USA > Connecticut > New Haven County > Derby > The history of the old town of Derby, Connecticut, 1642-1880. With biographies and genealogies > Part 56
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85
ManyHawkins
555
BIOGRAPHIES.
a zealous member of the Congregational church, and his daily life and devotion to moral and religious principles, with his manifested desire to do good, inspired full public confidence in his Christian profession. He was seldom absent from the stated services of the sanctuary, and, being of a cheerful mind, he was delighted in the society and prosperity of others of what- ever denomination. It is refreshing to think of an aged soldier of the cross whose every day walk has been a steady and shin- ing light in the " straight and narrow path."
FREDERICK HALL, M. D.,
Was born at Derby, June 26, 1842; graduated at Bellevue Medical College, New York, in 1869, and entered upon the duties of his profession in New York city. He was also located at Stratford, Conn, for three years, and latterly has made his residence at Derby where he is at present in active practice.
ABRAM HAWKINS
Was born in Derby November 16, 1810, and resided here until 1828 when he removed to Bridgeport to learn the trade of a blacksmith. He afterward returned to Birmingham and in 1837, in connection with his two brothers, David and William, commenced the manufacture of carriage and wagon axles. The business was continued for a time when David withdrew and the two remaining continued the enterprise until 1846, during which time the manufacture of carriage springs was added to the business. About this time Henry Atwater of New York purchased a one-third interest in the firm, and in 1847 the com- pany built and organized the well known and extensive " Iron and Steel Works."
In 1849 Abram became associated with his brother William and other gentlemen in the formation of a new company for the manufacture of carriage and wagon axles under the name of the Hawkins Manufacturing Company, which was success- fully conducted until 1865 under the management of William Hawkins, when the business was closed and the capital re- turned to the stockholders with a liberal amount of surplus that had accumulated.
Abram continued his interest in the Iron and Steel Works
556
HISTORY OF DERBY.
until 1857 when he withdrew and went to New York, where he engaged in the manufacture and sale of iron and iron wire.
As one of the pioneers of Birmingham Mr. Hawkins was enterprising and public spirited, and his departure from the town has always been regretted. He was twice warden of the borough, besides filling many other important positions.
WILLIAM HAWKINS
Was born in Derby, July 6, 1816, and like his brother Abram had but little advantages of education. He learned his trade as machinist in 1834, and was associated with his brother for many years in Birmingham, and since dissolving partnership has conducted the manufacture of skates, wrenches and other hardware implements.
He is now associated in a new company, formed April 1, 1880, for the manufacture of bits and augers in connection with his other business.
He has been warden of the borough, and has held office in the town.
This Hawkins family springs from good stock, having de- scended from one of the original settlers of the town.
BENJAMIN HODGE
Was born in Milford, Conn., September 13, 1793, and came to Derby when quite a youth, making his residence in the family of Col. David Johnson, one of Derby's old residents. After a few years he married Anna, daughter of Capt. Jared Bartholo- mew of Derby. He was a prominent citizen of the town until his death, July 26, 1868. In the war of 1812 he was very enthusiastic and enlisted in a Derby company and went to New London under Capt. Gates, but the British having evacuated that place he returned home with his company. For many years he was in full charge of Leman Stone's business, that of seed raising, and sharing his confidence until Mr. Stone's decease, when he assumed the business himself and conducted it successfully many years, until his health failed. He was a very active member of society ; was some time president of the Derby Temperance organization, and being faithful in many
Gies & Co. Buffalo. N.Y.
B. Hooge.
557
BIOGRAPHIES.
good deeds he gained for himself the credit of a useful and exemplary citizen.
JOSIAH HOLBROOK6
Was the son of Col. Daniel Holbrook of Derby, where he was born in 1788. Colonel Holbrook was an energetic, prosperous farmer, and a man of wealth and extensive influence. His house was that now a little south-east of the Swift farm. His son re- ceived the ordinary common school education of the day, fitted for college under Rev. Amasa Porter of Derby, entered Yale College in 1806, and was graduated in 1810. Five years afterward he married a daughter of Rev. Zephaniah Swift of Derby. She died in 1819, leaving two sons, Alfred and Dwight. On the death of his father and mother about that time, the care of the farm devolved upon him, and it was during the period oc- cupied in this vocation that the ideas which were the central ones of his subsequent labors first occurred to his mind.
Acting on these views he opened, about that time, on his own farm, in connection with Rev. Truman Coe, then a teacher, one of the first schools in America which sought to teach a popular- ized form of natural science, and to combine manual labor with education. Boys in this school were allowed to pay a portion of their expenses by laboring on the farm. The institution was not permanent, but the experiment satisfied Mr. Holbrook of the practicability of the principle. We quote from a letter of Mr. Coe to a son of Mr. Holbrook, the following statements re- specting this school :
" He had long cherished the idea of endeavoring to found an insti- tution in which the course of instruction should be plain and practical ; an agricultural school where the science of chemistry, and mechanics, and land surveying should be thoroughly drilled into the mind of the pupils by practice. With these views the Agricultural Seminary was commenced in Derby in 1824, and continued to the fall of 1825, under the direction of your father and myself, and. as far as I know, was the first educational movement of the kind in all that region. But the in- stitution, being unendowed and on a private footing, labored under many embarrassments. especially in never having land enough to ac- complish the ends of its founders. We did what we could to train the students in the analysis of soils, in the application of the mechanical
6See Barnard's Journal of Education.
558
HISTORY OF DERBY.
powers to all farming operations, and took out our young men often into the field and country for practical surveying, geological excursions, road-making, and the labors of the farm, but, not being able at that time to place the school on an eligible foundation. it was abandoned."
While at work on his farm, Mr. Holbrook's zeal in the pursuit of knowledge led him, with the design of increasing his acquaint- ance with chemistry, mineralogy and geology, to attend the lect- ures of Professor Silliman of New Haven ; riding over and back from Derby for that purpose, notwithstanding distance and an inclement season.
The precise train of thought and of circumstances which led Mr. Holbrook to transfer his efforts from the farm and school at Derby to the wider field of popular scientific lecturing, there is no data for tracing. The American Journal of Education, then conducted by Mr. William Russell, contains in its tenth num- ber, October, 1826, a paper by Mr. Holbrook, setting forth his views on the subject of " Associations of Adults for the Purpose of Mutual Education," which gives some insight to his plans and propositions for the general public good ; and this was the earliest printed exposition of his principles, or propositions for general improvement of the people.
In this paper to the Fournal Mr. Holbrook gave nineteen rules for the organization and conducting of lyceums for general education and improvement. Every great enterprise requires a forerunner, or one to lay out the work, tell how to do it, and put the implements into the hands of the workmen, which, when done, it becomes easy to follow in the perfecting of the work.
Mr. Holbrook having defined his plan, went soon after to Millbury, Mass., where he delivered a course of lectures, and at the close persuaded thirty or forty persons to organize them- selves into a society for mutual improvement, which at his re- quest was called Millbury Lyceum, a branch of the American Lyceum. This society was the first permanent one established in the country. From this time forward Mr. Holbrook devoted all his efforts for a long series of years to the organization of a system of institutions to bear the collective name of the Ameri- can Lyceum.
During the years immediately following 1826, Mr. Holbrook made Boston his centre of operations, where he commenced,
559
BIOGRAPHIES.
about 1829, the manufacture of philosophical apparatus for com- mon schools, in which enterprise he was much aided by Timothy Claxton.7 By the desire of Mr. Holbrook a convention was held in Boston, May 15, 1830, which resulted in the organization of the American Institute of Instruction, and a recommendation of Teachers' Institutes ; and numerous meetings of this kind were held during the following year. In 1830, also, Mr. Holbrook commenced the publication of a series entitled Scientific Tracts, with the view of diffusing useful knowledge. After two years he surrendered the Tracts to Dr. J. V. C. Smith, and devoted himself to the Lyceums and to the interests of a weekly paper, The Family Lyceum.
About the year 1834 Mr. Holbrook left Boston and for a few years occupied himself chiefly to establish the Lyceum system in Pennsylvania, in which effort he was quite successful. While in this field of labor he conceived the plan of a Universal Ly- ceum, to introduce national Lyceums. A list of officers was made, with Lord Brougham as president, and was published with a brief outline of the aims of the institution, in a pamphlet, the " First Quarterly Report." His labors in Pennsylvania were greatly advantageous to common schools.
His next effort was to establish Lyceum villages, the first of which he commenced in 1837 at Berea, Ohio, but which was a financial failure.
His next engagement was in New York city in 1842, as cen- tral agent of his plan of School Exchanges, which was a part of his original scheme of Lyceums, which seems to have been the collection of specimens of natural science, and general associa- tion of the societies. While in New York, his friend, Mr. Seton, then agent of public schools, drew up, with his assistance, a scheme for applying his favorite principle of education to that city.8 This included particularly the teaching of drawing.
In the spring of 1849 Mr. Holbrook went to Washington, D. C., to ascertain what aid could be secured from the govern- ment in behalf of his plans, and such was his encouragement in this respect that that city remained the centre of his operations until his death.
7Life of Timothy Claxton.
8Fourteenth Report of Trustees of Public Schools, New York.
560
HISTORY OF DERBY.
In May, 1854, he made a journey to Lynchburg, Va., on busi- ness connected with his enterprise ; and having walked out alone one morning, was evidently collecting minerals, as he had been busily engaged in doing for some weeks, from the face of a pre- cipitous cliff overhanging a deep creek, and losing his footing, fell into the water, and was drowned. His body was found a day or two after, on the 24th of May, 1854, floating in the water, was interred in the burying-ground of one of the churches at Lynchburg, and his funeral was attended by a large number of persons, who had become interested in his enthusiastic devo- tion to science and education.
The American Institute of Instruction at its annual session at Providence, R. I., in August following, passed resolutions of very high commendation upon the life and work of Mr. Hol- brook.
PROF. ALFRED HOLBROOK
Is the principal of the National Normal School at Lebanon, Ohio. He was born in Derby, Conn., February 17, 1816, and was the son of Josiah Holbrook.
At the age of fourteen he went to Boston and was employed for a year and a half in his father's manufactory of school appa- ratus. His health failing, he returned to his native village where he remained until seventeen years of age when he entered upon his first experience in teaching, in Monroe, Conn. One year later he went to New York city and engaged for some eighteen months in the manufacture of surveyors' instruments. Being compelled to relinquish this business on account of failing health, he repaired to Kirtland, Ohio, with the intention of employing himself in land surveying, from the carrying out of which plan, however, he was prevented by physical disability. He nevertheless accompanied his uncle, David Holbrook, to Boonville, Indiana, where he remained a year and a half, occa- sionally engaging in surveying. His health proving too feeble for this business he returned in 1840 to Ohio, on horseback, and began teaching at Berea with a school of three pupils under the auspices of. John Baldwin. The school rapidly increased in numbers and Mr. Baldwin soon erected a commodious building for the accommodation of pupils. This was the foundation of Baldwin University. Here Prof. Holbrook remained nine years,
561
BIOGRAPHIES.
within which time the institution passed into the possession of the Methodist Episcopal church. Prof. Holbrook next took charge of an academy at Chardon, Ohio, for two years, and then in partnership with Dr. John Nichols engaged for a time in the Western Reserve Teachers' Seminary at Kirtland. He subse- quently accepted a call to the superintendency of the public schools of Marlboro, Ohio where he remained three years, from which place he removed to Salem, Ohio. While here he received the appointment as principal of the South Western Normal School at Lebanon, Ohio, which position he has occupied nearly twenty years. His subsequent history is in connection with this school.
The professor is the author of two educational works which have had very wide circulation, namely : "Normal Methods" and " School Management." He has also more recently issued two text books on the English language which are perhaps the best treatises of the kind ever published, namely : "Training Lessons " and an "English Grammar." In an educational experience of nearly half a century, Prof. Holbrook has had under his direct instruction not less than thirty thousand per- sons, a number equaled by very few teachers in our country. It has been remarked by those best acquainted with his work, and who have seen its results far and wide over the nation, that no student has ever left any institution of which he has had the control, morally worse than when he or she entered it.
The Professor's ripe scholarship, large experience, superior judgment and Christian integrity eminently fit him for his position as a teacher of teachers, and his long and successful con- nection with the National Normal has placed him in the front rank of American educators.9
Prof. Holbrook's sons and daughters are all engaged with him in his normal school, with great efficiency and success. His son, R. Heber Holbrook, a few years since came east to obtain a little independent experience and took charge of the large public school at Vineland, N. J., where during two years he had very marked success. A few of the principles which he recommends to teachers are obtained by the slightest accident
9Extract from the Historical Atlas of Warren county, Ohio.
71
562
HISTORY OF DERBY.
of preservation, and commended to the consideration of all per- sons.
" I. Be pleasant. It is never necessary to frown or scold.
" 2. Be lively. The true teacher will seldom seat himself before a class
" 3. Be original. Never depend upon your book If you can't con- duct the recitations without a book, you have given too long a lesson.
"4. Be reasonable. Don't assign a lesson so long that you will yourself be hardly able to prepare it.
' 5. Be prepared. Always make out in your own mind the work to be accomplished by the class at their next recitation.
" 6. Be not too talkative. Any fool can lecture and interest children with wonderful facts ; but it requires a wise, patient, and hopeful per- son to draw those facts from the pupils.
" 7. Be sympathetic Come down to the apprehension of your pupils. Remember what is curious and interesting to you is beyond their understanding. What are axioms to you are difficult propositions to them.
" 8. Be patient. Let the smart ones take care of themselves. Give your energies, your ingenuity and your smiles to the stupid ones."
The sixth rule of this catalogue is particularly commended to the consideration of all who engage in Sunday-school teaching at the present day.
DWIGHT HOLBROOK,
Son of Josiah and Lucy (Swift) Holbrook, was born in Derby, Conn., in 1817, and accompanied his father to Boston, Mass., in 1829. In 1833 he went on a business tour to China. In 1839 he went to Berea, Ohio, to carry out his father's plans of an educational village which was then being established at that place. His next enterprise was the establishment of a manu- factory for making school apparatus, which articles he sold mostly in the state of New York for the use of public schools ; that state Legislature having passed an act to use the Library Fund for that purpose. In 1850 he exhibited his inventions and productions in Toronto, Canada, in the House of Parliament, and they were granted entrance free of duty ; the result being the sale of large quantities to the Educational Department of that Province.
The Legislature of Connecticut passed a special act in 1852,
563
BIOGRAPHIES.
to allow the use of twenty-five convicts for five years for the production of this apparatus for the use of the schools of the state, and in 1853 it was introduced into the schools of Ohio by the Superintendent of Education for that state.
In 1867 the Danish and Chinese Governments purchased through their ministers at Washington samples of the goods. For the last twenty years the apparatus has gone into every town in the country and Mr. Holbrook's name has become a household name, and these goods are still extensively manufact- ured by many firms ; Mr. Dwight Holbrook's eldest son, C. W. Holbrook, has a factory for this purpose in Windsor Locks, Conn., and the firm of A. H. Andrews and Co., in Chicago, Ill., have an extensive manufactory, of which Mr. Dwight Holbrook is the superintendent at the present time. The goods are also manufactured in New York and Boston.
In a great lawsuit in Chicago between the successors to the Holbrook School Apparatus Company and A. H. Andrews and Company, Judge Wilson decided that the word " Holbrook" was public property as applied to school apparatus, since it had been used so many years by so many firms. Thus from so small a beginning has grown an immense business that has ap- parently filled the pockets of every one connected with it more than the inventor of it, and again the old rule is exemplified that one furnishes the ideas and others turn them into money.
REV. ZEPHANIAH SWIFT HOLBROOK,
Son of Dwight Holbrook, was born in Berea, Ohio, September 16, 1847, is a descendant of Rev. Zephaniah Swift of Derby, Conn., and the grandson of Josiah Holbrook the educator. At the age of sixteen he went to Chicago and engaged in busi- ness life, where, while thus pursuing his work at the age of nineteen, he united with the church, and two years after closed his business relations to study for the ministry, although he had risen to a partnership in one of the largest firms in Chicago. After spending two years at Beloit College he went to Yale, and studied in the college and seminary five years, when he accepted a call to the Oakland church in Chicago. After two years of successful work in this church he resigned his pastoral position, and soon after, while on a visit east, accepted a call to the
564
HISTORY OF DERBY.
church at Methuen, Mass., where he was installed December 4, 1878.
FREDERICK HOLBROOK, second son of Dwight Holbrook, is a teacher in Wisconsin.
LEWIS HOTCHKISS
Was born in Derby in 1805, and worked at the same business as his brother Willis. In 1834 they came to Birmingham and engaged in church, factory and house building, and were the principal founders of the present Derby Building and Lumber Company. About the beginning of the Rebellion they ex- changed their stock in the Lumber Company for 2,600 acres of timbered land in Rathburn, New York. Operating this suc- cessfully they bought 300,000 acres, nearly all pine timber, in Canada. On this tract Lewis, who was the principal manager, erected two large saw-mills, one to run by steam, the other by water power, and for six years he conducted a lumber trade with the States, very extensively and profitably.
Lewis Hotchkiss, apart from this Canada enterprise, built, and ran on his own responsibility, a steamboat on Lake Georgian Bay. In 1871 he sold this adventure to good advantage, and also sold the land to Anson G. Phelps and Dodge, and re- turned to Derby and has continued since in business under the name of W. and L. Hotchkiss. Lewis Hotchkiss is a practi- cal, sound common-sense man, and with meagre opportunities in early life has worked his way under many disadvantages to an enviable position. Neither he nor his brother had, scarcely, the benefit of a common school education, yet they have suc- ceeded well in the business relations of life.
WILLIS HOTCHKISS,
Brother of Lewis, was born in New Haven, March 29, 1803, and came to Derby when three years of age, where he has since resided. His father was a carpenter and joiner, from whom he learned the same trade.
WILLIS HOTCHKISS
Was born in Derby April 25, 1788, a poor boy. He often said he " never went to school but one day in his life, and that was Saturday and the school didn't keep." He was a great stut-
Gres & Co. Buffalo. N.Y.
Willis Solchkif.
565
BIOGRAPHIES.
terer, which was to him an embarrassment all his life. Very eccentric in his way and quick at repartee, a large amount of his sayings, made more laughable by his stammering, are treas- ured up among the people of the town. When quite a young man he tried his hand at impromptu poetry. The subject of repairing or removing the meeting-house at Up Town was under discussion, and the building being an old, dilapidated structure, various opinions prevailed as to what should be done with it, while the pious Swift, then pastor, tried to calm the troubled waters as much as possible. At a meeting called for the pur- pose, after the subject of the meeting-house had been well discussed, Mr. Swift called on Mr. Hotchkiss for his opinion. After rising, it was minutes before he could speak a word, but finally said :
" We've got an old church without a steeple,
A good pastor and quarrelsome people."
" Them is my views," said he, and the poetic speech had a very good effect.
On a later occasion, when the same society had been troubled with frequent changes in the ministry, the good deacon, in meet- ing, moved that " we settle the Rev. Mr .-- as pastor over this church," which provoked some discussion, when Mr. Hotchkiss said he " would move an important amendment, that this-this minister be set-set-settled on-on-on horse-back."
Coming from New Haven one dark evening in a lumber wagon, he was stopped on the road by two highwaymen, one seizing his horse by the reins, the other accosted him : "Give us your money, or I'll knock h-1 out of you in two minutes." He replied : " All the money I had with me I left at the toll- gate, and if you think I have h-1 in me you may knock it out." This cool reply, in stammering language, disarmed the ruffians, who let him go without further hindrance.
On a certain occasion there was to be a great agricultural dinner given at New Haven; Capt. Thomas Vose of Derby, be- ing president of the society, invited several prominent men from his town, Mr. Hotchkiss being one of the number ; but he ex- cused himself by saying he could not talk. To which it was re- plied that he need not say anything, especially at the table, upon which he ventured to go. At the sumptuous dinner he
566
HISTORY OF DERBY.
succeeded well until the waiter came round asking : "What will you have, pudding or pie ?" To which he could not readily answer, as any word beginning with P was very difficult for him to speak, and by a significant wave of the hand he said to the waiter : "Go-go-go-on." Soon the waiter repeated the interrogation, to which he received the same reply : "Go-go -go on." Captain Vose, John L. Tomlinson and others being at the head of the table, desirous that all should be well served, the waiter inquired of Captain Vose, " What shall I do for that man at the foot of the table, he acts crazy." " Oh ! follow him up, you'll get something out of him." On the next round the waiter said with much emphasis : "Now sir, what will you have, pudding or pie ? " In a loud voice he stammered out, " B-b-both." As he had attracted the attention of the guests this created the greatest laugh of the entertainment.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.