Jacob Arbus - Tenant Farmer To Merchant

Jacob Arbus story is that of an Austrian immigrant coming to Vernon in the late 1800's as a farmer off Bolton Road. Once settled in town and having saved enough money he was able to establish himself as a successful merchant in Rockville. Many immigrants probably took similar routes to citizenship and success, but Arbus came to our attention during our Valley Falls research.

Valley Falls Farm Owners

Valley Falls Farm about 1912 as it might
have looked to young Jacom Arbus.

Anson Lyman acquired about 150 acres of land for the Valley Falls Farm from 1840 to 1870. It was Lyman who built and lived in the farmhouse that is still on Valley Falls Road.

A few years after Lyman died Christian Sharps bought the property for his trout hatchery and owned the 150 acres and farm from 1870 to 1874.

Sharps died suddenly and the property went on the market again to be bought by Dr. Stuart Gwynne of New York City. Gwynne and his wife owned the farm from about 1876 to 1898, but they would not live in Vernon until about 1889, 13 years after they purchased the property. It was not unusual for absentee owners to rent their farm or hire tenants to operate it for them.

We believe that the Gwynne's hired Arbus to manage the farm for them, probably in exchange for housing and food.

Jacob Arbus Story

Jacob Arbus (1847-1923) was born in 1847 in Leskau, Austria, the son of a furrier. He came to America in 1871 at age 24 beginning his life here in New York City. He married his wife Johanna Wehle (1847-1898), from Baden-Württemberg, Germany in 1872 and they quickly had two daughters. In 1874, at the age of 27, they come to Vernon, where they will have four additional daughters and one son.

Rockville was booming at this time with many successful mills and wealthy owners. Jacob likely saw an opportunity here to use the trade he learned as a boy to create a better life for himself and his family. While still farming he began his furrier business as a sideline and, in 1886 at age 39, opens a store in the Maxwell (Dowling Block) on Union Street in Rockville. This was about the time that the Gwynnes moved to Vernon.

Life In Rockville

1895 Rockville map detail.

In 1894 he built the frame Arbus Block at 74 Union Street and relocated both his business and residence there. It is a two story, 40 x 45 foot buildng, with two stores on the ground floor, one of which he occupied for his business. The building is still there with two businesses on the first floor and apartments on the second.

Arbus dealt in furs of all kinds selling men's hats, capes and gloves. He also did repairs and was both a dealer and manufacturer. During busy seasons he employed three men.

In 1914 he reorganized as Jacob Arbus, Incorporated; the company capitalizing at $8,000. The co-owners were his wife and son.

In 1917 during World War I he filled out a required Military Census. At the time he was 70 years of age and listed 72 Union Street as his address. He was 5' 8" and 200 pounds and indicates he was a widower.

In 1919 Jacob retires, selling his business to local resident Wiliam Poehnert. His address in the 1920 census is 74 Miron Avenue in Rockville.

Jacob was in business for 45 years and the leading furrier in Tolland County drawing trade from Hartford and other distant places. For five years he also had a location in New York City.

Arbus Block today.

Arbus Block in 1895.

Rockville had a large German population at this time and he was a member of the Knights of Pythias and the German Singing Society. He lived only a block from Turn Hall and likely visited frequently.

Jacob embraced the new automobile of the early nineteenth century, but this led to a number of driving incidents. In 1905 driving in Tolland he frightened a horse which resulted in its crushing its owner under a wagon axle. The owner received severe damage to his face and wasn't expected to survive.

He and his wife Ida had six daughters and one son as well as four grandchildren. His children all located outside Connecticut????? In 1908 the family faced personal tragedy when their 26 year old daughter Laura drowned herself in the Connecticut River in Springfield, MA. She had been depressed for some time due to poor health and lack of work. She left her sister a letter while on her way to the river.

Jacob died in December 19, 1923 at the age of 76 after an illness of several months. He is buried in Grove Hill Cemetery with his wife Johanna and six of his daughters. Two daughters lived until 1970.

Jacob's Three Wives

Jacob was married three times - to Johanna Wehle in 1872 at age 25, to Amanda Koenig Schneider in 1894 at 47, and to Ida Klee Meyers about 1912 at 65.

His first wife Johanna came to New York City from Baden-Württemberg, Germany where she married Jacob. She was the mother of his 7 children coming with him to Vernon, where she shared the farming at Valley Falls while Jacob was getting settled and establishing his business as a furrier. Johanna came with him to Rockville but around 1890 something happened that led to a divorce. Johanna died in 1898 and was the first to be buried in the Arbus plot at Grove Hill Cemetery. We don't know the reason for the divorce, but perhaps they remained on good terms for the children.

Arbus family plot in Grove Hill Cemetery.

Jacob next married Amanda Koenig Schneider (1862-1916) in 1894, a few years before Johanna died. Amanda was 15 years younger than Jacob, been previously married and had two sons. She apparently had her own money as she is involved with some property transfers with her Koenig relatives. During the period they were married Jacob was very involved with his business taking part in city merchant and German organizations. About 1912 they apparently divorced and Amanda went to live with a son in Rocky Hill. She dies there in 1916 of apoplexy, probably a stroke, at age 54. Her property was valued at $9,000. She is buried as Amanda Koenig Schneider in Hartford's Spring Grove Cemetery with her first husband Herman, who died in 1885 at the age of 27.

Jacob then takes a third wife, Ida Klee Meyers (1863-1956). When Jacob incorporates his business in Sep. 1914 Ivy (sic) Arbus is one of the incorporators. But in the 1920 census she is listed as Ida Meyers, his housekeeper. Jacob dies in 1923 and Ida lives on until 1956 with her last 20 years spent in East Hartford with her daughter. She too is buried at Grove Hill with Jacob.

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Jacob's Trials With His Automobiles

In August 1908 he has an auto accident near the American Mill almost going into the mill pond.

In July 1916 Jacob's car was involved in an accident in Cromwell when traveling at high speed it hit a women getting off a trolley. It was driven by his chauffeur who had a car full of men. The chauffeur took her to the hospital while the rest of the men fled. The driver, Edward Plasikowski of Hartford, sued Arbus claiming the car was unsafe, the brakes were defective and that Arbus knew it. Arbus was supposedly in the car at the time of the accident. The judge held that as EP knew of the defect he should not have driven the car and so was responsible. The case was appealed to the Connecticut Supreme Court and in March 1918 rejected.

How Do We Know Jacob Farmed Valley Falls Farm?

The following three photos show how little the house has changed over the years. The major change is landscaping. Originally the house sat open and prominent at the top of the hill overlooking the valley to the West. When built in 1850 there were likely few trees to limit Israel's view or his neighbors view of the house Israel would have taken pride in.

Sources

1853 E. M. Woodford Vernon Map published by Richard Clark. This is the first detail map of Vernon and includes houses, businesses and owners.

1869 O.W. Gray Atlas of Windham & Tolland Counties. Colored maps of each town including Vernon and Rockville. Includes houses, businesses and names.

1903 "The Kelloggs In The Old World And The New, Vol. I" by Timothy Hopkins, 1903. Available online.

1963 Union Congregational Church of Christ's "75th Anniversary Celebration - 1888-1963" booklet.

1982 "Historic Resources Inventory - Clarence/Israel Kellogg House, 62 Union Street, Vernon/Rockville" by the Vernon Historical Society, compiled by A. Ardis Abboott - March 1982.

2019 Journal Inquirer article, August 8, 2019, page 1. "Town looks to expand parking at library."