USA > Connecticut > Representative citizens of Connecticut, biographical memorial > Part 52
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Howard George Arms was born in Mooretown, Vermont, March 28, 1855, son of George Craig and Abigail (Mitchell) Arms, both of whom are living at the present time (1916) and they were the parents of four children, two of whom are also living, namely: Mrs. W. H. Whitehill, of Avon, Mon- tana, and Mrs. William Gibb, a widow, who resides with her parents. George Craig Arms was a native of Mooretown, Vermont, but removed to Bristol, Connecticut, in 1880, and there engaged in the marble and granite business. Howard G. Arms was educated in the public schools of Moore- town and in the academy at Waterbury Center, Vermont. He began his business career in his father's employ, remaining with him until he was twenty-three years old, and then removed to New York City and pursued a course of study in crayon portraiture, he having always evinced a keen desire to become an artist. He studied for two years in the art schools of New York City, after which, at the age of twenty-five, he located in Bristol, Con- necticut, where he was very successful in that line of work, many of the wealthy and prominent families giving him their patronage. He also was connected with his father in the marble and granite business until 1893, but that business being rather dull during the winter months, he devoted that portion of the year to his portrait work. In 1893 he received the appoint- ment of chief of police, in which capacity he served for twelve years, after which he again engaged in the marble and granite business with his father, who was not able to conduct the business alone owing to failing health.
From his early youth Howard G. Arms had always been interested in
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political questions, whether of local or wider significance, and was a staunch supporter of the principles and policies for which the Republican party stands. As he grew to manhood he began to display considerable talent and ability as a leader and he became prominent in local political circles and actively connected with the Republican town organization. He was the first fire chief of the fire department, in which position he served for a num- ber of years, and for a very long period was one of the fire commissioners, performing excellent service in both of these capacities, but it was as chief of police, already mentioned, that he established the highest reputation for himself. It was when Bristol first received its charter as a city that Mr. Arms was elected to this office, so that he was the first man to fill it, which he did with so much tact and so efficiently as to set a standard for his suc- cessors in office. He reorganized the department and fitted it for its more extended duties, placing it upon its present effective footing and presenting his fellow citizens with a department of which they may well feel proud. He was very popular with the people of Bristol, who, had he been willing, would have honored him with any office in their gift, his election being cer- tain to follow. In the general life of the city Mr. Arms was a conspicuous figure, taking active part in its social and club circles, holding membership in many prominent organizations, among which should be mentioned Frank- lin Lodge, No. 56, Free and Accepted Masons; the local lodge, Independent Order of Odd Fellows; Bristol Lodge, Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks ; the Order of Good Fellows, and Fraternal Benefit League.
Mr. Arms married, November 23, 1881, Ella Amelia Gale, a native of Sheboygan Falls, Wisconsin, born November 2, 1861, daughter of Daniel Jackson and Lucy Ann (Spear) Gale, and granddaughter of Richard Gale, a soldier in the Continental army during the Revolution, in which he dis- tinguished himself highly for gallantry. Daniel J. Gale was a native of Ver- mont, and his wife of New York State; they moved to Wisconsin at an early day and remained there until their daughter, Mrs. Arms, was ten years of age, when they returned east and made their home in Bristol, Connecticut, where Mr. Gale was employed in one of the clock factories. During his resi- dence in the west he had invented a calendar clock, and later the Welch Spring Company, of Bristol, purchased the rights to make the same. Mr. and Mrs. Arms were the parents of three children, one of whom died in infancy, the other two surviving, namely: Harold Ira, born in 1883, now employed as bookkeeper by the Wallace Barnes Spring Manufacturing Company of Bristol, Connecticut ; he married Mabel Todd Harrison, who bore him two children: Stanley George and Richard. Gladys Isabelle, born in 1893, now residing with her mother in Bristol, Connecticut. Mr. Arms was an attendant of the Baptist church, of which his wife and daughter are members.
Personally Mr. Arms was a man of strong will and energetic nature, a man capable of hard and long-continued work, and one who devoted him- self unremittingly to the public service. He was one of the most popular public officials that Bristol had ever known and he well deserved the popu- larity. His dealings with his fellow-men in all the relations of life, from the most public to the most private, were in every respect beyond reproach, and he deserves the same high praise as a husband and father that has been so universally accorded to him in his official capacity.
Isaac Glazier
PREOCCUPIED WITH MATERIAL concerns as the Ameri- can people have of necessity grown in the long struggle they have had for the conquest of a new continent, it is not sur- prising to find a slight disposition on the part of most to rather underrate the value of the things of culture and art. The astonishing thing, indeed, is not that we should find this disposition, but that we should not find it more pronounced when we consider how the conditions of life imposed upon us from the be- ginning have left but little time for men to become familiar with these mat- ters, and that it is inevitable that we should disregard what we do not know. And even here, despite the somewhat uncongenial environment, the love of art is beginning to flourish more and more, as men instinctively turn to it as a solace from the sorrows, a relaxation from the efforts of the practical affairs of life. That such a tendency is on the point to assert itself with increasing emphasis we have abundant evidence to-day, but it is also true that, even in the past, when the imaginations of men found ample scope for their dreams in the possibilities and opportunities of our vast new domain of material resources, even then there existed a firm undercurrent of aesthetic feeling which found expression in many ways. To the truth of this proposition the success of a man like Isaac Glazier, of Hartford, Con- necticut, whose business was wholly in objects of art and virtu, bears abundant testimony.
Isaac Glazier was a native of Willington, Connecticut, born December 21, 1835, a son of Isaac and Lucy (Snow) Glazier, of that place. The years of his childhood were passed in the town of his birth and in Suffolk, Con- necticut, and he attended the schools of both places, acquiring an excellent education and laying the foundation of that artistic taste which he after- wards made the basis of his successful business career. Upon completing his studies he removed to Hartford and there became employed by James L. Howard in the latter's brass finished goods business. In this line he did well, but his fondness for art urged him continually to engage in some line of activity in which he could come into familiar contact with the things he loved so much. In the meantime he had demonstrated to his own satisfac- tion, as well as to his employer's, his capability as far as business was con- cerned, and in 1857 he finally determined to embark on his own account on what seemed but a doubtful venture. Its doubtfulness was rendered double at just that time by the great business depression of that year which proved fatal to many established concerns, and it was in the face of much opposition on the part of his friends and much contrary advice that Mr. Glazier per- sisted in his intentions. His self-confidence and faith were not shaken, how- ever, and in the same year, having set aside a sufficient capital to float his enterprise, he opened an art gallery and store in the city of Hartford. It was a bold move but the event thoroughly justified it, and almost from the outset his business flourished. His gallery, which for long was a pleasant
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and familiar sight to passersby, was situated in the Hungerford and Combs business block, on Main street, near Central Row, and here he established himself as a dealer in rare and valuable paintings and engravings. His col- lection came to be regarded as the best in Hartford of its kind and he was himself recognized as a connoisseur and authority on the subject. He devoted himself heart and soul to his work, his great interest growing the more deeply he went into his subject, so that his venture was in the highest degree a success, not only in the sense of pecuniary returns, but in that far rarer one of a happiness and continual pleasure as a work and a calling. This successful career, which promised so brilliantly for the future, was cut short by Mr. Glazier's death when he was but thirty-six years of age, on December 8, 1872, a loss to the art situation in Hartford and to the city generally, which it will be difficult to make up.
Mr. Glazier was a man of great public spirit and however absorbing his work was to him, he did not allow his attention to be entirely confined to it, but kept himself in touch with the life of his community at many points, and gave considerable time and energy to many movements of which he approved. He was of a strongly religious nature, an active member of the First Baptist Church of Hartford, and was also prominently connected with the Young Men's Institute in the city.
On September 5, 1860, Mr. Glazier married Clara Mather, a daughter of Charles and Mary (Hathaway) Mather, old residents of Suffield, Connec- ticut, where Mrs. Mather lived to the advanced age of ninety-seven years. To Mr. and Mrs. Glazier four children were born, as follows: Charles M .; Daniel J., now the secretary of the Hartford Fire Insurance Company ; Robert C., now treasurer of the Riverside Trust Company ; and Frederick D., deceased.
The life of Isaac Glazier displayed a rather unusual union of practical ability and high idealism. The conduct of his business left nothing to be desired from the most exacting commercial standard, its high degree of success being all the evidence required of this, yet it is unquestionable that all those who came in contact with him felt most strongly the uplifting effect of his personality. A man who is himself so devoted to art, cannot fail to exercise an influence for culture on all about him, but it was not only in this direction that Mr. Glazier's effect was felt. He was one whose strong moral- ity radiated from him to the advantage of all who knew him, and one and all bore witness to the beneficial stimulus that resulted from intercourse with him. A social man, yet with strong domestic instincts, he delighted in the society of his family and intimate friends, and it was his delight to be forever planning the benefit or happiness of those about him. He may well stand as a model of the loving husband and parent, the faithful friend and comrade, the good citizen, the well-rounded man.
John Goodwin Mir
A MONG THE SUCCESSFUL merchants and business men of Hartford in the past generation, no name stands higher for integrity and substantial business methods than that of John Goodwin Mix, a lifelong resident of the city, though not a native, one whose life was spent largely in efforts for the city's welfare and whose death there on September 23, 1869, was a loss to the entire community. Mr. Mix was a member of a prominent Connecticut family, being a descendant, indeed, of one Ozias Goodwin, who was a member of the little band of pioneers who, under the leadership of Thomas Hooker, founded the city of Hartford. It was from this line of ancestry that he received the middle name of which, with great good reason, he felt not a little proud. His parents were Samuel and Roxena (Pelton) Mix, who in their youth passed a most romantic existence in one of the wildest spots in New England in those days. For a reason that has never been known, Mr. Mix, Sr., took his young bride of but a month and leaving the scenes of civilization behind struck directly into the wilderness. The two eventually settled on South Hero Island in Lake Champlain off the Vermont shore. At that time, it was the year 1797, the whole region was a wilderness, but imperfectly explored, and, as it happened, a resort for all kinds of vagabonds and fugitives from justice. In these strange surround- ings the young couple lived for a considerable period and it was here that John Goodwin Mix was born in the year 1802. His associations with South Hero Island were brief, however, for he came to Farmington when about seventeen years old and made his home with an uncle, Judge John Mix; his parents remained at South Hero Island. It seems that the lad must have absorbed some of the wildness of his native region, for he was con- stantly up to all sorts of pranks. It was an innocent sort of wildness, however, and while the good and pious people of Farmington may have been greatly scandalized by the sudden clamor of the church bells at unwonted hours, or other such matters, still no one's interests suffered in any real manner, and it is to be presumed that Providence looks with an indulgent eye upon such merry doings and even hearkens with an ear not too cen- sorious to such profane music, so that it be played with light heart and a free conscience. These feats were performed in the pauses of gaining his educa- tion, or shall we say that the education was gained in the pauses between jests? However this may be, they were both achieved with a good heart and no little success and childhood passed wholesomely into a sound manhood. His studies were pursued at the Farmington School, and upon graduation he at once entered the grocery business in Hartford. He was extremely successful and it was in this trade that he established his splendid record as a merchant in the community. During the '40s an intense interest in temperance swept over the country. Mr. Mix proposed to become a mem- ber of the Second Congregational Church, but was not accepted for mem- bership owing to the fact that liquor was included in his stock in trade.
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Nearly all fortunes in that time were accumulated through the sale of Jamaica rum. However, Mr. Mix was a faithful attendant at the old First or Center Church, of which he never became a member. He had bought the rum in good faith and felt he could not throw away that for which he had not paid. In after years the Rev. Mr. Daggett, the then minister of the South Church, said that he had never felt the church did right in not accepting Mr. Mix. The grocery establishment which he founded became one of the best in Hartford and he continued to operate it until the year 1857. At that time Mr. Mix was already a wealthy man, and he there- fore retired from his business and devoted himself entirely to real estate investment and development. His operations in this field were on a large scale, and to such as did not know the conditions might have seemed a little venturesome, but his judgment was excellent and his foresight did not fail him, so that in practically every case the event justified the invest- ment. One of the chief of these concerned land in Minnesota, large tracts of which he purchased in partnership with six other Hartford men, the whole party going west about the close of the Civil War. When these purchases had been made they returned to the east; Mr. Mix went back every few years to look over the land, etc., and make reports. This care involved an immense deal of living in the open air and exercise, the possessions being so large that their inspection involved much riding. It is no wonder, therefore, that he possessed splendid health and appeared the most robust of men. So healthy did he seem, indeed, that even the stout westerners whom he met on the long rides over the property remarked the fact and this gave rise to a rather amusing "joke" at his expense. He was an extremely abstemious man and practically eschewed liquor in all forms, but his color was so ruddy that it became usual to remark of him that he must drink a very fine grade of brandy, and this account persisted considerably to his amusement. All this region of the State was opened up after the war by the government to be given as bounties to the returning soldiers, and in the consequent coming in of people and the corresponding rise in real estate values, Mr. Mix and his partners cleared a handsome fortune.
In April, 1833, Mr. Mix was united in marriage with Clarissa Champion Isham, a daughter of Colonel John and Elizabeth (Gilbert) Isham, of Col- chester, Connecticut. Mrs. Mix was a member of a most distinguished Connecticut family, her ancestors, particularly in the Champion line, having been very well known and played most prominent parts in the affairs of the State. One of these, the founder of the family in America, Henry Champion, came to the colonies as early as 1647 and settled in Saybrook, Connecticut, and it has been with this place and the town of Lyme that the name has been most closely associated ever since. Another of her ancestors was the redoubtable General Henry Champion, who distinguished himself for gal- lantry during the Revolution and served as commissary general of Connec- ticut during that period. The chapter of the Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution at Malone, New York, is named after the eldest daughter of General Champion, the Deborah Champion Chapter. To Mr. and Mrs. Mix were born three children: Martha Isham, George Henry and Eliza Farwell. The last named is a resident of Hartford and is extremely
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interested in all matters of local history and genealogy. She is a member of the Daughters of the Revolution, the Ruth Wyllys Chapter, of Hartford, and is active in the work of the organization in preserving our national monu- ments and historic landmarks.
John Goodwin Mix was a man, not only of very sterling merits, but of great charm of person and manner as well. He was one of eleven children born to his parents in the wild home of his youth, and he early gained much self assurance and poise which became him well and won the confidence of others, a confidence that he never betrayed. The same qualities that, as a boy, led him into many innocent scrapes, continued through life in a certain love of adventure and boldness of character that is always so popular with men, and the result was that he possessed a host of friends and admirers who, first attracted by the charming exterior were afterwards confirmed in their feelings by the fine virtues they found below. Of unimpeachable integ- rity and bold yet prudent business methods, he soon became a power in that realm and scarcely less was the place he occupied in other departments of the city's life. He was of an exceedingly charitable nature and the appeal of real need never failed to awaken a generous impulse in response. One story is told of this generosity quite characteristic of the man. It appears that at the time of the outbreak of the Civil War there was a strong wave of patriotism in Hartford and it was the desire of many to volunteer whose worldly circumstances rendered it well nigh impossible. Among these was a certain acquaintance of Mr. Mix who was most anxious to enlist in his country's service but who was encumbered with a mortgage on his property which he felt it was impossible to leave his family burdened with. His dilemma came to the ears of Mr. Mix who straightway paid off the mortgage and freed the man from his just scruples. With such a character it is small wonder that he lived much loved and honored and at his death was deeply lamented by a host of friends.
Seth Pratt
A LTHOUGH ESSENTIALLY a business man with large, important and varied interests and successful in all his undertakings, Mr. Pratt was widely known in the political world of his State, and for his deeds of charity. Of generous physical proportions, his heart was in proportion, but in his benevolence few but the recipients ever knew their extent.
His acquaintance was very large, as was attested on his sixty-fifth birthday when he was deluged by a shower of post cards from friends all over the country. His greatest interest during a long business life was perhaps in horse dealing and breeding. He was the largest dealer in western horses in the State, doing a business in that grade of horse alone amounting to $50,000 annually. He was very proud of Litchfield, the town to which he was brought when four years of age, and all that tended to aid or improve the borough, had in him a hearty supporter. Ever active in politics, his was a potent voice in party councils, and he was very close to party leaders, by whom he was freely consulted.
Seth Pratt was born at Sheffield, Massachusetts, on Christmas Day, 1845, and died at Litchfield, Connecticut, March 21, 1910, son of Daniel and Harriet Pratt. In 1849 his parents moved to Litchfield and there he lived until death. He was educated in the public schools, and in early life was variously employed. He became proprietor of "Pratt's Pharmacy" on North street and was in successful business there for many years. He also owned and operated a large livery barn and dealt largely in horses, special- izing in western bred stock. He owned and operated a line of stages running to East Litchfield, W. S. Fenn being his partner in the latter enterprise for the twelve years preceding Mr. Pratt's death. He was a capable business man, scrupulously exact in all his transactions. He regarded his word as sacred and was always held in high esteem.
He was a Republican in politics and very active in civic and county affairs. He represented Litchfield in the lower branch of the State Legis- lature during the session of 1886 and the Litchfield district in 1888 as State Senator. His record as a legislator was excellent and he became very in- fluential. Among his close political friends he numbered E. J. Hill and O. R. Fyler. He was appointed postmaster at Litchfield under President Har- rison and held that office under every later Republican president until his death, having been reappointed only a few weeks prior to that sad event. He was a member of St. Paul's Lodge, No. II, Free and Accepted Masons, and when he was laid at final rest, the beautiful Masonic burial services were rendered by his brethren.
Mr. Pratt married at New Haven, Connecticut, May 12, 1897, Mar- guerite C. Quigley, daughter of Felix and Mary A. (Herbert) Quigley, her parents both born in Ireland but coming to the United States when young, locating at Farrington, Connecticut. Mrs. Pratt survives her husband, a resident of Litchfield.
CONN-Vol III-29
Alexander Allen
THE POPULATION OF the United States is without doubt the most cosmopolitan in the world. Individual cities such as Paris, Hong Kong or Cairo, where representatives of every nation on earth are said to congregate, may perhaps claim a rivalry with it, but nowhere on the earth's surface to-day, and it would probably be safe to assert that nowhere on the earth's surface during recorded history, was there to be found an area even approaching that of this country over which was spread so heterogeneous a people, the component parts of which traced their descent from so many different ethnic sources. There is a vast deal of differ- ence of opinion as to whether this is as it should be or otherwise in con- nection with many of the elements that have here found lodgment. but whether, as some claim, we face untold dangers from this admixture of bloods, or as others no less surely pronounce, that the greatest strength is the result of it, there is absolutely no doubt in anyone's mind that the latter is true in so far as the original union of races here, the union which formed the splendid foundation for the future American race. Those sturdy and enterprising colonists who first came to the western wilderness and to whose efforts its reclamation for the uses of humanity is due, represented some of the most advanced and dominant of the European peoples and their mingling here produced a result in strength and energy that might have been anticipated. Nor have these virile northern peoples even yet abandoned us to the uncounteracted immigration of other races which, whatever their possibilities for the future, are certainly to-day far less desirable as citizens than those who preceded them, but continue to add, though in less numbers, to that strong nucleus which, it is the prayer of every well-wisher of this land, may leaven with its own virtues the whole mass. Among these strong and enlightened stocks which in the past laid down so firmly our social foundation and are to-day continuing the process from time to time, none have contributed more valuable qualities to our body politic than that which finds its origin in the north of Ireland and which is commonly spoken of as Scotch-Irish. Full of daring and enterprise, yet of a conservative and highly moral nature and disposition, these gifted people have made, not only their own home region flourish, but have won success and prosperity in practically every part of the globe their wanderings have led them to.
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