USA > Connecticut > Representative citizens of Connecticut, biographical memorial > Part 41
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Lyman Dudley Smith
attended but a short time, and was ready to begin on the serious business of life. He developed into a man of many talents and acquired not only great skill in penmanship, but he was a lover of music, accomplished on the violin, studied art, science and literature. He was in the true sense a self-made man, and this in the face of untoward circumstances from boyhood.
His first experience in business life was as an employee of the post office department, under his grandfather, at Hope, Maine, but being of an am- bitious nature, and not wholly satisfied with his work in the country village, he cast about for an opportunity to enlarge the field of his endeavors. In 1866 he removed to Boston, Massachusetts, where an uncle, J. W. Payson, was residing, and was sent from there to Hartford, Connecticut, by his uncle, and there secured employment as a teacher, and this city was the scene of his busy activities during the remainder of his days. Through the efforts of his uncle he secured the position of writing teacher in the North School, suc- ceeding Professor O. H. Bowler in that capacity. During the first years of his service he also acted as drawing teacher, but as the number of pupils grew larger it became necessary to separate the two duties, and Professor Smith thereafter specialized in writing. After spending four years at the North School he was transferred to the South School, and his term of service is the longest on record in the country, continuing as it did forty-five years and two months, and only ending with the approach of his death. During that long period he established and maintained a standard of instruction in his department not realized until that time, and at the same time won the love and veneration of the many pupils who passed through his hands. Among these were many of the prominent men of Hartford, and it was often the case that towards the latter part of his career he would have as pupils the children of those whom he taught as a younger man. He also added largely to his host of friends by his contact with public school teachers from all over the country at conventions and summer schools, where he was both a practical and a magnetic lecturer on the subject of penmanship. His artistic nature found expression in his plain penmanship in a forcefulness of line and a symmetry of form that made it the embodiment of beauty and a fascination to his classes. He had a just and exact appreciation of artistic work of all kinds, a powerful individuality, a purity of style in speech and in writing that made both his written and his spoken communications highly valued. It is safe to assert that he was probably the most care- fully read writing teacher of this decade, and in his death the profession lost a great leader. He was one of the few staunch men who helped to steady practical writing, having always adhered to sound fundamental ideas of a fixed system of principles for the acquirement of a graceful, rapid style of business penmanship. In addition to teaching in Hartford, he also taught several terms of summer school at Glens Falls, New York.
Besides the service which he did to his art by means of his direct teach- ing, he performed that of writing no less than seven standard series of copy books, which have been in common use in the schools for a long period of time, and he was the author of the following systems of penmanship : "Apple- ton's Standard System of Penmanship," eighteen numbers, published by D. Appleton & Company, 1881. "Sheldon's New System of Vertical Writing,"
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ten numbers, published by Sheldon & Company. "Sheldon's New System of Standard Writing," twelve numbers. "Standard Writing Chart," two numbers, published by Sheldon & Company, New York and Chicago, 1897. "Smith Educational System of Intermedial Penmanship," twelve numbers. "Smith's Manual for Teachers." "Smith's Writing Charts," published by H. P. Smith Publishing Company, 1896. "Smith's New Intermedial Copy Books," eight numbers, published by the MacMillan Company, 1907. He was also very skillful with the pencil and brush, but his great pleasure lay in the mastery of foreign languages, in which he did phenomenal work, acquir- ing the power to read, write and speak German, Spanish, and Italian with great fluency. He was the author of many charming sketches, the subjects for which were gleaned from the charming and picturesque country side about Hartford and other localities in Connecticut. These pictures were not only his pleasure at the time of sketching, but the delight of his friends later.
Professor Smith did not confine his energies to his particular line of work, on the contrary there were but few departments of the commun- ity's life in which he did not take part, though always in the capacity of private citizen. He always took a keen interest in the question of public policy, and was a staunch supporter of the Republican party. He never had any ambition to hold office, and did not ally himself actively with the local organization, though he did what he could to make its cause prevail. He was a member of the Unitarian church, and a man of deep, though liberal, religious views and feelings. The strongest proof of his inherent Chris- tianity was the simple, faithful life he led which endeared him to all who came in contact with him, and especially to the great host of pupils he instructed during his long stewardship. He was a man of broad and liberal faith, a great believer in humanitarianism, and a believer in all mankind. He performed many acts of kindness towards the poor and unfortunate, of which the world knew nothing. His fine face and frank eye always placed him promptly in the professional class. There was inspiration in meeting him and no young teacher could talk penmanship with Mr. Smith, or for that matter any other subject of the day, without being greatly benefited. He loved out-of-doors, and everywhere nature beckoned to him passionately. He was of a frank personality and readily responded to all things which had a tendency to stimulate the intellect, to thrill the heart, or to please the artistic sense.
Professor Smith married, December 30, 1866, Barbara Elizabeth Whit- more, born in Lincolnville, Maine, daughter of John and Sallie (Calder- wood) Whitmore, both of whom were natives of Maine. To Professor and Mrs. Smith were born four daughters: I. Maud Isabella, died aged six weeks. 2. Marion Gertrude, who was formerly a teacher in the Hartford public schools, now the wife of Professor Alfonso de Salvio, of Northwestern University at Evanston, Illinois. 3. Bertha, died in infancy. 4. Martha C., now a teacher in the Hartford public schools.
Because of the genial, sunshiny disposition of Professor Smith his home life was one of unusual harmony and unselfishness. His readiness of wit and repartee made him a charming companion and a favorite wherever he
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went, and forunate were those who could be counted among his friends to enjoy the hospitality and the bounty of his home. The end of his active and useful life came at his brother's camp at Bucksport, Maine, whither he had gone in search of rest and restoration of shattered health. His laurels were fairly won and well became the greatness and dignity of his character. It only remains to acknowledge the debt to Professor Huntsinger, of Hartford, from whose article, written for the Hartford papers at the time of Professor Smith's death, considerable of the material for this article has been derived.
Miles Wells Grabes
S UCCESS IN LIFE is the result of the most various kinds of effort and endeavor and the prize of the most diverse types of character. Many there are who achieve it through some vigorous stroke, some brilliant tour de force, which carries them at a bound from obscurity to prominence, and some few there are of these fortunate enough to accomplish their rise without the loss of friendship or the affection of their fellows. But the true nobility is displayed most conspicuously when the same prominence is attained as the result of long and patient work per- formed for its own sake or because it is a duty, without the impetus of an ulterior motive or one thought of personal exaltation. Such was the path followed by the late Miles Wells Graves whose death on December 13, 1906, deprived the city of Hartford, Connecticut, of one of the most important figures in its business and financial world and a man who in every respect might stand as a type of good citizenship.
Mr. Graves was a member of an old and distinguished New England family, the founder of which was one Thomas Graves, who settled first in New Haven sometime prior to the year 1637, from there removed to Hart- ford and finally in the above named year went to Hatfield, Massachusetts, where he made his permanent home. His descendants are now to be found in many parts of both Massachusetts and Connecticut, and the family has of recent years formed an association with members from both these States and New York.
Mr. Graves was himself born in Lee, Massachusetts, November 29, 1834. He was a son of Seth Dickinson and Ada Eels (Thatcher) Graves, lifelong residents of that town, and grew to manhood there, receiving his education in the local schools and beginning his business career in a local banking institution. He received rapid promotion in the Lee Bank and became teller there, a position that he held in 1854. It was about this time that upon the suggestion of Leonard Church, an uncle of the well known artist, Fred- erick E. Church, and an old friend of the Graves family, an offer was made to the young man of a place on its office force by the important concern known as the Connecticut River Banking Company. This he accepted and again met with a rapid advance. In 1857 he was chosen teller, and about three years later cashier, in which capacity he continued to act until the year 1887 when he retired from active connection with the bank except such as is involved in a directorship to which he was elected. In the meantime he had become associated with other industrial and business interests and grown to be a prominent figure in the financial world of that region. He had removed to Hartford at the time of his becoming associated with the Con- necticut River Banking Company and had since that time become identified very intimately with the banking interests of the city. He was for a number of years treasurer of the Pratt & Whitney Company and held the same position in the Connecticut River Company. He was also a director of the Spencer & Billings Company. In the financial world he was best known, however, as the treasurer of the State Savings Bank. He was traveling in
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Mexico when the offer was made to him of this office, and hurrying home he accepted it and entered at once upon its duties, which he continued to dis- charge with the utmost efficiency until the time of his death. His ability was widely recognized and it was not alone in the business world that his services were sought. He was a well known Republican and there were not a few efforts made to induce him to accept public office. This he was loath to do, however, as he greatly disliked political life but he did what he could to aid the advancement of the principles he believed in as represented by the party, in his capacity as a private citizen. He did, indeed, accept the position of member of the high school committee in the year 1884, when his name appeared as candidate on both the Democratic and Republican tickets. He was elected and served for a period of two years.
Mr. Graves was one of the most prominent members of the Masonic fraternity in the State of Connecticut of which he had been a member since the year 1860, when he was raised in Hartford Lodge, No. 88, Free and Accepted Masons. In 1864 he was elected treasurer of his lodge and was reelected each succeeding year until the end of his life, making his term of service forty-three consecutive years, a record for the State. In 1896 he was elected treasurer of the grand lodge of Connecticut, holding that office until his death. He was a member of the board of managers of the Masonic Charity Foundation of Connecticut, treasurer of the board and a member of its finance committee. He was exalted in Pythagoras Chapter, No. 17, Royal Arch Masons; received and greeted in Walcott Council, No. I, Royal and Select Masters; knighted in Washington Commandery, No. I, Knights Templar; and became a member of the Charter Oak Lodge of Perfection; Hartford Council, Princes of Jerusalem; Cyrus Goodell Chapter of Rose Croix, the Connecticut Sovereign Consistory, Sublime Princes of the Royal Secret, and a Noble of Sphinx Temple of the Mystic Shrine. He was also a member of the Masonic Hall Association representing the Walcott Coun- cil, of the Oasis Club and an honorary member of the Sphinx Band in which he took a high degree of interest. Outside of the Masonic order Mr. Graves was a life-member of the Connecticut Historical Society and a member of the Putnam Phalanx.
Mr. Graves was married in Hartford, October 5, 1864, to Ruth Putnam Wade, a daughter of Benjamin C. and Ruth Putnam (Webb) Wade, of that city. To them was born one daughter, Martha Wells, who became the wife of Edward Wallace Bush, and died September 17, 1906, but three months before her father. Mrs. Graves survives her husband and is still a resident in the beautiful home at No. 638 Asylum avenue, which was originally the old Hart place.
Mr. Graves was possessed of many unusual abilities which rendered him a most important figure in the department of activity he had chosen for his own. Industrious, methodical, alert, he was also a most unusually able mathematician, skilled in all the branches of that great science, and it is said of him that he solved many of the most difficult problems that the actuarial departments of the insurance companies were at that time wrestling with. He was a great traveler and had seen his own country, including Canada and Mexico, pretty exhaustively, though he had never been in Europe. He was a man of very broad culture also, with a taste for the aesthetic wherever displayed, and collected antiques and curios of many
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kinds, especially coins. His numismatic collection was considered especially fine, ranking among the largest and rarest in the country, and it was located at the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, to which institution he lent it some years before his death, but since his death it has been given to the Athenæum at Hartford. He made an especial study of Mexican archæology and traveled a number of times in that country in company with the artist, Frederick E. Church. His long and intimate acquaintance with Mr. Church was a source of great pleasure to Mr. Graves, as he was a great admirer of his work and purchased a number of his best canvases. Another region, the historical remains of which greatly interested Mr. Graves, and occupied much of his time and attention, was his native one of the Connecticut Valley. He was deeply learned in the traditions and records of this part of the country and his splendid library was especially rich in genealogical and his- torical works dealing with it. As a man Mr. Graves displayed the typical virtues of his race and country in the highest degree, his honesty and integ- rity being above question and his charity of the most broadly sympathetic nature, unbounded by any prejudice of race, class or creed. The position he held in the respect and affection of his associates and the community gener- ally is best expressed in the words spoken by Dr. Store on the occasion of Mr. Graves' funeral. They were as follows:
There is a heroism for the business man in his appointed tasks as for the soldier in the ranks. The same qualities of integrity, loyalty and courage are brought to their supreme test in one case as in the other. Through a long business career, lived openly in the sight of his fellow men, our friend has manifested these qualities, and at the last, death found him at his allotted post, with only the briefest interval of rest. The confi- dence he enjoyed he did not betray. It was his pleasure to administer the larger trusts committed to him with scrupulous fidelity. He was also trusted with the resources of his fellows, which were applied to the relief of the needy and the succor of those who in age and want required them. In these he took an interest beyond simply to keep correct accounts and render faithful stewardship. His interest in the institution at Walling- ford was continuous and intense. It was a peculiar joy to see this shelter rise and become equipped for its noble uses. Mr. Graves was a steadfast and willing friend. There are witnesses to this who, if they could trust themselves, could speak with over- flowing gratitude of his timely friendship and material aid. He will be remembered by these friends long after these memorial words are spoken.
Mr. Graves was a notably reticent man, but it would be a mistake if we should fail to recognize his sensitive quality, below this apparently self-contained exterior. When the shadow came, which fell so recently over his later life, it put an unlifted sorrow into his heart. To-day we cannot explain the mystery of that shadow. We can only say :
Not a tie is broken, Not a hope laid low, Not a farewell spoken, But our God doth know.
Every hair is numbered, Every tear is weighed In the changeless balance Wisest love has made.
Power eternal resteth In His changeless hand, Love immortal hasteth Swift at His command.
Faith can firmly trust Him In the darkest hour, For the key she holdeth To His love and power.
James Phelps Foster
T HERE ARE FEW cities within the length and breadth of these United States that have more reason for feeling pride in the men who from its earliest beginnings have shaped its destinies and been identified with its life than Hartford. The very name of the city suggests distinction in the various departments of activity which go to make up the life of a community ; probity and conservatism in business methods, scholarly accomplishment in matters of education, culture in social inter- course and a serious earnestness in religion, which might well form a model for the emulation of others. An imposing list might easily be made of the large-minded and liberal merchants of the city whose services to it have not been confined to the development of any particular business or mer- cantile interest, but have been most inclusive and public-spirited in their scope and have contributed to the general well-being of the community. In such a list would figure prominently the name of Foster, the patronymic of a family the members of which were most intimately identified with the mercantile development of Hartford, at a time when that development was laying the foundation of, and leading directly to the present great size and importance of those interests.
James Phelps Foster was a native of Manchester, Connecticut, where he was born January 31, 1800, a son of James and Eunice (Phelps) Foster, old and honored residents of that place. His mother was born in Nova Scotia and was a daughter of Rev. Benajah and Phoebe (Dennison) Phelps. Rev. Benajah Phelps was called to take charge of the Congregational church when it was first established in Manchester, and he was the first clergyman in the place.
Mr. Foster passed his childhood and early youth in the city of his birth, receiving his education there and making his entrance into business life while a resident there. In 1838, when he was about thirty-eight years of age, he removed to Hartford, and from that date was identified with the life of his new home until his death on May 14, 1878. On first coming to Hartford he engaged in the wholesale grocery business in which he achieved a remark- able success, his house becoming one of the most prominent in the city, and holding a reputation second to none. He was a man of great force of char- acter and soon became well known among his fellow merchants as at once progressive and conservative, as one unwilling to make changes without very good reason, but unafraid to do so when the reason was in view, in short, a substantial man and a safe counselor. He was not long in perceiv- ing the great opportunities open to investors in the rapid advance of city values and became himself a large owner of real estate. His investments were made with unerring foresight and never failed to add substantially to his fortune. He was one of the group of men who built and owned what was known as the Foster Block, situated on Asylum street. He also entered the
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insurance business and was in this equally successful. He was one of the organizers and the first president of the Mechanics Savings Bank of Hart- ford, and he was also prominently associated with other important banking interests. At his death he was one of the oldest merchants in Hartford although he had retired from active participation in business some years previously. This retirement was during the sixties, at which time he resigned as head of the firm of Foster & Company and was succeeded by his son, Frederick Rose Foster. The elder man did not, however, give up all active work, but continued to attend to his many and varied interests in person, retaining his faculties in an unusual degree until the end. Among the many interests outside of business which occupied much of his time and attention was that connected with his membership in the Center Congre- gational Church. He was essentially religious in nature and did a great deal of work in advancing the cause of his church and of religion in general. This his wealth enabled him to make very effective and he was one of the most prominent figures in the congregation.
James Phelps Foster married, June 25, 1826, Eunice Rose, a native of Coventry, Connecticut, and a member of the celebrated Rose family which has played so prominent a part in the medical annals of Connecticut. Her grandfather, Dr. Josiah Rose, was a leading member of his profession in the colony of Connecticut in pre-Revolutionary times and was the father of seven sons, no less than five of whom became eminent physicians and all who were of an age to do so served as surgeons in the Continental army during the Revolutionary war. It was of the youngest of these seven sons, Dr. Frederick Rose, that Mrs. Foster was the daughter. A brother of Fred- erick Rose, John Rose, was a member of the famous Order of the Cincinnati. Her death occurred in September, 1859. To Mr. and Mrs. Foster were born eleven children, of whom six sons and two daughters survived their father. The sons were all in business in Hartford at the time of their father's death, two of them carrying on the business of Foster & Company, and of these short accounts appear below.
The traditions of good citizenship, the reputation for substantial, honor- able business dealings established by the father were well maintained by the sons, and the place which the name of Foster occupied in public regard was perpetuated. Of the two sons who carried on the business of Foster & Company, Frederick Rose Foster was the elder. He was born in Manchester, Connecticut, May 29, 1827, twelve years before his parents moved to Hart- ford, and received a considerable portion of his education in his native place. Coming to Hartford in 1839, he completed his studies in the fine schools of that city, and later entered the firm of Foster & Company of which his father was the head. The business, which was in wholesale groceries, had been founded in 1830 by Mr. Foster, Sr., and grew in time to make a specialty of foreign imports. Young Mr. Foster showed such marked business ability that when his father decided to retire from active management, he was chosen to succeed him, and he and his brother, George B. Foster, thereafter constituted the firm. Frederick Rose Foster was also a director in a number of important financial and business institutions among which may be mentioned the Travelers Insurance Company of Hart-
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ford, the Security Company and the Mechanics Savings Bank. About 1901 both he and his brother retired from active business but retained an office on State street for the management of their large estates and the transaction of other minor business affairs.
Frederick Rose Foster was united in marriage with Harriet Smith, a native of Scotland, and to them were born two children: Frederick Rose, Jr., who died as a young man ; and a daughter, Anne, now Mrs. N. Winslow Williams, of Baltimore. Mr. and Mrs. Williams are the parents of three children: Frederick Foster, a graduate of Yale University ; John Winslow and Anne Winslow. The death of Mr. Foster occurred April 10, 1911, that of his wife about three years earlier. He was a member of the South Con- gregational Church for over fifty years.
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