USA > Connecticut > Litchfield County > A biographical history of the county of Litchfield, Connecticut: comprising biographical sketches of distinguished natives and residents of the county; together with complete lists of the judges of the county court, justices of the quorum, county commissioners, judges of probate, sheriffs, senators, &c. from the organization of the county to the present time > Part 26
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ALLEN, Pelatiah, a native of Windsor, was the first settler of Barkham- stead in 1746, and remained the only inhabitant for ten years-clearing and cultivating the land in summer and hunting in winter. When apprehensive of danger, he used to repair to a fortified post in the northern part of New Hartford. After the organization of the town, he was often a Representative and Magistrate.
AUSTIN. Aaron, colonel, a native of Suffield, but settled at New Hartford soon after the Revolution, (in which he was an officer,) and died there in 1829. For a long series of years, he was in public life ; i ) 1805, he received an hon - orary degree at Yale college, of which institution he was for fifteen years a member of the Corporation.
AVERILL. Chester, a native of Salisbury, died in that town in 1836, while Professor ot Chemistry in Union College.
BACON, Enaphroditus C., (son of Asa Bacon, Esq.,) was born in Litchfield, graduated at Yale college in 1833, and settled in his native town in the prac- tice of law He was twice a Representative, and in 1836 was a Delegate to the Whig National Convention. He was distinguished as a historian and an - tiquarian. Died at Seville, Spain, in 1844, aged 34. His brother Frederick, a gallant officer of the Navy, was lost off Cape Horn with the U. S. sloop sea- Gull, of the Exploring Expedition, in 1810, aged 24.
BACKUS. Azel, D. D., a native of Norwich and a graduate of Yale, was set - tled over the congregational church in Bethlem in 1791, and remained there until 1313, when he accepted a call to the Presidency of Hamilton college .--- Died in 1816, aged 51. His son, Dr. Frederick Backus of Rochester, N. Y., has been a member of the New York Senate.
BALDWIN, Ashbel, a native of Litchfield. was the first Episcopal minister ever ordained in the United States-August 1785. He was a rector in his na . tive town, and in Stratford. Died in Rochester, N. Y., in 1846, aged 89,
BALDWIN, Eli, emigrated from New .Milford to Ohio, and in 1336 was a candidate for Governor of that State-receiving 86,156 votes.
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BALDWIN, Jehiel, died in Washington June 1, 1831, in his 102d year.
BALDWIN. Augustus, General. a native of Goshen, emigrated to Hudsons. Ohio-subsequently settled in Franklin, and died there in 1833, while Presi. dent of the Massilon Bank, aged 50.
BARSTOW, Gamaliel H., a native of Sharon, settled in Broome county, N Y. and became State Senator, State Treasurer, and in 1831 was elected to Congress.
BATTELL, Joseph, was born in Milford in 1774-early removed with his parents to Woodbury and from thence to Torrington. At the early age of 18 he commenced the mercantile business in Norfolk, where he spent the remain- der of his life He became eminent for his wealth, liberality, enterprize and hospitality Besides being an officer and munificent patron ot various benevo- Jent societies and learned institutions, he was often a Representative, and was' member of the Convention which formed the Constitution of this State. He married Sarah, daughter of the Rev. A. R. Robbins, the first pastor of the con- gregational church in Norfolk. Mr. Battell died suddenly December 8, 1841 , 67,
BATTELL, Charles I., born in Torringford in 1789-graduated at Yule col- lege in 1808-and was recently Judge of the Circuit Court of Indiana. He is a resident of Evansville, Ind.
BEEBE, Ebenezer, (son of Colonel Bezaleel Beebe,) was born in Litchfield in 1772 ; he was a Major in the U S. Army in the last war with Great Britain, and was Inspector-General of the Northern Division. Died at Plattsburg, 1815.
BEECHER, Lyman. D. D. now President of Lane Seminary, was pastor of the first congregational church in Litchfield from 1810 to 1826-by far the most active and laborious part of his life. All of his sons became congregational cler. gymen, viz. William, Edward, D, D., George (died in 1843,) Henry Ward, Charles, Thomas K, and James. The daughters are, Catharine E. and Harriet. (well known authors,) Mary, and Isabella. Dr. Beecher was born in New Haven in 1775 ; his mother died during his infancy, and he was given to her sister, Mrs. Lot Benton of Guilford, who brought him up. The infant when received by Mrs Benton weighed only three and a half Ibs.
BEECHER, Philemon, General, born in Kent-emigrated to Ohio, became Speaker of the House, and in 1817 succeeded Colonel Kilbourne in Congress:
BEECHER, Luther Fitch, D. D. of Albany, is a native of Goshen.
BEERS, Seth P. born in Woodbury in 1781; was admitted to the bar in Litch- field in 1805 and has ever since resided in that town. He has been a senator and representative, clerk and speaker of the House, Commissioner of the School Fund for twenty-five years, and Fellow of Trinity college,
BELLAMY, Joseph, D. D. spent fifty years (his entire ministerial life,) in' Bethlem ; he was esteemed as one of the most learned and eloquent divines of his day. In 1750 he published True Religion Delineated-his works were is- sued in three volumes in 1811, a new edition of which was published in 1850. He kept for a long time a theological school. Settled 1740-died 1790, aged 71.
BENNETT, Milo L. Judge of the Supreme Court of Vermont, is a native of Sharon.
BINGHAM, Caleb, a well known author, compiler and publisher in Boston .. was born in Salisbury, and graduated at Dartmouth college. Died in 1817 .-- Nathan Towson, now Paymaster General of the Army, married his daughter.
BIRD, John, (son of the eminent Doct. Seth Bird,) was a native of Litchfield' and a graduate of Yale. He commenced the practice of law in his native town, but removed to Troy in 1794, and was there elected to the Legislature and to- Congress. His brilliant but eccentric career terminated in 1806, aged 38.
BIRDSEY, Victory, (son of E. Birdsey and grandson of Rev. Nathan Birdsey of Stratford, who died at the age of 104 years,) is a native of Cornwall and a
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graduate of Williams college ; settled in Pompey, Onondaga county , New York, and became a representative, member of the Constitutional convention, and in 1815 and 1841 was elected to congress
BISSELL, Alden, a native of Litchfield, settled in Meigs county, Ohio, and became Judge of the court of common pleas.
BOARDMAN, David S. a native and resident of New Milford, has been a representative, senator, and chief judge of the court of common pleas. His brother, Homer Boardman, who died in 1851, had been representative, senator and presidential elector.
BOOTH, Reuben, a native of Kent, settled in Danbury as a lawyer, rose to the rank of Lieutenant Governor of the State, and died in 1848.
BOSTWICK-long an honorable and conspicnous name in New Milford .- Colonels Elisha and Bushnell were officers of the Revolution, and afterwards well known in civil life ; Rev, Gideon was the first Episcopal minister in Great Barrington, Mass. Several others have been honored at home and abroad,
BRADLEY, William A. late Mayor of Washington City, D. C., and now Postmaster, was born in Litchfield in 1794.
BRINSMADE, Daniel N. (son of the Rev. Daniel Brinsmade, the first minis> ter of Washington,) graduated at Yale in 1772; lived and died in his native town. He was longer in public life than any other person who ever lived there. Died in 1826, aged 75. General Daniel B. Brinsmade is his son.
BUEL, John, from Lebanon, was a first settler and original proprietor of Litchfield in 1720-and there became a deacon, captain, representative and magistrate ; he died in 1740 aged 74. His wife, Mary Loomis, died in 1768 aged 90-having had 410 descendants, 336 of whom survived her.
BUEL, David Jr, of Troy, N. Y. is a native of Litchfield ; he has been First Judge of the Renselaer county court, member of the Constitutional convention of 1821, and is. now a Regent of the University.
BUSHNELL, Horace, D. D., the celebrated Hartford Divine, was born in Litchfield in 1802 ; graduated at Yale college in 1827 : and for the last twenty years has been pastor of the North congregational church in Hartford. He is selected to preach .the sermon at the CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION of Litch- field County, August 13th and 14th, 1851 : he has probably delivered more orations and discourses on anniversary occasions, than any other New England clergyman. The author hoped tc have obtained an extended sketch of his life.
BUTLER. David, D. D., born in Harwinton in 1763-was rector of St. Mi- chaer's church in Litchfield from 1794 to 1799-was afterwards rector of a church in Troy until his death, which occurred July 11, 1842, at the age of 80. Rev, Clement M. Butler, D D, now chaplain of the U. S. Senate, is his son.
BURNHAM, Oliver, born, lived and died in Cornwall. In youth he was a revolutionary soldier-in early manhood a practical Surveyor-and subsequent- ly for many years a Representative. Magistrate. and Judge of the County Court, He died in 1845.
BURRALL-of Canaan-one of the most distinguished names in the county.
CATLIN -- of Harwinton and Litchfield. Several of this family have been or are distinguished : among them, Jacob D. D. of New Marlborough, Mass .- Lynde, President of the Merchant's Bank in New York city -Putnam, of Mon- trose, Penn , (father of George the painter and historian of the aboriginees,) a Judge of the common pleas-George S. member of Congress, &c. from Windham county-Abijah, late senator, judge, comptroller, and now commissioner of the school fund-Julius of Hartford.
CHITTENDEN, Thomas. from Guilford, settled in Salisbury in 1750, and was a resident of that town for 24 years, during which time he was elected colonel of militia, representative, &c. In 1774 he emigrated to Vermont, and in 1778 was chosen Governor of that state, to which office he was re-elected
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tor 18 years. He died in 1797; his memoirs by the Hon. Daniel Chipman were published in 1850.
CHIPMAN, Lemuel, born in Salisbury in 1744-studied medicine and settled in Pawlet, Vt, represented the town in the legislature at 14 sessions, and was judge of the Rutland county court from 1789 to 1794. About the year 1800, he removed to Ontario county, New York, and was there chosen a mem- ber of the senate and judge of the county court. His brother, Darius, was a representative from Rutland, and state's attorney for 14 years,
CHILDS, Heman W. colonel, resided in Litehfield until 1830, when he re- moved to New York : he twice represented the city in the legislature, was collector of the city revenue, commissioner of streets and lamps, and manager of the American Institute. Died in 1851, aged 50.
CHAPIN, Graham H, a native of Salisbury and a graduate of Yale, was elec- ted to congress from the state of New York in 1835-died in 1342.
CHURCH, Samuel, I.L D., was born in Salisbury in 1785 -- graduated at Yale college in 1803, and settled in his native town as a lawyer He was represen- tative at six sessions, senator three years, judge of probate eleven years, on 1 member of the Constitutional convention. In 1832 he was appointed a Judge of the Superior Court and Supreme Court of Errors, and in 1847 he was elected Chief Justice. In 1845, he removed to Litchfield, his present residence. His son, Albert E. Church, is Professor of Mathematics at West Point.
CHURCH, Le.nan, of Canaan, brother of the preceding, one of the most eminent and successful lawyers in the county, died in 1849.
COLLIER, Thomas, a native of Boston, established the Litchfield Monitor in 1734-the first newspaper ever published in the county -which he continued for 20 years. He died at Binghamton, N. Y., about ten years since.
COLLIER, John A. son of the preceding, settled in Binghamton, where he still resides. He has been a member of the legislature, member of congress, comptroller of the state, presidential elector, &c. His brother, General James Collier of Steubenville, Ohio, was recently collector of the national customs for California. They are both natives of Litchfield.
DAVIES, Charles, LL. D., born in Washington-has been Professor at West Point, in the New York University, and in Trinity college. He is the author of fifteen or twenty volumes, several of which are mathematical works.
DEMING, Miner R., son of Stephen Deming. Esq. of Litchfield. was born in Sharon in 1910-removed to Cincinnati in 1836, and to St. Mary's, Illinois, in 1839. In 1842, he was elected brigadier general ; and was chiet commander of the State troops during the Mormon War. He was elected high sheriff of Han- cock county in 1844 ; died in 1845,
DUTTON, Mathew R. born in Watertown in 1783 : was Professor of Natural Philosophy and Mathematics in Yale college from 1842 until his death in 1825.
DUTTON, Henry, Professor of Law in Yale College, is a native of Plymouth. He has been a representative, senator. judge of the N. Haven county court, &c.
EDWARDS, Jonathan, D. D. President of Union college, studied divinity with Dr. Joseph Bellamy, was licensed to preach by the South consociation of Litchfield county, and was pastor of the church in Colebrook trom January 1796 to July 1799-and there wrote some of his most important works, Died 1801.
EMERSON, Ralph, D. D., now Professor at Andover, was pastor of a church in Norfolk for 12 y'rs. His son, Joseph, a now Professor in Belvit college, was born in that town.
FRANKLIN, John, colonel, an officer of the revolution, and afterwards con- spicuous in Wyoming. Pennsylvania, was a native of Canaan ; he was fre- quently a representative and judge in Pennsylvania, and in 1787 he was arrest- ed and imprisoned in Philadelphia on a charge of treason. He Was liberated on bail, which, by connivance of the authorities, was never required to be paid.
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FOOTE, Samuel A. a native of Watertoum, now a resident of Canandaigua, New York, and a Judge of the Supreme Court of that state. He formerly prac. ticed law in Albany and in New York city.
GALUSHA, Jonas, for 20 years a resident of Salisbury, emigrated to Vermont and was for nine years Governor of that State. Died 1834, aged 83.
GOLD. Thomas Ruggles, a native of Cornwall and a graduate of Yale, set- tled in Whitestown, New York, in 1809 was elected to congress, and was twice re-elected. Died in 1826.
GOULD, James, LL. D , a native of Branford and a graduale of Yale, settled in Litchfield, where he resided until his death in 1838. For about 40 years he was associated with Judge Reeve in conducting the Law School at that place. He was Judge of the supreme court, and author of a work on special pleading.
HITCHCOCK, Samuel J., LL. D , a native of Bethlem, and a graduate and tutor of Yale college, in which institution he was instructor of law until his death in 1845 ; he was mayor of the city of New Haven, judge of the county court, and commissioner of bankruptcy under the national bankrupt law.
HOLLEY-of Salisbury-one of the most talented families in the state.
HOLMES, Uriel, from Hartland, graduated at Yale in 1784, studied law in Litchfield, settled in that town and remained there until his death ; he was a representative, judge, and member of congress.
HINMAN .- This has long been one of the most respectable and prominent names in that part of the county embraced in the present town of Southbury. Southbury was incorporated in 1786, and was annexed to New Haven county in 1S06. Joel of the supreme court, and Royal R. late secretary of State, were born in this county-as were also a long list of officials who have borne the name during the last century. [See appendix ] They are all descendants of Edward Hinman, a sergeant in the life guard of Charles II. who came to this colony and died at Stratford in 1681.
HUNTINGTON, Jabez W, a native of Norwich and a graduate of Yale in 1806, was a resident of Litchfield for about 30 years-represented the town in the legislature and the county in congress ; and became a judge of the supreme court and senator in congress. Died in his native town in 1847.
HUDSON, David, a native of Goshen, emigrated to Ohio in 1800, and found- ed the town of Hudson.
JACKSON, William, D. D. a native of Cornwall and pastor of the congrega- tional churches ot Dorset and East Rupert, Vermont, for 46 years, died in 1845 aged 74. His epitaph says he was the ' founder of the first Education Society in the U. S, and was the first member of the corporation of Middlebury college.'
JANES, Edmund, D. D. one of the present Methodist Episcopal Bishops of the United States, is a native of Salisbury.
JEWETT, Freeborn G. born in Sharon-settled in Onondaga county, New York, and has been surrogate, representative, member of congress, and is now Judge of the Court of Appeals.
JOHNSTON, Josiah S. a native of Salisbury, removed in 1759 with his pa- rents to Kentucky. He emigrated from thence to Louisiana, where in 1821 he was elected to congress-and in 1825 he was chosen United States Senator, On his return homeward from Washington city in the spring of 1833, he was in- stantly killed by the bursting of a steamboat boiler on the Ohio river, May 19. His father. Dr. John Johnston, died at Washington, Ky. October 25 1833.
JUDSON, Adoniram, born in Woodbury in 1751-graduated at Yale, and was pastor of the congregational churches in Malden, Wenham and Plymouth, Mass, until 1817, when he became a Baptist, resigned his charge, and died soon after. He was the father of the late Rev. Dr. Judson, of the Burman Mission.
LAWRENCE, James R. General, a native of Norfolk, but a resident of Syr- acuse, New York, was a member of the legislature in 1825 '38 '39 '40-Judge
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of the county court in 1847. and is now United States Attorney for the Northern District of New York. His brother, Grove, also of Syracuse, was First Judge of the county court for several years from 1838.
LYON, Mathew, colonel, a native of Ireland, came to this country in 1758 and was for several years a resident of this county. He emigrated to Vermont and was there elected to congress in 1797 and again in 1799; he soon after re- moved to Kentucky, and was sent to congress from that State from 1803 to 1811. His son, Chittenden Lyon, was in congress from Kentucky for eight years. Both of colonel Lyn.i's wives were natives ot this county, the first being a niece ot Ethan Allen, the second a daughter of Governor Chittenden.
LYMAN -- long an honored and honorable name in Goshen. The head of the family was Deacon Moses Lyman fiom Northampton who died in 1768, -his son, Colonel Moses Lyman, a brave officer of the revolution, died in 1829, aged 87.
LYMAN, Samuel, son of deacon Moses; born in Goshen Jan. 25, 1749, and graduated at Yale in 1770; settled in Springfield, Mass .- became a Judge of the supreme court, and in 1795 was elected to congress, and served in that body five years. Died in 1802.
LYMAN, Darius, son of colonel Moses, born in Goshen July 19, 1789, and graduated at Williams college in 1810-settled at Ravenna, Ohio, where he still resides. He has been much in public life, and in 1832 was a candidate for Gov- ernor of Ohio-receiving 63,185 votes, to 71,251 for Governor Lucas. Mr. Ly- man is now a member of the Ohio Senate.
MARVIN, Reynold, a native of Lyme and a graduate of Yale in 1748, was the first lawyer in Litchfield ard King's Attorney for the county. Died in 1802.
MONSON, Levinus, born in Canaan, graduated at Yale, and settled at Hu- bart, New York, hia present residence-he was formerly a judge of the county · court, and is now a judge of the supreme court.
MITCHELL, Elisha, D. D., a native of Washington and a graduate of Yale in 1813, is now Professor of Natural Philosophy in the University of North Car- olina -[See plate.
MERWIN, Orange, a native and resident of New Milford, was a member of congress four years commencing in 1825.
McNIEL, David, colonel, a native of Litchfield, settled in Phelps, New York, and became a Judge of the court of common pleas.
OWEN, John, a native of Salisbury, died in Chatauque county, New York, in 1843, aged 107,
OSBORN, Selleck, from Danbury, was editor of the Litchfield Witness in 1804 '5-and distinguished as a poet. During the war of 1812 he published a newspaper in Wilmington, Delaware. Died in Philadelphia in 1926.
PECK, John M., a native of Litchfield, a celebrated Baptist minister at Rock Spring, Illinois. He is so popular with the people, that the whigs of that state a few years since (about 1945,) nominated him for Governor.
PECK, William V., of Portsmouth, Ohio, and Judge of the circuit court of ti.at state, is a son of Litchfield parents, and was brought up from infancy to manhood in that town.
PEET, Harvey P., LL. D., a native of Bethilem, is now President of the New York Institution for the Deaf and Dumb.
PETTIBONE, Rufus, a native of Norfolk, and a graduate of Williams col- lege, settled in St. Louis and became judge of the supreme court of Missouri.
PORTER, Augustus, a native of Salisbury, was an early pioneer ot Western New York, where he became an extensive landholder, and a Judge. He died at Niagara Falls in 1850. Peter B. Porter, Jr, lato speaker of the New York House, and Augustus A. Porter, late senator in congress from Michigan, are his sons.
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PIERCE, John, colonel, a native of Litchfield, became Paymaster-General of the Army, and Commissioner for settling War Accounts-died in New York in 1788, He was brother of Miss Sarah Pierce, the founder of the Litchfield Fe- male Academy, who is still living.
PIERPONT, Robert, born in Litchfield in 1792-settled in Vermont, became lieutenant governor and is now a Judge of the supreme court.
REEVE, Tapping. LL. D., born at Brookhaven, L. I., and graduated at New Jersey college in 1763; settled at Litchfield and became chief justice of the State. He established the Litchfield Law School, the most celebrated in the Union, with which he was connected until his death in 1823. His first wife was a sister of the celebrated Aaron Burr, who spent several of his early years in the Judge's family, and was here when, on hearing of the battle of Lexington, he started for the scene of conflict and entered the army.
ROGERS, Edward. of Madison, New York, and a graduate of Williams col- lege in 1809, is a native of Cornwall ; he was elected to congress in 1839.
RIGGS, Dr. Lewis, a native of Norfolk, was elected to congress in 1841 from Western New York.
ROBBINS, Thomas, D. D. son of Rev. Ammi R. the first minister in Norfolk, was born in that town in 1777, and graduated at Yale in 1796 Having dis- charged the duties of a pastor for about fifty years, in 1845 he accepted the appointment of Librarian of the Connecticut Historical Society-a post which he still holds. He has the largest antiquarian library in the country ; and has published two orthree volumes. and fifteen sermons and addresses in pamphlet form. The degree of doctor of divinity was conferred on him at Harvard.
ROCKWELL-a distinguished name in Colebrook ; the Hon Julius, Speak- er of the Massachusetts Honse, and member of congress, was born in that town.
SANFORD, Edward [. now American Secretary of Legation to France, is a native of Woodbury.
ST. JOHN, Daniel B late member of congress from the state of New York. and now superintendend of the banking system, is a native of Sharon.
SEDGWICK-one of the most eminent names in the county. All who bear it among us, are descendants of Richard, a Major General in Cromwell's army. A branch of the family removed from West Hartford to Cornwall in 1749 .-- Theodore, I.L. D, (speaker of the National House and President of the Senate,) then a child of three years, was brought up in that town. A goodly number of the name have been ør are prominent men,
SHELDON, Daniel Jr, was born in Washington-died at Marseilles, France, in 1828, while secretary of legation to that country.
SKINNER. Roger, born in Litchfield in 1773 -- settled at Sandy Hill, New York, and became a Senator and United States District Judge.
SMITH, Perry, of New Milford, has been a representative, judge of probate and Senator in Congress.
SMITH, Truman, a native of Roxbury and resident of Litchfield, has been a representative, member of congress, and is now United States Senator,
STRONG, Theron R. a native of Salisbury, settled in Palmyra, New York, and was elected to congress in 1839, [Moses Strong, a native of the same town, settled in Rutland, Vermont, became chief judge of that county, and died in 1842, aged 70. Adonijalı and Martin were also prominent men.]
STERLING-Ansel of Sharon and Elisha of Salisbury-both sminent men in public and private life, are natives of Lyme,
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TALLMADGE, Benjamin, colonel, a distinguished officer of the conti . hental army, was born at Brookhaven, [. I., in 1754, and graduated at Yale in 1773. He entered the army in 1776, and was in several impor- tant battles. In 1784, he settled in Litchfield, and resided there until his death in 1835. He was a member of congress from 1800 to 1815.
TALLMADGE, Henry F. was born at Litchfield in 1787 ; he is now U. S. Marshal for the Southern District of New York. Benjamin, Jr., his brother, a Lieutenant in the Navy, died on board the United States frigate Brandywine, off Gibraltar, June 20, 1831, aged 36.
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