USA > Connecticut > Representative men of Connecticut, 1861-1894 > Part 30
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OF CONNECTICUT, 1861-1894.
He declined the nomination for governor in 1878, being president of the convention that made the nomination, and when the Republicans had elected a majority for the legis- lature for the first time in five years, he publicly withdrew his name from the list of can- didates for United States senator then to be elected. As a lawyer his reputation is based on profound knowledge, general as well as special, his power as an advocate, and on a brilliant and unsullied career of nearly half a century at the Connecticut bar. Although confining himself of late years very closely to his professional duties, he has not in the least degree relinquished his deep interest in public affairs, and on a number of occasions has pub- lished his views upon important questions, principally through articles written for the press. In 1881, two days after President Garfield was shot, he prepared an article in regard to the presidential succession, which was given wide publicity in the papers of the country, and attracted great attention. At that time there was bitt a single life-that of Vice- President Arthur - between organized government and anarchy. In the article referred to General Kellogg proposed and advocated the exact system of presidential succession that was some years afterwards adopted by Congress after long debates upon the subject. Therefore to him justly belongs the credit for the conception and the first presentation of the present order of succession, by which, in the event of the death or incapacity of both president and vice-president, the chief magistracy of the nation devolves upon the members of the cabinet, beginning with the secretary of state.
Full of years and honors, and rich in the esteem of the public, General Kellogg stands before his fellow-citizens over "threescore and ten," with a stronger mentality and physique than fall to the lot of most men who reach that ripe agc ; his well-ordered and temperate life leaving him to-day in the possession of every faculty unimpaired, and with unlimited powers of application and usefulness.
He was married Sept. 10, 1851, to Lucia Hosiner Andrews, a great-granddaughter of Hon. Titus Hosmer, a member of the Continental Congress in 1778-79, and fromn 1780 until his death a judge of the maritime court of appeals of the United States. Another great-grand- father of this esteemed lady was Major-Gen. Samuel Holden Parsons of the Revolution. Her grandfather was the eminent jurist, Stephen Titus Hosmer, for thirty years a member of the supreme court of Connecticut, and during a large portion of this period chief justice. There are six living children by this marriage, the oldest son, Frank W. Kellogg, being an officer in the navy. Two other sons have adopted the legal profession, one being now a student in the Yale Law School. A promising son, John P. Kellogg, also a lawyer, is associated in practice with his father. The three daughters of General Kellogg are all married and live in New Haven and Waterbury, Conn.
A ORGAN, JUNIUS SPENCER, although not a native of Connecticut, was long a resident, and never lost his interest in its affairs, and finally chose the capital of the state as his last resting-place. He was born in West Springfield (now Holyoke), Mass., April 14, 1813, and is a lineal descendant of Miles Morgan, one of the first settlers of Springfield. The latter was born in Bristol, England, in 1616, and, being a younger son and of a venturesome disposition, he conceived the idea of joining one of the many vessels that conveyed emigrants from his native town to America. He arrived in Boston on one of these in April, 1636, and soon afterward penetrated, with an expedition headed by Colonel Pyratreon, into the wilderness, and settled at what is now Springfield, Mass. He built for himself a fortified block honse on the bank of the
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Connecticut river, on the site now occupied by the car shops of the Connecticut River Rail- road. Not long after his arrival in Springfield, he married Prudence Gilbert, a fellow passenger on the voyage from Bristol. When the sacking of Springfield occurred, Captain Morgan's block house became the fortress of the place, and after the burning of the settlement, held out until messengers had been despatched to Hadley, and thirty-six men (the standing army of the colony of Massachusetts Bay), under command of Capt. Samuel Appleton, marched to Springfield and raised the siege. A colossal bronze statue of Capt. Miles Morgan, which stands in the court house square of Springfield, shows him in huntsman's dress, jacket, boots, and cocked hat, with a rifle over his shoulder.
From the heroic settler, the family line comes down by successive generations, to Joseph Morgan. He married Sarah Spencer, and was the father of the subject of this article.
After attending several schools and receiving only a limited education, Mr. Morgan began his business career with Alfred Welles of Boston in April, 1829, and remained in his employ until reaching his majority. In July, 1834, he entered the banking house of Morgan, Ketchum & Company of New York, but, after eighteen months' service, he decided to remove to Hartford. On the first of April, 1836, he became the junior partner in the firm of Howe, Mather & Company, which did a large and successful dry goods business when Hartford was the centre of an extended trade in that line. The firin was changed to Mather, Morgan & Company, Feb. 1, 1850, but it was dissolved a year later when Mr. Morgan, at a very urgent invitation, went to Boston to join James M. Beebe in the same business. The new concern was known as James M. Beebe, Morgan & Company, and it became one of the largest in the connitry. No small share of the success attained can be laid to Mr. Morgan's energetic efforts and recognized executive ability. It was in 1850 that he went to Europe for the first time, and while there he met Mr. George Peabody, upon whom he inade so favorable an impression that, a few years after, Mr. Peabody offered him a partnership in his firm. This exceedingly flattering offer was accepted, and in October, 1854, he entered the firm of George Peabody & Co. Ten years later Mr. Peabody retired, and the firm of J. S. Morgan & Co. took the place of the older concern. Under his name the house increased in strength and influence until it was rightly ranked among the trio of great banking houses of the world. Always a staunch friend of American institutions, during the War of the Rebellion, at frequent intervals, he rendered valuable assistance in England to the government of this country.
As an authority in money matters, Mr. Morgan's opinion was quoted and accepted on the bourses of Europe, while his financial transactions have been marked by pronounced success. His engineering of the French loan in 1870, known ever since as the Morgan loan, was accom- plished under such difficult circumstances as to establish his reputation more than any other single transaction up to that time. Mr. Morgan's occasional visits to America were always the signal for complimentary receptions. On one occasion, when a banquet was given to him in New York, special trains brought friends from Baltimore, Harrisburg and Boston, and Ex-Gov- ernor Tilden of New York, Gov. A. H. Rice of Massachusetts, Governor Hartranft of Penn- sylvania, Ex-Governor Hawley of Connecticut, and Ex-Secretary McCulloch were among those who delivered addresses.
While in Hartford he entered actively into its social and public affairs. He was one of the corporators of the Young Men's Institute, and served as trustee for two years, being vice- president of the organization in 1839. A consistent member of Christ Church, he was a ineinber of the vestry from 1845 to 1849, and into his religious work he put the same zeal which he did into his business transactions. From 1849 to 1853 he was one of the advisers of the Orphan Asylum. For several years he was a member of the Governor's Foot Guard.
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OF CONNECTICUT, 1861-1894.
Mr. Morgan always maintained his interest in Hartford and its institutions, and has made numerous generous gifts to their support. Among them were Trinity College and the Hartford Orphan Asylum, giving to the latter a sum of money to be called the Sarah Morgan fund, in memory of his mother, Mrs. Sarah Spencer Morgan.
In 1887, he gave a large and valuable painting by Sir Joshua Reynolds, which he had purchased for that purpose, to the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City. The exact cost of this act of thoughtfulness was never known, but it ran well into the thousands of dollars. His magnificent donation of $100,000 to the fund of the free public library of Hartford, coming at the time it did, gave such inspiration to those who were behind the movement that it practically made the enterprise an assured success. His private gifts to cases of need, to philanthropic institutions, and to the cause of the Master whom he professed to serve, will never be known until the books are opened at that last great day when the secrets of all hearts shall be laid bare.
Junius S. Morgan was married to Juliet, daughter of John Pierpont, the poet. Mrs. Morgan died in 1880. Mr. Morgan died at Monte Carlo, April 8, 1890, having passed by seven years the three score and ten allotted to man. His deathi was caused by injuries received by jumping from his carriage while the horses were unmanageable. The surviving children are J. Pierpont Morgan, head of the firm of Drexel, Morgan & Company, New York; Sarah, wife of George H. Morgan of New York; Mary, wife of Walter Burns, active partner of J. S. Morgan & Company, London, and Juliette, wife of Rev. John Morgan of Paris, brother of George H. Morgan of New York. The family connections are numerous in Hartford and vicinity.
Perhaps the best tribute to Mr. Morgan's inemory appeared in the Hartford Courant. The day after liis death that sterling Connecticut journal said editorially :
Mr. Junius S. Morgan died yesterday withont rallying from the shock received last Thursday, and Hart- ford loses one of its best friends, and the business world loses one of its most successful and honored leaders. Mr. Morgan has become very rich, and his wealth has been acquired in a straightforward, honorable way, in striking contrast to the manner in which so many of the nineteenth century fortunes have been secnred. When the name of Morgan is associated with a business matter the public confidence is at once assured. In the great railroad enterprises that the firm has taken up in this country it has always acted to save and never to wreck, and the title to its great wealth is a clean one. Mr. Morgan began his active life in Hartford, and the city and its people always held a place in his affections. It was his home from the time he was four years old nntil he went into business, and for years he was in business here. His son, J. Pierpont, was born here, and spent his boyhood in this city. Father and son have shown their interest in Hartford very recently by their princely gifts of $100,000 and $50,000 for the Free Public Library, and before that Mr. Morgan had given liberally to the Orphan Asylum, and to Trinity College and other local objects.
All Hartford has reason to hold him in affectionate remembrance for what he has done for us, and the news of his death will bring grief to thousands who never saw him. Those who did know him personally and well, speak of him, as for years they have spoken of him, with peculiar tenderness. His generous impulses came from a kind heart and a sweet nature, and the manner in which he put his good wishes into shape of practical assistance, made his aid donbly welcome. We have seen some of his public benefactions, but it is understood that in private life among friends and acquaintances he was continually and most kindly using for the benefit of others the wealth that he possessed. The pleasure that he found in being rich lay in the oppor- tunity it gave him for doing good. Mr. Morgan's name is known throughout the business world. He was one of the conspicuously rich men of this age of great fortunes. And to occupy such a position and yet be known for the honesty with which he acquired and the kindness and liberality with which he gave, is as great a fortune as his wealth and a more precious possession.
In telling the story of Mr. Morgan's life, the historian of the Connecticut Historical Society used the following words:
He joined this society December 6, 1843, four years after its organization, and how well he kept it in memory during his residence in a foreign land, and how ardent his friendship for it was, is proved by the frequent valuable contributions he made to its treasures, and especially by that rare and princely gift, recently made, onr acknowledgment of which could only have reached him a few days before his death. And what more
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fitting place than this could there be to publish that acknowledgment: The Connecticut Historical Society, in acknowledging the gift from Mr. Junius S. Morgan of the colossal work, " Fac similes of manuseripts in European Archives relating to America, 1773-83," is conscious that no ordinary form of thanks is adequate to express its feel- ing at once of the donor's generosity, and of his fine judgment in the selection of a gift. Not alone is it of a cost far beyond the present or probable resources of the society, and therefore most unlikely to have come into our possession in any other way, but it will be incomparably the most massive and most valuable collee- tion of original documents on American history yet published ; being especially of unique value as consisting of photographic fac similes of the documents themselves, thus putting the humblest student on a level, in capacity of original research, with the wealthy and leisured or official classes, who can visit foreign capitals, and ransack foreign libraries without stint. This enormous collection, to which this society gave its endors- ment years ago, has been made possible only by private subscriptions, necessarily limited ; and therefore Mr. Morgan, in becoming for our benefit one of the small number of subscribers, is not alone conferring on this society a benefit of incalculable historic value, but is aiding to make certain the accomplishment of the work itself, and thus earning the gratitude of Americans and students of American institutions everywhere. The period covered by the collection, including as it does the proximate genesis of the Revolution, that war itself, and the negotiations by which our independence was assured, is perhaps the most important, probably the inost intricate, and certainly in foreign lauds the least understood period of our history ; and the work is therefore not only an intellectual but a patriotic service of high order.
In view of these facts, the Connecticut Historical Society as a body, and individually, express to Mr. Mor- gan their deep aud enduring gratitude and appreciation for his most generous and judicious gift to themselves, his aid in securing from failure a stupendous and valuable historical labor, and his patriotic services as an American, in aiding a truer knowledge of his country's acts and motives in her crucial time; and their trust and belief that the studies which this gift will stimulate and enable to be carried on, will mature into work that in honoring Hartford will also honor her munificent son. It is the will of the society that the fore- going expression of thanks be properly engrossed and forwarded by the Secretary to Mr. Morgan.
ENRY, EDWARD STEVENS, mayor of Rockville, and ex-state treasurer, was born in Gill, Mass., Feb. 10, 1836.
The Battle of the Boyne was one of those decisive conflicts in the history of the world whose influence has been far reaching in its effects. It settled the religious status of England for a long series of years. In this sanguinary struggle, David Heury, a sturdy North of England yeoman, took part, serving under the colors of William of Orange, and after peace was declared he settled in Coleraine, in the north of Ireland, on a grant of land given him by the king. His son, Hugh Henry, the founder of the family to which Mr. Heury belongs, was one of the members of an organized colony which emigrated from the vicinity of Coleraine in 1733, and settled in what was then known as "Boston Township, No. 2," and subsequently became the town of Coleraine, Mass. He was a man of much force of character. His son Benjamin was a soldier in the French and Indian Wars, serving in the company called Roger's Rangers, under General Israel Putnam. Removing to the town of Halifax, he was for seventeen years a member of the Vermont Legis- lature. In the third generation, David Henry, probably named for his patriotic ancestor, was one of the first settlers of Heath, Mass., and lived till by seven years he had passed the four- score allotted to man. His son, Edward Fish Henry, was a fariner by occupation. He married Elisa A., daughter of Dr. Simon A. Stevens of Guilford, Vt., who bore him six children, and of these E. Stevens was the oldest.
The family moved to Rockville, Tolland County, Conn., when E. Stevens was very young, and at that place the lad received his education, attending the public schools and also the local academy. At the age of nineteen he began active life. Coming from an old and highly-respected family, well educated and endowed with natural talents of a superior order, the young inan proved a welcome accession to the business community of the place. Taking a lively interest in public affairs, he soon made his mark, and at an age when many persons of
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OF CONNECTICUT, 1861-1894.
no mean capacity are still comparatively obscure, he had obtained for himself general recogni- tion as one of the most intelligent and progressive citizens of the town. Both directly and indirectly he has been unceasing in his efforts to promote its business interests, and, in the broadest sense, the welfare of its inhabitants. He has taken a most active and prominent part in founding and fostering several of its leading financial institutions, among them the People's Savings Bank, of which he has been the managing officer since its organization in 1870, and also the First National Bank of Rockville, and of which he was for many years a director. He was likewise one of the incorporators of the First National Bank of Willimantic, of which he is still a director. Another important fiduciary trust held by him is the treas- urership of the Tolland County Mutual Fire Insurance Company.
A man of the highest personal character, of proven integrity, energy, reliable and public- spirited, Mr. Henry has been honored by his fellow-citizens with a number of public trusts. For fifteen years he sat as an active trial justice at Rockville. A zealous Republican in politics, he was nominated by his party to represent his town in the state legislature, and thongli having as an opponent one of the strongest mnen that the Democrats could bring forward for the office, he was elected by a flattering majority. In 1887, he was elected to the state Senate to represent the Twenty-third senatorial district. During these two terins he served on several very important committees and distinguished himself by his close attention to public affairs. In the summer of 1888, he was sent as a delegate-at-large from Connec- ticut to the Republican National Convention, at Chicago, and in the canvass which resulted in the election of General Harrison to the presidency he took an active part in his state. In 1888, his abilities were appropriately recognized by his nomination for the office of treasurer of the state, and he was elected, the heavy vote he received bearing ample testimony to his repute and to the general confidence reposed in his integrity. As state treasurer, Mr. Henry gave the citizens of Connecticut a clean administration of this important branch of the state government, and has instituted a number of reforms in the ininor workings of the department, which have been productive of innich benefit.
Said the Hartford Courant, speaking of his renomination :
His administration of the treasury has been admirable, and he has had to work under the disadvantage of new laws and new circumstances. He has so managed these that he has been able to get rid of the state tax altogether, and, with no added burden on the people, to save them say half a million dollars a year in direct taxes. He is a useful part of the new machinery of taxation established by the last legislature, and by reason of his experience can carry on the department at this time better than an equally good man could to whom the position was new. Hence for business reasons his renomination seems advisable, to say nothing of his personal strength as a candidate on the ticket. The convention will nominate a strong and the successful ticket, and do it without discord or dissension ; and if Mr. Henry is renominated for treasurer the state will be sure of capable and economical management of its finances for the next two years.
After the election, complications regarding the counting of the votes ensued, and then followed two years in the history of the state the scenes of which it is to be hoped will never be repeated.
Mr. Henry was nominated for congressional honors in 1892, and though he polled the full strength of his party, it was not a good year for Republican candidates, and he failed of election. Under a caption of "A Thoroughly Good Nomination," a Connecticut paper thus alluded to his fitness for the position :
The Republican congressional convention on Saturday merely responded to popular feeling and expectation in the party when it nominated E. Stevens Henry by acclamation. His unquestioned fitness for the place and his personal popularity make him as strong a candidate as could be selected, and he has the advantage of an excep- tional record as treasurer of the state for the past four years. In that time the state tax has been removed, the state debt reduced by the payment of all obligations which were due, or on which there was an option of payment, and the revenues have been largely increased. In the peculiar complications arising from the failure of the Demo-
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cratic Senate to cooperate in electing state officers, Mr. Henry's firmness and sound judgment have been repeatedly exemplified, and have strengthened the claim on the confidence of the people which lic had established during a long course of service in both branches of the Legislature, and in the several financial institutions with which he has been connected. No better or stronger candidate can be found in either party, and with him victory should be assured.
Rockville took a place among thie sisterliood of Connecticut citics in 1893, and at the first election in December of that year, Mr. Henry was chosen mayor by a handsome majority over his Democratic competitor, the most popular man who could be pitted against him.
Although a sturdy Republican, he has the confidence and good will of hundreds of his Democratic fellow-citizens, many of whom have voted for him every time he has been a candidate for office, believing him to be above mere partisanship in the discharge of public trust as the sequel has always proved him to be. In Tolland county, it is probable that no office-holder for years has won and held the respect of the general public to such a degree as Mr. Henry. As a state officer, he vastly increased his personal popularity, and added greatly to the strength of his party. In private life, he is a gentleman of irreproachable character, kindly sympathies and liberal views.
He was married on Feb. 11, 1860, to Miss Lucina E. Dewey of Lebanon, Conn. The Dewey family is one of the oldest in Connecticut, and the ancestors of Mrs. Henry were among the first settlers of Lebanon. Mr. and Mrs. Henry have one child, a daughter.
ROFUT, HENRY, of Danbury, one of the leading hat manufacturers of Connecticut, was born in Danbury, April 20, 1820.
His ancestors for several generations were Connecticut people of the sturdy middle class. Isaac Crofut, his grandfather, lived near Bethel, and from there his father, Jared Crofut, came to Danbury in the early part of the century. Jared Crofut married Grace Drew of Redding, and became the father of three boys and three girls, and of the half dozen, Henry was the third.
The limited amount of education young Crofut received was obtained in the district schools and later at evening schools. Put on a farm at the age of nine years, he remained there for seven years, doing the "chores" and otherwise carrying out the ordinary duties of a farmer's boy of the times. At sixteen, he decided to leave agricultural pursuits and devote his energies to manufacturing. Accordingly he entered the employ of Abijah Tweedy of Danbury and served a regular apprenticeship of five years at the hatting trade. Such was his application to business and quick comprehension of the principles of hat manufacturing, that Mr. Crofut was made foreman of the shop before he attained his majority. He worked as foreman for nine years, gaining experience in business manage- inent each succeeding year. In 1853, he went into manufacturing with William Tweedy, son of Abijah Tweedy, as partner, the latter furnishing the capital for the new concern. This partnership lasted until 1856, when it was dissolved, and the firm of Crofut, Bates & Wyman was formed, and a complete new factory was erected. The financial crisis of 1857-58 was too severe a strain for the youthful partners, and they were obliged to fail. Personal friends in New York and Danbury helped Mr. Crofut to purchase the old plant in 1859, and start afresh on his own account. In 1863, he took Rollo Nichols, his son-in-law, into the firm as partner, and the name was changed to Henry Crofut & Co., and two years later another son-in-law, Joseph White, was added to the concern. On the death of Mr. Nichols, the firmn became Crofut & White, which it still remains. Mr. Crofut started in to
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