts, himself built and donated to the town its present splendid fire house, costing not less than sixty thousand dollars. But the fire house was not an ordinary structure of the sort, for in it Mr. Perkins saw an opportunity to embody certain theories of his own for benefiting the young men of the community. The building thus took on a character quite unique among similar structures and, indeed, the department itself became an instrument for many good things besides the extinguish- ment of fire. It became a sort of club for the young men of so desirable a kind that its active membership of seventy-five is always filled and there is a long waiting list. Besides its character of fire house, therefore, the building assumed that of a club house and general meeting place for young men and that of a nature to make a particular appeal to most, without the features to be found in the saloon, on the one hand, or the Young Men's Christian Asso- ciation on the other. The place was fitted up with accommodations for read- ing, billiards, pool, cards and games of a similar kind, and possessed a hand- some bowling alley in attachment. During the remainder of his life Mr. Per- kins was regarded as the patron and presiding genius of this body, which pre- sented him on the occasion of his seventy-fifth birthday with a handsome loving cup, and it is probable that if the average citizen of Litchfield were asked to point out some one thing most intimately connected with Mr. Perkins in his town, he would not indicate the railroad station or even his own handsome residence, but this fire house and meeting place for young men.
But there were other directions as well as these tangible matters in which Mr. Perkins served his much beholden town, and not the least of these was in the realm of politics. He was a strong Republican in his views and opinions and was closely allied to his party's local organization and was its staunch supporter, yet he always rose superior to partisan considerations in his official acts and kept the welfare of the whole community before his eyes, like the Pole Star to the mariner. For Mr. Perkins held responsible office in the interests of his fellow citizens, having been elected in the year 1893 to represent the then Twentieth District in the General Assembly of the
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State. He was appointed during his term to the chairmanship of the com- mittee on State prison. In the year 1896 he was one of the presidential electors and was particularly active in the nomination of William McKinley for the presidency, and was generous of time, effort and money. In 1900 he was sent as a delegate to the National Convention which renominated Mr. McKinley, where he once again played a prominent part. Another of his activities in connection with politics was the founding in Litchfield of the Republican Club and procuring speakers to address the townspeople under the auspices of that wide-awake society. Socially Mr. Perkins was a con- spicuous figure, and was prominently associated with the clubs and other organization of that kind in Litchfield. He was one of the principal organ- izers of the Litchfield Club and for years served it on the board of directors and as its vice-president. He was also a member of the Society of Colonial Wars, being highly interested in the early history of his native region. Another organization of a very different kind, however, with which he was connected, and which illustrates the wide interest he took in all the institu- tions of the region and his truly charitable intention was the Norwich Hos- pital for the Insane, of which he was a trustee from the time of its founda- tion.
On January 16, 1868, Mr. Perkins was united in marriage with Mar- garetta Dotterer, of Pennsylvania, a daughter of Davis H. and Anne Emlin (Warner) Dotterer. Two children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Perkins: Edith H., who became the wife of the Hon. William Woodville Rockhill, United States Ambassador to Russia and Turkey, of whom a sketch appears elsewhere in this work; and J. Deming, Jr., who lived to display unusual brilliancy in his chosen profession of the law, dying in Denver, Colorado, at the very outset of a splendidly promising career.
Of the personal character of Mr. Perkins, better cannot be done than to quote from the words of a fellow townsman as they appeared in the obituary article in the "Litchfield Enquirer" of March 23, 1911, the first issue after his death, which ran in part as follows:
To-day all Litchfield mourns. The flags are at half mast and the places of business closed. The entire town is paying the last tribute of affectionate respect to one who brought it only honor ; who loved and worked for it all his life; who gave his time and his means that it might be a better and happier place in which to live. Rich and poor, old and young alike, do reverence to our illustrious dead-the Hon. J. Deming Perkins. As he had lived, so he passed from the scenes of this world to that never ending life of higher usefulness beyond the grave, peacefully, quietly, happily *
* In writing of J. Deming Perkins one can but feel the utter inadequacy of a sketch of his life or even of a personal tribute. He was no ordinary man and lived no ordinary life. He was essentially of the old school, a most courteous and refined gentleman. His mind and heart were full of lofty thoughts and aspirations. He was ever doing for others and, as is so often the case, in many instances it seemed as if his unselfishness were not appre- ciated as it should have been. The word Litchfield meant a tremendous lot to him. He had her history at his tongue's end and no one man in this town ever did more, if as much, as he to preserve its best traditions. He was a real friend to everyone and never seemed happier than when working for others. He followed close in the footsteps of the "Man of sorrows and acquainted with grief" and was always bearing the burden of others. The influence of the life of such a man in the community where he lived is that community's one best asset ; it lasts forever.
Robert 6. Lassard, M. D.
A MONG THE MANY prominent physicians who have appeared in the western part of Connecticut during the past generation, but few have been as well known as Dr. Robert G. Hassard, whose death at Thomaston on January 21, 1914, deprived Litchfield county of an active and picturesque character and the profession of medicine of one of its leaders in that region.
Dr. Hassard was not a native of Connecticut, but was born in 1842 in the town of Great Barrington among the most picturesque of the Berkshire Hills in Massachusetts. He spent but the first five years of his life there, how- ever, his father dying in 1847 and his mother promptly moving to New Haven, Connecticut. Here he passed his boyhood, gaining his education at the Cheshire Academy and later at the Yale Medical School, he having settled on this profession as a career some time before. He distinguished himself in his medical courses and was very near the point of graduation when the Civil War broke out and cut short his plans for the future as it did that of thousands of others. The first call of the Federal government for troops took place before the north had fully awakened to the seriousness of the situation and the term of enlistment was set as three months. Robert G. Hassard was one of the first to respond. Leaving his studies uncompleted, he enlisted in April, 1861, in Company D, First Regiment of Connecticut Volunteer Infantry. During the three months of his enlistment he saw but little service, and upon being mustered out he hastened back to New Haven and passed his medical examinations, taking the degree of M. D. with honors. His graduation from the Yale Medical School occurred in the summer of 1862, and on October 28th of the same year he again enlisted, this time in the Nineteenth Regiment Connecticut Volunteer Infantry. On January I following he was mustered in as assistant surgeon of this regi- ment which was shortly afterwards changed to the Second Connecticut Heavy Artillery. Sent at once to the front with his regiment. Dr. Hassard was quickly in the midst of active operations and from that time throughout the war took part in a number of engagements and saw much hard service. He was wounded a number of times but managed to escape without severe injury and was sound in health and limb at the close of the struggle. When this finally occurred and Dr. Hassard was for a second time mustered out, he returned at once to the north and settled in Bridgeport, Connecticut, and there established himself in practice temporarily. Some time later he removed his home and practice to Brooklyn and Sayville, Long Island, and for a number of years he did a large and lucrative business there and gained an enviable reputation for skill and ability. The climate so near the coast did not, however, agree with him and he was obliged reluctantly to abandon it and move inland. The place chosen by him to regain his health was the little town of Harwinton, Connecticut, where he expected to remain only until he had regained his strength and could renew his practice elsewhere.
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He was persuaded, however, by his friends to remain and take up the prac- tice of his profession there. He remained five years in that location and was highly successful. In 1885, however, he removed to Thomaston, and there- after made that town his home until the time of his death. Besides his private practice, Dr. Hassard held the office of health officer for Thomaston for some ten years, during which period he accomplished a great deal of good for the community. During his residence in Thomaston he was affi- liated with Trinity Church. He always maintained his military associations and was an active member of Russel Post, Grand Army of the Republic.
On June 9, 1881, Dr. Hassard was united in marriage with Mary L. Udell, a resident of New York City. Mrs. Hassard survives her husband and still resides in Thomaston.
Richard holmes Bay
F ARMINGTON, Connecticut, lost one of its most highly esteemed citizens on March 18, 1903, in the death of Richard Holmes Gay, who, though not himself a native, was a member of a family long associated with that charming town, and residents of Connecticut since early Colonial times.
John Gay, the founder of the family in this country, came from England and settled in Watertown, Massachusetts, as early as 1630, moving thence to Dedham in the same State, where he died March 4, 1688. At Dedham his descendants continued to live, occupying a promi- nent place in the community until the early part of the eighteenth century when another John Gay, the great-grandson of the first of that name, removed to Litchfield, Connecticut, and later to Sharon. It was a son of this John Gay, Fisher Gay, who figured so prominently in the Revolution, serving as lieutenant-colonel in Colonel Wolcott's regiment during the fighting which led up to the evacuation of Boston by the British, and later as colonel commanding one of the Connecticut regiments in the campaign on Long Island and for the occupation of New York, meeting his death in this service. He was the great-grandfather of Richard Holmes Gay and was the first of the family to make his home in Farmington. His grandson, William Gay, the father of Richard Holmes Gay, was born in that town, but later, at the age of sixteen years, went to Lansingburg, New York, and then remained a number of years engaged in a mercantile business in Albany. While living in New York State, he married Ruth Marilda Holmes, December 30, 1830, a native of Shodack, New York, a daughter of Jotham and Amy (Knapp) Holmes, old residents of Saratoga, New York. To Mr. and Mrs. Gay five children were born, as follows: Richard Holmes, of whom further; Erastus, born July 26, 1843, now deceased; Caroline Bement, born July 18, 1846, now a resident of New York City; William Treadwell, born September 25, 1850, died in his fifth year ; and a boy, born June 27, 1851, died in early infancy. Mr. Gay, Sr., returned to Farmington, while still a young man, and there continued his mercantile business very successfully. He bought in the town a store long known as the "Little Red Store," established as early as 1786, and conducted it in a first class manner, building up a large and prosperous business. His son Erastus later succeeded to this business and continued its success up to the time of his own death.
Richard Holmes Gay, the eldest son of William and Ruth Marilda (Holmes) Gay, was born April 7, 1832, in Albany, New York, and there passed the earliest years of his life. Before he had grown out of childhood, however, his parents removed to Farmington and took him with them. He was now of an age to attend school and was sent accordingly to a private school in Farmington, where he gained an excellent general education. His father had large interests in Farmington, and was a prominent man there, owning much valuable real estate, and holding the presidency of the savings
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bank, so that his son had the best advantages. His health as a lad was poor, however, and at an early age he abandoned his studies and entered his father's store in the elder man's employ. He was a clever business man and made himself very useful, but finally decided to attempt an enterprise of his own in a larger field. He accordingly removed to Hartford, where he formed a partnership with a Mr. Hastings and engaged in the dry goods business. From the outset the trade prospered greatly and he became very well-to-do. Eventually, Mr. Gay retired from this connection and returned to Farmington, where he became associated with the bank in the capacity of treasurer. He was very active in the affairs of his town and gained a reputa- tion for great public spirit. During his stay in Hartford he had become a member of the Fourth Congregational Church and been elected a deacon, and on his return to Farmington he joined the Congregational church there and became very active in the work connected therewith. Mr. Gay was greatly interested in political questions, and was a keen and intelligent thinker on the issues with which the country was confronted. He was a strong adherent of the principles and policies of the Republican party, but never allowed his partisan feelings to interfere with the exercise of his own judgment.
Mr. Gay was married, September 25, 1856, in Orange, New Jersey, to Gertrude Rivington Palmer, a native of Whitehall, Washington county, New York, and a daughter of Hanloke Woodruff and Mary (Rivington) Palmer, natives of Albany, New York. They had lived for many years in Whitehall, New York, where Mr. Palmer was the cashier of the local bank. The family finally moved to New York City, where Mr. Palmer entered the stock market and became a member of the exchange. He was a man of strong religious feelings and beliefs and a prominent member of the Presby- terian church. His death occurred in Poughkeepsie, New York. To Mr. and Mrs. Gay were born four children, as follows: I. Mary Rivington, born August 21, 1857, at Farmington; married, April 28, 1880, to John Stanley Cowles, to whom she bore two children, Gertrude and Marguerite; she died February 2, 1892. 2. Margaret Palmer, born December 12, 1858, at Farm- ington; now a resident of that place. 3. Anna Rivington, born June 30, 1861, at Hartford, Connecticut, died at the age of eight years. 4. Gertrude Holmes, born October 13, 1874, at Farmington; married, May 18, 1899, William Kimball, of Bristol, Connecticut, and became the mother of one charming little daughter, Mary. Mrs. Gay survives her husband and now resides with her daughter, Miss Margaret P. Gay, in the old home at Farm- ington, which is not only filled with associations of the early history and traditions of the region, but reflects the culture and charm of its inmates in this generation.
Richard Holmes Gay occupied a very prominent place in the life of Farmington and in the regard of his fellow townsmen, who felt strongly the influence of his strong, manly character, and honored him accordingly. His nature was firmly built upon those fundamental virtues which have in an unusual degree distinguished the New England people in times past and present. He possessed sincerity, integrity and probity, which went hand in hand with industry and thrift, and these were enlightened and improved by
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