Encyclopedia of Connecticut biography, genealogical-memorial ...

tion, with talented assistance from visit-
ing children of former years both at
Washington and at his Buena Vista playgrounds
at West Hartford, he has organized
Woodcraft lodges and turned much
of the hearty enthusiasm to systematic
nature study and child development.
That he is a true lover of nature, as well
as of children, and that he carries within
him the inspiration of the poet, will be
obvious from a brief reading of some of
his poems contained in a little volume he
produced, entitled "Wild Flower Poems,"
which poetry stamps him as a man of
versatile genius, and pure sentiment, and
shows that his true nature has been un-
spoiled by the hardening influences of
money, nor embittered by the buffetings
encountered during a life-long struggle
in a hard world.
WEAVER, Thomas Snell,
Journalist, Superintendent of Hartford
Schools.
In connection with the administration
of Hartford's schools, Thomas Snell
Weaver, as superintendent of the city
school system, is considered far more in
the light of a Hartford institution than
as a municipal office-holder. The two
decades of his association with educa-
tional work in Hartford comprise a record
of constant improvement in school equipment
and personnel until the city ranks
high among New England's highly rated
municipal school systems. In a position
of exacting responsibility, where his
activity is under the close scrutiny of
every citizen of Hartford, Mr. Weaver
has done his work efficiently and well,
and a higher tribute to him, personally
and officially, than his wide circle of
friends in the city and State, many of
whom received their diplomas from his
hand, could not be found. By them the
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
370
following account of his life and work
will be read with real interest.
Thomas Snell Weaver was born in
Willimantic, Connecticut, February 5,
1845, son of William Lawton and Lois
(Snell) Weaver, and grandson of Davis
and Sally (Lawton) Weaver. His mother,
Lois (Snell) Weaver, was a daughter of
Joseph and Hannah (Chaffee) Snell, her
father of the second generation from
Joseph Snell, of Union, Connecticut, who
held the rank of captain in the Colonial
army in the War of the Revolution.
Davis Weaver, his grandfather, was born
in Richmond, Rhode Island, in 1775, died
aged eighty-nine years, nine months. He
was a skillful maker of baskets, and
Thomas Snell Weaver, accompanying
him on long tramps through the woods,
cutting timber and seeking basket making
material, gained a love of nature and a
store of her lore that has remained with
him through the years.
Mr. Weaver attended the Old Stone
school-house in Willimantic, and when
thirteen years of age began to learn the
printer's trade in the office of the Willi-
mantic "Journal." For eight years he
was employed on this paper, his father
the editor for the greater part of that
time. For a short time Mr. Weaver
edited this newspaper, and in 1867 went
to Worcester, Massachusetts, spending
several years as a job printer before join-
ing the staff of the Worcester "Daily
Press," contributing local and paragraphic
work. In 1878 he assumed the position
of telegraph editor and paragraph writer
on the New Haven "Register," and was
connected with that paper for four years,
during which time he made a national
reputation for writing sentimental and
humorous paragraphs, being more widely
quoted by the newspaper press of the
country than any one in the business
with the exception of "Bob" Burdette.