Encyclopedia of Connecticut biography, genealogical-memorial ...

wide circle of personal friends, a circle much
wider than some who knew him only slightly
were aware; he was respected by everyone
who knew the name of Cheney—and he had
made that name known to very many who had
missed the privilege of his personal acquaint-
ance. His qualities alike of head and heart
fitted him for the leadership which he never
sought, but which invariably came to him when
things were to be done. No name in his State
carried greater weight than his, because everybody
knew that back of it were sound judgment,
unselfish purpose and high personal character.
For years he was head of the famous Cheney
Brothers silk manufacturing concern, and under
his skillful management it has grown to be
one of the great industries of the country. For
seven eventful years he was a director of the
New York, New Haven and Hartford road; he
was a director in various other companies, as
many as he would consent to serve, and he was
constantly called on for advice and assistance
by individuals. As a friend said last night:
"Everybody leaned on him." At seventy-six
the burden of these cares proved suddenly too
heavy, and his long and useful life has ended.
* * * He was a man of few words, and
some people who only met him casually
thought he was somewhat curt. The fact was
that though his words were few they covered
the situation. He had the singular gift of saying
briefly all that was to be said, but what he
said always rang true; and no man ever lived
who possessed more fully the sweet gifts of
sympathy and gentleness, and none was ever
moved by a kindlier desire to help his fellowman.
* * * Of the sweet and hospitable
life of the Cheney home, a newspaper editorial
is not the place to speak; but the many who
have been privileged to enjoy it will always
cherish the recollection of it as a most delight-
ful part of the sunshine of their lives.
Colonel Cheney married, November 3,
1863, at Hartford, Mary Bushnell, born
at Hartford, September 25, 1840, daughter
of the Rev. Dr. Horace Bushnell, an
eminent prelate of notable Hartford rec-
ord, and descendant of an early Colonial
pioneer. Francis Bushnell, who was the
third signer of the Guilford, Connecti-
cut covenant in 1639. To Colonel
Frank Woodbridge and Mary (Bushnell)
Chenev were born the following children
:
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
294
Emily, Charles, Horace Bushnell, John
and Howell, twins; Seth Leslie, Ward,
Austin, Frank Dexter, Marjory, Dorothy,
twin of Marjory; and Ruth. The lives
of some of these children are elsewhere
reviewed in this work. Ward Cheney,
the seventh child, was a graduate of Yale
University, class of 1896, and at the out-
break of the Spanish War volunteered
and enlisted in Company G, First Regiment,
Connecticut Volunteers. Later he
received a commission and went with his
regiment to the Philippines, where he was
killed, January 7, 1900, in an engagement
with insurgent natives at Imus.
CHENEY, Knight Dexter
Silk Manufacturer.
The late Knight Dexter Cheney, presi-
dent for many years of the Cheney Broth-
ers' Silk Manufacturing Company, the
product of which is known throughout
the whole of America, was an esteemed
resident of South Manchester, Connecti-
cut, and valued throughout the State as
one of the most substantial citizens of
those who led in manufacturing activi-
ties. He gave to it the whole of his years
of business, years which were well occupied
in the direction of affairs of magni-
tude. He was born in Mount Pleasant,
Ohio, October 9, 1837, and died at his
summer home at York Harbor, Maine,
August 13, 1907. His parents were
Charles and Waitstill Dexter (Shaw)
Cheney, and his descent connects with
many Colonial New England families.
WT
hen Knight Dexter Cheney was nine
years old, his parents gave up their Ohio
farm, upon which possibly Charles Cheney
had thought of planting mulberry trees,
upon the leaves of which the silk worm
best thrives, and the remainder of his
life was spent mainly in South Manchester
and Hartford. As a boy and youth