A modern history of Windham county, Connecticut : a Windham county treasure book, Volume II, Part 117

Author: Lincoln, Allen B
Publication date: 1920
Publisher: Chicago : S. J. Clarke publ. co.
Number of Pages: 960

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Mr. James has long given his political allegiance to the prohibition party, a fact indicative of the stand which he has always taken on the question of temperance. He belongs to Killingly Grange No. 112, with which he has been identified for nearly thirty years. He yet occupies the old home and has devoted his life to general farm- ing and to the raising of cattle and other live stock. The farm is now being conducted by his son Everell who acts as general manager and is a successful farmer, carefully managing his business affairs and readily discriminating between the essential and the non-essential in all business matters. He attended the Danielson school and was graduated from the Killingly high school. After this he took a two year course in the Connecticut Agricultural College, and later entered the dental department of Boston University. He was graduated there with the D. D. S. degree and practiced his profes- sion in Danielson for several years. Later he took up farming, having always liked farm life. He was born on a farm and his natural tendency has been in that direction. He is a member of the Windham County Farmers Association. His diligence and determination enable him to overcome all difficulties and obstacles and step by step he is pushing forward to the goal of prosperity.

MRS. SARAH BALDWIN HADLEY.

Mrs. Sarah Baldwin Hadley, well known in Canterbury, where she has been associated with many of the interests and activities that make for liberal culture and progress, was born in Lisbon, Connecticut, November 17, 1846, a daughter of Elijah Baldwin, Jr., a physician and surgeon, and Sarah Harris (Mathewson) Bald- win. The daughter was accorded liberal educational opportunities and attended Law- rence Academy at Groton, Massachusetts, from which she was graduated June 30, 1865. On the 5th of October, 1870, in Canterbury, she became the wife of Brooks Hadley, who for many years was engaged in the shoe and leather business in Boston, Massa- chusetts, and occupied an enviable position in the business circles of that city. At the time of the Civil war, however, he put aside all business and personal considera- tions and espoused and defended the cause of the Union until he received an honor- able discharge at the close of hostilities. Mr. Hadley was a son of Timothy Brooks and Clara (Brown) Hadley, of Stoneham, Massachusetts, and belonged to one of the old New England families. To Mr. and Mrs. Hadley were born a daughter and two sons: Sarah Louise, born August 8, 1871; Henry Brooks, born June 1, 1873; and David Baldwin, who was born January 21, 1875, and died December 22, 1907.

Mrs. Hadley has always been deeply interested in those activities and projects which have had to do with intellectual and moral progress and with the civic develop-

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ment of the community. For six years she served as secretary of the school board of Canterbury, Connecticut, occupying the position until her services were no longer needed through the appointment of a supervisor who was to take over the duties of the position. Mrs. Hadley is a member of the Connecticut Botanical Society. She also belongs to the Canterbury First church, is identified with the work of the Sunday school, the Christian Endeavor and the Ladies Aid Society. In fact she is keenly interested in every department of the church work and does everything within her power to promote the growth of the church and extend its influence.

VICTOR R. SCHMIDT.

Victor R. Schmidt, engineer at Goodyear, Connecticut, for all construction work for the Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company of Akron, Ohio, and a resident of Danielson, was born in Nazareth, Pennsylvania, March 30, 1891, and is the only child of Herman and Mary (Karch) Schmidt, also natives of Nazareth. The father there spent the period of his youth and after completing his public school education became superintendent and manager of the County Home at North Hampton, Pennsylvania, making that his life work, remaining in the position for forty years, after which he lived retired, passing away in Nazareth in 1918. His widow still resides at that place.

Their son, Victor R., is indebted to the public school system of his native town for the early educational advantages which he enjoyed. He later attended Lafayette College at Easton, Pennsylvania, from which he was graduated in 1912 on the comple- tion of a course in civil engineering. The same year he entered the employ of the Lehigh Valley Railroad, with which he continued for a year and a half as civil engineer, and subsequently was employed by the MacArthur Company, contractors of New York city, for a short period. He then went with the Bethlehem Steel Company, which he represented as civil engineer for a brief time, and he afterward spent a brief period on a forty acre fruit farm in Florida. For five years he was in the employ of the Penn Bridge Company at Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania, as civil engineer on construction work and in 1917 went to Plattsburg (N. Y.) training camp and won a commission as first lieutenant. He was assigned to the Edgewood arsenal in Maryland, where he continued for a year and a half, and was made captain of engineers, receiving his dis- charge in the latter part of 1918, after the signing of the armistice.

After leaving the service of his company Mr. Schmidt went to Akron, Ohio, where he became resident engineer for the Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company. In 1919 he was transferred to Goodyear, Connecticut, by the company as engineer of all construction work and has remained at this place since. He has gained a most creditable reputation in professional circles and his present position is one of large responsibility.

LOUIS BOYDEN FULLER.

Louis Boyden Fuller, who is engaged in general farming, market gardening and dairying in the town of Woodstock, having a well developed and highly cultivated property from which he is deriving a substantial annual income, was born on the Ebenezer Hibbard home place, which he now owns, in South Woodstock, October 6, 1857, his parents being Joel and Clarissa (Hibbard) Fuller, who were also natives of Woodstock. In his boyhood days the father attended the district schools in his home neighborhood and in young manhood he began working as a farm hand. He was am- bitious to engage in business on his own account, however, and later rented farm land for several years in different towns of Windham county. At length his industry and economy brought him sufficient capital to enable him to purchase property and he acquired the place now known as the Ebenezer Hibbard homestead, the present home farm of Louis B. Fuller and the birthplace of Mrs. Clarissa Hibbard Fuller. Thereon he spent his remaining days, giving his attention to the development and cultivation of the fields and to the conduct of a dairy. He also conducted a shoe shop on the place and at one time employed several men in connection therewith, making hand-made shoes until modern machinery put an end to business of that character. He died December 27, 1878. The mother of Louis Boyden Fuller, Clarissa (Hibbard) Fuller, was the daughter of Ebenezer and Clarissa Corttis Hibbard, the former born May 7, 1780, and the latter September 15, 1788. They were married March 24, 1808, and had ten children, of whom Clarissa, the mother of Louis B. Fuller, was the eighth. Ebenezer Hibbard died on September 25, 1856, and the death of his wife occurred October 31, 1842. Clarissa (Hibbard) Fuller was born April 4, 1819, on the present

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Fuller farm, and died September 18, 1897. To her and her husband, Joel Fuller, were born three sons. The eldest, William H., born January 25, 1840, married Ellen Gould and they had one child. Ellen (Gould) Fuller died June 6, 1877, and later William H. Fuller wedded Catherine Armsbury, of Whitinsville, Massachusetts. He died in Whitinsville in 1913, and she died there in the same year. Daniel F., the second son, was born October 31, 1848, and died on April 20th, 1856.

Louis B. Fuller, the other member of the family and the subject of this review, obtained his education in the district schools of Woodstock and later took up farm work. Subsequently he gave his attention to assisting his father in the development and improvement of the home farm and when the father retired from active business, Louis B. Fuller took over the property and has since further developed and cultivated the land. He produces the crops best adapted to soil and climatic conditions here and at the same time he engages in market gardening and raises much small fruit, including raspberries and strawberries. He likewise conducts a dairy business and the various branches of his business are bringing to him well deserved and substantial success. He is a splendid representative of one of the old New England families, possessing those sterling qualities for which the American people at large are greatly indebted to New England.

At West Woodstock, Connecticut, on the 2d of June, 1887, Mr. Fuller was married to Miss Harriet Talcott, a daughter of Thomas and Eliza (Richards) Talcott and a native of New London, Connecticut. Mr. and Mrs. Fuller have reared several orphans. Having no children of their own, the kindness of their hearts prompted them to give homes to others. The last of these orphans was George W. Harrington, who served in the World war, enlisting May 27, 1918, as a member of the Eighth Company, Three Hundred and Twenty-fifth Field Remount Squadron, A. E. F. He served overseas, doing important duty on some of the most difficult sectors of the war, and received his discharge June 7, 1919. He was taken by the Fullers in 1905, when he was only eight years old, and has made his home with them ever since, being a fine, upright young man who is devoted to his foster parents and fully appreciative of their interest in him.

In his political views Mr. Fuller is a republican, having stanchly supported the party since age conferred upon him the right of franchise. He and his wife are members of the Baptist church of Putnam and are people of genuine personal worth, enjoying the confidence and goodwill of all who know them.

GILBERT ELIPHALET STRONG AMIDON.

Gilbert Eliphalet Strong Amidon, now deceased, was for many years identified with business interests of Windham county as a farmer and lumber manufacturer of the town of Ashford. He was born on the old homestead of the family August 20, 1836. The ancestry of the family can be traced back to a very remote period in the history of New England. The first of the family in America was Roger Amidown, such being the orthography of the surname, who lived in Salem, Massachusetts, in 1637 and who afterward removed to Rehoboth, Massachusetts. His son, Roger Amidon, was born in Rehoboth, Massachusetts, in 1640. He became the father of Philip Amidon, whose birth occurred at Rehoboth, January 26, 1669, and who in turn was the father of Henry Amidon, who was probably born in Rehoboth, his natal day being February 8, 1698. The next in the line of direct descent was Captain Henry Amidon of the fifth generation. He was born May 3, 1727, and made his home at Ashford, Connecticut. He served in the Revolutionary war and his commission as captain of the Third Company, Twenty-second Regiment, was signed by Jonathan Trumbull, March 21, 1777, a valuable document, which passed into the possession of G. E. S. Amidon. In the sixth generation the direct ancestor of Gilbert E. S. Amidon was Captain Jedediah Amidon, who was likewise one of the Revolutionary war soldiers, participating in the battle of Bunker Hill, and while engaged in a hand-to-hand fight with the British was seen to fall. As he was missing for a time it was believed that he was killed, but it developed later that he had sustained a slight wound in the foot and his motive for falling was to deceive the enemy, who would think him dead instead of disabled. He married Hannah Walker and their family included Horatio Amidon, who married Maria Strong. They became the parents of Gilbert Eliphalet Strong Amidon.

The last named, after attending the district schools, continued his education in the Munson Academy at Munson, Massachusetts, and in the New Britain Normal School at New Britain, Connecticut, from which he was in due time graduated. He entered upon the profession of teaching in Tolland county, Connecticut, and afterward went to

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Ohio, where he taught school until his father's health failed and he then returned to the home farm to assist in its further development and management. In connection with his farming operations he engaged in the native lumber business, conducting a sawmill, and was thus active in business to the time of his retirement. He continued to live on the old home place until his death, which occurred November 27, 1918.

In early manhood Gilbert E. S. Amidon was united in marriage to Miss Julia Sophia Whiton, who was born at Westford, in the town of Ashford, and is still occupying the old home place. They had a family of nine children, all born on the old home farm. These are as follows. Charles Sanford, the eldest, now a farmer and lumberman of East Willington, Connecticut, married Alice May Holt. Mary Louisa is the wife of John William Armitage, a farmer and lumberman of Ashford. Gilbert Whiton, who is a carpenter of Stafford Springs, Connecticut, married Catherine Frances Churchill. Robert Strong, a farmer of Pomfret, married Josephine Electra Prentice. Lillian is at home. Andrew, a merchant of Abington Four Corners, in Pomfret, married Stella Alberta Clough. Harlan Page, a farmer of Thompson, Connecticut, married Grace Allen Cruff. Abigail Delight is engaged in teaching school. The other member of the family is Henry N. Amidon, who is mentioned at length on another page of this work.

Mr. Amidon was a man prominent in the business life of his community and in public affairs. He ranked as a progressive and representative farmer and lumberman and as a leading citizen of his town. He served as a member of the school board of the town of Ashford for more than twenty years and was keenly interested in everything that pertained to the cause of education and to public progress and improvement of every character. He did most effective work in connection with the development of the schools and his cooperation was given to every plan and movement for the general good, so that when he passed away the town of Ashford lost one of its most valued and honored citizens.

MILTON STOWELL WARREN, D. D. S.

Dr. Milton Stowell Warren, who was successfully engaged in the practice of den- tistry at Danielson from 1901 until his untimely death on the 26th of March, 1916, was born in Killingly, Connecticut, February 6, 1875, a son of Joseph W. and Isabelle (Young) Warren, the former a native of Gloucester, Rhode Island, and the latter of Killingly, Connecticut. The father has spent practically his entire life in Killingly and when about eighteen years of age took up the profession of teaching there, while subsequently he became a teacher in Brooklyn, Connecticut, and also at Plainfield. When about thirty years of age he purchased a farm in the Mashentuck district of Killingly and carried on general agricultural pursuits and also taught school at Plainfield. About 1902, however, he retired from the profession and has since de- voted his time exclusively to his farming interests, bringing his fields under a high state of cultivation. His political allegiance is given to the republican party, but he has never been an office seeker nor has he figured in fraternal circles. His religious faith is that of the Baptist church. To him and his wife were born but two children, the daughter being Eva Lillian, who was born in Killingly, where she yet makes her home.

The son, Dr. Milton S. Warren, pursued a common school education and then entered the Killingly high school, from which he was in due time graduated. On attaining his majority he became a student in the Philadelphia Dental College, where he pursued a four years' course, being graduated with the class of 1901. He im- mediately opened an office at Danielson, in the town of Killingly, and entered upon the practice of his chosen profession, his patronage soon developing to substantial pro- portions. Each year his practice increased and it was making heavy demands upon his time and energies when death called him. He was well known as a most capable dentist, displaying marked mechanical skill and ingenuity in handling the delicate little instruments of dentistry, while at the same time he had wide, accurate and com- prehensive knowledge of the scientific principles underlying his work.

In Killingly, on the 27th of June, 1900, Dr. Warren was married to Miss Minnie Maria Davis, who was born in Killingly, December 7, 1874, a daughter of George R. and Betsey Samantha (Warren) Davis, both of Killingly. Her father died in Killingly, April 4, 1904, and her mother passed away February 16, 1905. They had three chil- dren: George Warren, who was born in Killingly, January 7, 1866, and died June 12, 1880; Frank Anthony, who was born in Killingly, November 17, 1867, and is a contractor of his native town; and Mrs. Warren, of this review.

Malin S. Olassen.

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In his political views Dr. Warren was an earnest republican and kept well in- formed on the questions and issues of the day but never sought or desired office. He was a member of Moriah Lodge, No. 15, A. F. & A. M., and Warren Chapter, R. A. M., both of Danielson; and Columbia Commandery, K. T., of Norwich. He also be- longed to the Bohemian Club of Danielson and was one of the organizers of the At- tawaugan Gun Club, being very fond of outdoor sports and especially enthusiastic over hunting and fishing, to which pursuits he devoted most of his vacations. He attended the Congregational church. High and honorable principles guided him in every relation of life and he was admired and respected by all who knew him. His friends-and they were many-attested the genuine worth of his character and his death was the occasion of deep and widespread regret in the community in which he made his home.

GEORGE SMITH BROWN.

George Smith Brown, who is connected with the Goodyear mills at Goodyear, Windham county, was born in Uxbridge, Massachusetts, March 3, 1860, and is a son of Martin S. and Clarissa (Roberts) Brown. The father was a native of Burrillville, Rhode Island, and was educated in the district schools. He remained until twenty-five years of age upon the home farm, working for his father, and in 1836 went to Uxbridge, Massachusetts, where he purchased land and engaged in farming throughout his remaining days, his death occurring February 17, 1886. His wife was born in Grafton, Massachusetts, and was a daughter of Captain Roberts, who served in the Revolu- tionary war. In the family of Mr. and Mrs. Martin S. Brown were four children.

The youngest of these, George S. Brown, was educated in the schools of Providence, Rhode Island, and also attended the Massachusetts Brown School where he prepared for Brown. In 1878 he went to Blackstone, Massachusetts, where he entered the employ of the Mason Woolen Company. In 1879 he removed to Putnam, Connecticut, where he was employed by the Putnam Woolen Company, occupying a position in the office until 1880, when he went to Danielson as bookkeeper for T. E. Hopkins and became superintendent for the Crystal Water Company. There he continued until 1917, a period of thirty-seven years.

Mr. Brown was united in marriage to Miss Evelyn L. Williams, a daughter of Asa and Ellen E. (Burgess) Williams, of Killingly, Connecticut, who is a descendant in the eighth generation of Roger Williams, the founder of Providence, Rhode Island. To Mr. and Mrs. Brown has been born a son, Benjamin William, who was graduated from Brown University in the class of 1919 with the A. B. degree.

Politically Mr. Brown has always been a stanch republican and keeps well informed on the questions and issues of the day, but has never had desire for office as a reward for party fealty. He is well known in fraternal circles, belonging to Quinebaug Lodge, A. F. & A. M., Putnam, to the Knights of Pythias lodge at Dayville, and to the Ancient Order of United Workmen. His life has ever been actuated by high and honorable principles, making him a man whom to know is to esteem and honor. His entire career has been a manifestation of faithfulness to 'duty and no higher proof of this characteristic of his could be given than the fact that he remained as representative of one company for thirty-seven years.

WILLIAM JOHN VINTON.

William John Vinton, proprietor of a meat market and grocery store at Quinebaug, was born in North Woodstock, Connecticut, September 9, 1867, and is a son of John Jedediah and Abbie Melvina (Whitney) Vinton. The father's birth occurred in Wood stock in 1843. He was a son of Hosea Vinton and after reaching man's estate he took up the occupation of farming, which he followed in Woodstock until April, 1885, when he removed to Quinebaug, where he established a meat market. In 1887 he extended the scope of his business by opening a grocery department and for many years he continued actively and successfully to manage his mercantile interests but at length sold his business to his son and retired from active life in 1912. He then spent his remaining days in the enjoyment of a well earned rest, passing away in May, 1913.

William J. Vinton was one of a family of ten children born of the marriage of his parents, which was celebrated in 1863. The children are Myrtie M., now deceased; Grace L., also deceased; William J .; Martha U .; Carrie D., deceased; George W., deceased; Frederick M .; Byron F .; and two who died in infancy. Mr. Vinton of

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this review was reared under the parental roof and acquired a public school education. He afterward learned the meat business and at the age of sixteen years began making trips throughout the surrounding towns and country with a meat cart. He worked for his father until the latter sold his meat business to George B. Howard, who then employed William J. Vinton as a meat cutter, and the latter remained in the employ of Mr. Howard for seven years. Eventually he purchased the business of his employer and reopened the market, which was originally his father's. He afterward bought the grocery store from his father and added that branch to his other business. He has been connected with the meat trade altogether for more than twenty years. He is a wide-awake and progressive merchant and his enterprise and energy have brought to him the success which is now his.

Mr. Vinton was united in marriage to Miss Amy Anna Brown, a daughter of Albert Liberty and Josephine Amelia (Jones) Brown. Her father was a Civil war veteran who enlisted at the first call for troops in 1861, volunteering in defense of the Union and fighting until the end. His wife was a daughter of Professor Jones and her mother was also a school teacher. Her father was at one time principal of the high school at Greenville, Rhode Island.

It was in 1895 that the marriage of Mr. and Mrs. William J. Vinton was celebrated and they have become the parents of five children: Voilet May, who was born in Quinebaug, June 18, 1896; Kenneth Dewey, born July 13, 1898; William Herman, July 3, 1901; Carl Merton, April 3, 1907; and Albert Milton, April 13, 1911.

In politics Mr. Vinton maintains an independent course, voting according to the dictates of his judgment. His religious faith is that of the Congregational church. He represents a family that has long been connected with Woodstock and for thirty-six years the family name has figured in connection with the commercial interests of Quinebaug.

EDGAR HERBERT CORTTIS.

Neatness, order, thrift and productiveness characterize the home farm of Edgar Herbert Corttis in the town of Thompson, Windham county. His activities measure up to the highest agricultural standards and his place is the expression of all modern ideas having to do with agricultural development. Mr. Corttis was born June 10, 1862, in the house which he still occupies, which was also the birth place of his father. His grandfather, Japheth Corttis, was born on the same farm but not in the present residence of the family. The parents of Edgar Herbert Corttis were Japheth and Lucy A. (Davis) Corttis, the latter a native of Massachusetts. The father attended the district schools of Thompson and afterward the Nichols Academy of Dudley, Massachusetts. When a young man he became connected with the lumber business but subsequently turned his attention to farming and purchased land in the town of Thompson, where he successfully carried on general agricultural pursuits on an extensive scale. He also continued a factor in the lumber business, operating a sawmill and cutting the timber from various wood lots. He passed away May 24, 1906, having for about five years survived his wife, who died April 17, 1901. Their family numbered five children: Frank and Fred, both of whom passed away on the same day when young lads; Mary L., who makes her home with Edgar H., who is the fourth of the family; and Elmer J., who married Edith M. Perrin and is a farmer of Dudley, Massachusetts.

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A modern history of Windham county, Connecticut : a Windham county treasure book, Volume II, Part 117

Author: Lincoln, Allen B Publication date: 1920 Publisher: Chicago : S. J. Clarke publ. co. Number of Pages: 960

Author: Lincoln, Allen B
Publication date: 1920
Publisher: Chicago : S. J. Clarke publ. co.
Number of Pages: 960