Encyclopedia of Connecticut biography, genealogical-memorial ...

in the city of Hartford, that founded in
1824 by Robert Buell, and at the time
owned by Franklin Clark. He rapidly
became one of the most valued employees
in the establishment, and on the retirement
of Franklin Clark, in 1878, Mr.
Brockway, in partnership with J. H. W.
Wenk, continued the business under the
firm name of Wenk & Brockway. After
a period of eight years of successful bus-
iness, Mr. Brockway became sole owner,
and from that time until his death con-
ducted it under the name of U. H. Brockway
& Company. The business was in
every way a success, and under the management
of Mr. Brockway became one of
the most important commercial enter-
prises of its kind in Hartford.
As the leading figure in a large indus-
try in the city of Hartford, Mr. Brockway
was well known by the people. He
was universally admired and respected for
the honesty of his business dealings. He
was deeply interested in the political af-
fairs of the city, through motives of a
purely disinterested nature. He was in
no way an office seeker. However, he
was admirably fitted for public service by
reason of his keen business perception,
his strict integrity, and he was often
sought for official posts. In 1883 he was
elected to the City Council from the old
First Ward, and in 1884-85 was returned
to office by a large majority. In 1886 he
was elected alderman from the First
Ward, and served in that capacity for
four terms. In 1896 Mr. Brockway was
appointed by Mayor Stiles B. Preston a
member of the water commission, on
which he served for six consecutive years.
He was greatly interested in the cause of
education, and because of his interest in
the work of furthering educational opportunities
in the city of Hartford he was
elected a member of the committee of
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
200
the Second North School District, on
which he served for a number of years,
rendering services of a very valuable
nature. He was especially interested in
the Henry Barnard School of the Second
North School District and did much to
better conditions there. Mr. Brockway
was a member of the Farmington Avenue
Congregational Church, and during the
long period of his membership devoted
much of his time to its work, and gave
liberally, but' without ostentation, to its
philanthropies.
Mr. Brockway married, on November
17, 1880, Harriet Elizabeth Norton,
daughter of Seth Porter and Elizabeth
Esther (Wilcox) Norton, members of the
old Norton family of Collinsville, Con-
necticut. (See Norton VI). Mrs. Brockway
survives her husband and resides at
No. 136 Sigourney street, Hartford, Con-
necticut. They were the parents of the
following children: 1. Elizabeth Norton,
born February 12, 1882, died November
9, 1907; she was a graduate of Hartford
High School in the class of 1899; a grad-
uate of Smith College, in 1902
; secretary
of the Second North School ; member of
the Smith College Club, and of the
Daughters of the American Revolution.
2. Ulysses Hayden, Jr., was born July
19, 1890; in January, 1907, he entered
Yale University, and was graduated from
that institution in 191 1, with the degree
of Bachelor of Arts ; during his freshman
year at Yale he was a member of the
Apollo Glee Club, retaining his member-
ship for three years ; for a like period he
sang in the college choir ; he is a mem-
ber of the Delta Kappa Upsilon frater-
nity, the University Club, the Hartford
Golf Club, and numerous other societies
after his graduation from Yale University,
Mr. Brockway entered the employ
of the Travellers' Insurance Company of
;