PROMINENT CONNECTICUT TOBACCO FARMER AND BUSINESSMAN:

PROMINENT CONNECTICUT TOBACCO FARMER AND BUSINESSMAN:

WILLIAM KILBOURNE ACKLEY

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William Kilbourne Ackley was the father of my maternal grandfather, Frederick Roberts Ackley. Within the family, he is something of an enigma, as he died in 1923, before any of those still living today were born. Other than some photographs, taken at various stages of his life, all that remains to give us a glimpse into the life of William Kilbourne Ackley is an article that appeared in what seems to be a commemorative publication outlining prominent Connecticut businessmen, put together on the occasion of the dedication of a new bridge across the Connecticut River. The article first details his background and an early career in the railroad:

"Prominent among East Hartford's business men is William K. Ackley, who was born in East Hartford March 6, 1868, and the only son of the late Elijah Ackley. Mr. Ackley attended the district schools, the Hartford public high school and Hannum's business college. In 1899 he accepted a clerkship with the New York and New England Railroad Co., at the East Hartford freight transfer station, and rapidly advanced to the chief clerkship. In 1891 he became assistant cashier of the New York, New Haven and Hartford Rail Road freight station at Hartford, later a timekeeper for the Russell Manufacturing Co. of Middletown, Conn., but having a preference for the railroad he again returned in 1892 to the East Hartford freight station, having full charge of all the freight and passenger departments. He also had various positions offered him in the general offices of the Boston and Albany Railroad Co., at Boston, Mass, the New Haven Steamboat Co. at Hartford.”

Although it would seem he enjoyed railroad life, William apparently saw the need for a more stable situation for his future family, so he returned to Connecticut to manage his father's shade-grown tobacco farm in East Hartford just prior to his April 26, 1893 marriage to my great-grandmother, Helen Maria Roberts. The article goes on to describe this career change:

“In February 1893, he gave up railroad life, although the agency of several stations, including East Hartford, was offered to him by the New York and New England Railroad Co., to become manager of his father's farm, developing it so that now he is one of the larger tobacco growers in the North School District. With his farm work, he has built up a large and successful farm implement and fertilizer business, and represents many of the largest implement manufacturers of America. His business ability and knowledge of implements was recognized, so that he soon received the appointment as a regular transfer agent by the International Harvester Co. of America of Chicago, Ill, to transfer and distribute their full lines of machines and repairs for a large and important section of New England.”

The marriage of William and Helen created an interesting genealogy situation in my family, since it turns out they were actually distantly related to each other (fourth cousins). Since they both came from families that migrated to the New World very early on, settling in the same small area of Connecticut (East Hartford) nearly 400 years ago, it is not too surprising that their family lines would have intermingled at some point. In this case, the major confluence that caused William and Helen to be fourth cousins (undoubtedly unbeknownst to them) was the 1739 marriage of Jerusha Pratt and Benjamin Roberts. Sarah Roberts (daughter of Jerusha and Benjamin) eventually became the great-great-grandmother of Helen, whereas George Roberts (son of Jerusha and Benjamin, brother of Sarah) eventually became the great-great-grandfather of William. The impact of this genealogy situation for descendants of William and Helen is that we share some interesting cousin relationships (for instance, those in my generation of those descendants are each seventh cousins to ourselves!).

In any case, the marriage of William and Helen produced four children between the years of 1894 and 1906 -- Miriam, Mary, Frances, and my grandfather, Frederick. As well as being a successful farmer and businessman, William also was concerned about civic and political issues. The above-mentioned article details his associations in these areas:

“Politically, [William K. Ackley] is identified with the Republican Party, and is treasurer of the East Hartford businessmen's association, treasurer and director of the Hartford county tobacco growers' protective association, and has been treasurer for several years of the North School District. He is a member of the First Congregational church, and served as its assistant treasurer for many years, and was also clerk for the First Ecclesiastical society. Fraternally, he is a member of Orient Lodge, No. 62, F. & A.M., Pythagoras Chapter, No. 17, R.A.M., Wolcott council, No. 1, R. & S.M., Washington Commandery, No. 1, K.T. Sphinx Temple of Hartford, Bigelow Chapter, No. 33, O.E.S., State and National Grange.”

William Kilbourne Ackley died on October 21, 1923. His wife of thirty years, Helen Maria Roberts Ackley, went on to live for almost thirty years more, and enjoyed a close relationship with several of her grandchildren. Despite this fact, however, she apparently very rarely spoke of William to any family members. Unfortunately, this has caused the memory of William Kilbourne Ackley to fade into the shadows for the most part. An exception to this is a remembrance written by his daughter, Frances Howland Ackley, in 1986, on the occasion of the 350th anniversary of Hartford, Connecticut:

"MY OWN FAVORITE PERSONAL MEMORY OF OLDE HARTFORD TOWNE

One of the happiest memories of my childhood was the day, October 6, 1908, when my Mother and Father took me to the Dedication of the Bulkeley Bridge. We took the trolley from our home in the north end of East Hartford to the east side of the Bridge. It was a hot Fall day and my Father carried me, age 6, on his shoulders across the Bridge. My Mother and I stopped at the Red Cross Unit to watch the parade. I was thrilled when I saw my Father in full dress uniform including a hat with two large ostrich plumes, one white and one black, which went from his forehead to the back of his head. He was a member of the Knights Templar Organization of the Masons and as he was a big man, he was selected to carry the flag which was very heavy. There were several nurses on duty who could render first aid should it be necessary. It was very crowded with vendors selling flags and souvenirs and, of course, marching bands and several horse-drawn carriages occupied by City Officials and one with Mr. Morgan Bulkeley and possibly his Secretary, Mrs. Ella F. Burr who, incidentally, was a cousin of mine. It was quite a long day for me but I revived when my Father treated us to ice cream and cookies."

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