Encyclopedia of Connecticut biography, genealogical-memorial ...

was obtained in the public schools \ of
Hartford, and after leaving school he was
apprenticed to the marble and stone cutting
trade. He was still quite a young
man when he sought to establish himself
independently in business as a sculpter
of monuments. Ill-health necessitated his
removal to East Hartford, in 1857, and
there, having purchased the old home-
stead of the family, he sought health in
the vigorous occupations of a farming
life, continuing thus engaged for the re-
mainder of his life. His wife was Sarah
M., daughter of Martin L. Rogers, of
Tolland, Massachusetts. Of four children
born to them, one died in infancy. The
other children were: Isadore, who mar-
ried Henry E. Risley, of East Hartford,
and died at the age of seventy ; Rollin,
who died about fifteen years of age ;
and
Charles Sidney, of whom further. Mr.
and Mrs. Sidney Hills were members of
the Congregational church, East Hart-
ford, and resided in the southeastern part
of the town, in the locality now desig-
nated Hilltown.
Their son, Charles Sidney Hills, re-
ceived all the education possible of ob-
tainment in the public schools of the
town, and then, for further commercial
training, entered the Brown's Business
College, Brooklyn, New York. In 1869
he became an employee of the firm of
Joseph Langdon & Company, which wellknown
business house was established
about one hundred years ago by Reuben
Langdon, and passed under the control
of Joseph Langdon in 1835. Within
twelve years of his first engagement under
the firm, Charles Sidney Hills was
admitted to partnership, though for some
years prior to that recognition he had
been active in the direction of the business.
In 1885, Mr. Hills and Mr. Cook
purchased Mr. Langdon's interest in the
firm, and thereafter expanded it steadily
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
105
and appreciably. The premises now occupied
by the firm of C. S. Hills & Company
cover the space originally occupied
by six stores, four on Main street and
two on Pratt street. When Mr. Hills
first entered the employ of the Langdon
Company, the business demanded the
labor of not more than twelve people ;
to-
day the staff numbers more than one
hundred and fifty persons, regularly employed,
and notwithstanding many temp-
tations to add other somewhat allied
lines, Mr. Hills has adhered strictly to
the dry goods business. Mr. Hills has ap-
plied himself closely to business for the
greater part of his life, but has found
time for some public duties. During the
years 1875 to 1880, he was a member of
the City Guard, and has since been a
member of the veteran organization. He
is a trustee of the Society for Savings
and until its dissolution was a director
of the Charter Oak National Bank. He
holds membership in the Hartford Club
and the Farmington Country Club.
On September 22, 1880, Mr. Hills married
Martha E., daughter of Benjamin
Harris, who was born in Jersey City, but
traced descent from a family of Canadian
origin. Mr. and Mrs. Hills have one child,
Annette, who married Frank A. Olds.
The Hills family attend the Asylum Avenue
Baptist Church, of which they are
members.
BISHOP, Fred L.,
Manufacturer.
The surname of Bishop is of very ancient
origin, being derived beyond doubt
from the office of that name, although
just how the title of a sacred office of the
Catholic church came to be used as a surname,
is lost in the obscurity of ancient
history. It has been suggested that it
must have been a personal name, or a