Robert Cleveland Usher,
Sr.
April 19, 1841 - April 30, 1922
Date of marriage, place of marriage and spouse name obtained at Plainville, CT Town Clerks Office on 20 September 1995.
In an article, "Commemorative Biographical Record of Hartford County, Connecticut," by J. H. Beers and Company 1901:
"HON. ROBERT CLEVELAND USHER, one of the
progressive citizens of Plainville, is a native of Connecticut, born April 19,
1841 in Plymouth, Litchfield County.
Dr. Robert Usher, his grandfather, born in New London,
Conn., practiced medicine in Westchester and vicinity. He was twice
wedded, and by his first wife had five children; by his second marriage to
Annie Cone, he had eleven children, Josiah C., father of Robert C., being the
youngest. Dr. Robert Usher was a surgeon in the Revolutionary army, and
his widow received a pension from the government. He was a son of
Hezekiah Usher, a sea captain, who lived in New London, Connecticut.
Josiah Cleveland Usher, father of Robert C., born in
August, 1802, in Chatham, Conn., in early life operated a tannery in Plymouth,
whither he removed in 1825, but impaired health obliged him to abandon that
occupation and take up farming, in which he engaged some forty years. In
1845 he removed to Plainville, where he practically passed the rest of his
days, dying, however, at New Britain, in April, 1893.
Originally an Abolitionist, he afterward became a
Republican. In religious faith he was a member of the Congregational
Church, and he always took much interest in church work. In September,
1828, Josiah C. Usher married Ruth Frisbie, daughter of Abel Frisbie, of
Bristol, Conn., and children as follows were born to them: Ruth Ann, wife of
Francis H. Smith, of New Britain, formerly of Plainville, and Robert
Cleveland, a sketch of whom immediately follows.
Robert C. Usher, the subject proper of these lines, was
four years old when his parents removed to Plainville, and there at the
district schools he received his education, at the age of seventeen years
commencing a one-year term at Williston Seminary, Easthampton, Mass.
Returning at the end of that time to Plainville, he spent two years on the
home farm, and then enlisted in the Union Army, an event in his life that will
presently be more fully mentioned. On his return from the front he
remained some four more years on the farm with his father, after which, in
December, 1869, he entered the employ of E. N. Pierce, as clerk in his coal
and lumber yards, continuing in that capacity until 1875, in which year he
became a partner of Mr. Pierce, under the firm name of E. N. Pierce & Co.,
said partnership existing until 1893, when our subject sold his interest to
Mr. Pierce. In August, 1891, Mr. Usher entered the Plainville
Manufacturing Co. as assistant to the secretary and treasurer, and also acted
as general superintendent for a number of years. He is also a director
of that company. He was one of the incorporators of the Plainville Water
Co. in 1885; was elected treasurer in 1891, which incumbency he still fills,
and is a director of same. Mr. Usher was one of the incorporators of the
Free Public Library at Plainville, and has been president of the same since
its organization.
Politically Mr. Usher is a staunch Republican, and has
served in various offices of responsibility. In the term of 1885 he
represented the town of Plainville in the State Legislature, during which
period he was a member of the committee on finance. From 1869, the year
in which the town was formed, to 1893, when he declined further re-nomination
on account of business pressure, he served as town clerk; for many years has
been assessor of the town; and for the past six years has served as school
visitor. Socially he is affiliated with Newton L. Manross Post, G.A.R.,
of Forestville. In church relations he and his family are
Congregationalists; and he has been trustee of the church and chairman of the
society's committee several years each.
On June 15, 1870, Robert C. Usher was married to Antoinette Cora
Pierce, daughter of Edward N. Pierce, a sketch of whom appears elsewhere, and
children as follows were born to them: Jesse Henrietta married Dec.26, 1895,
Charles Rockwell Clark, of Plainville, and they have one son, Pierce Usher
Clark; Maude Pierce is at home; James Edward who graduated from the Plainville
high school, and attended the Philadelphia Textile School one year, is
associated with his father in the Plainville Manufacturing Co.; Frank Pierce,
a graduate of the Plainville high school, is also associated with his father
in Plainville Manufacturing Co.; Robert Cleveland, Jr., graduated from the
Plainville High School, and is now attending the University of Maine at Orono,
Maine. (Note by Howard Cooke Usher, Jr., there was no high school in
Plainville until 1927. They must have attended high school at either New
Britain or Bristol.) Howard Josiah, the youngest son, is attending the New
Britain high school.
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From an article in "The Hartford Daily Times" Monday May 1, 1922:
Robert C. Usher Passes Away In Eighty-First
Year .
Grand Army Veteran Prominent in Plainville
Civic and Business Life for Long Period
Special to the Plainville Times May 1.
Four score and one years of a busy life, filled with honors
and self sacrifice, closed when Robert Cleveland Usher passed to his final
rest, at 12:30, on Sunday afternoon, at his home on Farmington Avenue.
Mr. Usher was born in Plymouth, Conn., April 19, 1841,
coming to Plainville at the age of four years, and until within a week of the
end he kept full pace with the thought and life of this community and with his
duties, as town clerk.
Mr. Usher was the grandson of Dr. Robert Usher, a surgeon
in the Revolutionary army, and the son of Josiah Cleveland and Ruth Frisbee
Usher. He was educated in the local schools and studied a year at Williston
Seminary, in Easthampton, Mass.
On August 27, 1862, Mr. Usher enlisted in the Union army as
a musician in Company E, 20th Connecticut Volunteer Infantry, serving later as
orderly, advanced to the grade of Sergeant-Major and eventually commissioned a
1st Lieutenant by Governor William A. Buckingham. He served in the
Chancellorsville and Gettysburg campaigns, in the west, under General Joseph
Hooker and was with Sherman in the "March to the Sea." He was
mustered out June 27, 1865.
Returning to Plainville, Mr. Usher worked with his father
on the farm until the winter of 1869 when he entered the employ of his
father-in-law, Edward N. Pierce, engaged in the lumber and coal business, and
in 1875 was admitted to a partnership, the firm then becoming E. N. Pierce Co.
In 1883 this business was leased to Mr. Usher and Pearl S. Tinker, who
continued until 1887 under the firm name of Usher & Tinker.
In August, 1891, Mr. Usher became assistant secretary,
treasurer and general manager of the Plainville Manufacturing company and for
many years served as a director of this corporation. He was one of the
incorporators of the Plainville Water company, organized in 1884, and served
that company as treasurer and director.
Mr. Usher was one of the organizers of the original
Plainville Library association in 1885 and at the reorganization in 1894, he
became a director of the Plainville Public library. He was secretary and
treasurer of the Plainville Cemetery association, organized in 1888, and an
incorporator of the Plainville Cemetery association, Inc., in 1909 since which
time he has served practically continuously, as secretary and treasurer.
Mr. Usher was a member of the Congregational church of Plainville, a member of
Newton S. Manross post, No. 57, G. A. R., serving this organization at various
times as chaplain and commander and a member of Frederick lodge, No. 14, A. F.
& A. M.
While Mr. Usher twice represented the town of Plainville in
the general assembly, his most enduring monument will be found in his work as
town clerk which began with the incorporation of the town in 1869 and has
continued almost uninterruptedly until his death. He was appointed clerk of
Plainville's first town meeting, elected to the office July 26, 1869, and
again at the first annual town meeting, held on October 4 of that year and
annually thereafter until 1893 when due to business engagements he refused a
re-election. Soon again he accepted this office, to which the major part of
his life has been given.
Mr. Usher is survived by his wife, who was Antoinette C.
Pierce, to whom he was married, June 15, 1870; by two daughters, Mrs. Charles
R. Clark and Mrs. John H. Trumbull; by three sons, James E., Frank P. and
Howard J. Usher and by eleven grandchildren.
Prayer will be offered at his late home Tuesday at 2 and
services will be held at the Congregational church at 2:30 (daylight saving
time); burial in West cemetery.
Article with picture from unknown newspaper
and unknown date (possibly from New Britain Herald, (dated May 1922):
ROBERT CLEVELAND USHER
The funeral of Robert Cleveland Usher, former town clerk, was held at 2:30
o'clock this afternoon from the residence on Farmington Avenue. Rev. Charles
S. Wyckoff, pastor of the Congregational church officiated and interment was
in the West Cemetery.
The pall bearers were: Selectman William J. Johnson, Henry
Trumbull, Meritt O. Ryder, Harry A. Castle, A. A. McLeod and Donald Benjamin.
The honorary bearers were: Commander J. F. Douglas of the Newton S. Manross
Post of the G. A. R.; Charles H. Calor, W. J. Hemingway, A. N. Clark; Alfred
McLean and D. Stanley.
The members of Brock-Barnes post, American Legion, under
Commander John Guiden, attend the funeral in a body, attired in full uniform
in respect to the Civil War veteran. The legion body met the funeral cortege
at the Congregational church and escorted it to the cemetery where taps was
sounded by Buglers Merton J. Lamb and William Buys.
The flags in the town were all at half mast today and the
stores closed their doors at 2:30 and re-opened at 3:30 o'clock.
From the New Britain Herald, Thursday, July
27, 1922. (with picture):
HONOR MEMORY OF ROBERT C. USHER
Picture of Late Town Clerk Will Hang in Office
A resolution, covering the activities of the late Robert
Cleveland Usher, town clerk of Plainville, was read and passed at the special
town meeting held last night. The resolution was read amid a silence unbroken
until the last lines of the document were finished and many of the older
residents in attendance were deeply moved by the honor bestowed upon the late
town clerk.
The selectmen will procure a large picture of Mr. Usher
which will be hung in the town clerk's office. Other business was also
transacted at the meeting. The selectmen were authorized to borrow money for
the widening of Whiting Street and to sell the town property at the Ensign
tracts.
The Robert C. Usher resolution passed is as follows:
Usher Resolution.
"Whereas Robert Cleveland Usher, town clerk for the
Town of Plainville, departed this earthly life, April 30, 1922, now therefore;
"Be it resolved; that the citizens of Plainville in
town meeting assembled, receive the sad intelligence with emotions of sincere
and abiding grief.
"Resolved; that, in this dispensation of divine
Providence, we mourn the loss of an exceptional citizen and public servant,
whose separate qualities and attainments, while often appearing in
individuals, are rarely found united in one man.
"Resolved; that in his patriotism, as evidenced at the
great crisis of the Civil war, by enlistment in the twentieth regiment,
Connecticut Volunteer Infantry, August 14, 1862; wherein he was mustered into
service as a musician in E company, September 8, 1862; advanced to a sergeant
major, September 2, 1863 and mustered out, June 13, 1865; we hold great
remembrance.
"Resolved; that his industry in behalf of the Town of
Plainville; as town clerk, from the organization of the town, August 2, 1869,
to October 3, 1892 - and again from October 3, 1904, until the day of his
death.
"As a member of the board of assessors from 1882 until
1893; as a member of our school committee from 1892 until 1900.
"As founder, director and vice-president of the
Plainville Library association from its organization, February 14,1885, until
the organization of the Plainville Free Public library, October 8, 1894; and
as director and president of the said Free Library until, November 3, 1911.
"As founder, secretary and treasurer of the Plainville
Cemetery association from June 26, 1888, until April 17, 1893; and again from
March...(remainder of article missing)
Article from unknown newspaper with unknown
date:
NEW PICTURE FINISHED
The new life size picture of the late Robert Cleveland Usher, former town
clerk for Plainville which was ordered by the selectman, has been hung in the
town clerk's office. The picture measures about three feet square and is an
excellent likeness of the veteran town clerk.