A modern history of Windham county, Connecticut : a Windham county treasure book, Volume II, Part 121

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

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"Whereas, death has removed from our midst Harry Truman Sayles, the beloved son of Allen M. and Mary Ellen Sayler, and from our Grange a faithful and honorable past master, be it

Resolved, that this Grange tender to his family our heartfelt sympathy and commend

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them to the Saviour Harry loved and served. When we remember his faithful and untiring work in his home and the Grange, and his last supreme sacrifice of giving his life for his country, we cannot but exclaim: 'Well done, good and faithful servant.' The world is better for his having lived. Be it further

Resolved, that a copy of these resolutions be sent to the family of the deceased and also spread on the records of Ekonk Grange No. 89."

His patriotism was undimmed in the face of severe hardships and his memory will ever be revered as that of one of America's most loyal sons.

PRATT AMOS ALLEN.

Pratt Amos Allen, living in Canterbury, is now retired from business but for a number of years was actively associated with farming interests. He was born in Canter- bury, September 1, 1847, a son of Alexander and Caroline (Allen) Allen. The father was born, reared and educated in Canterbury and in young manhood took up the occu- pation of farming. Later he bought land in Baltic, Connecticut, and there engaged in general farming and dairying and at the same time drove the stage between Hanover and Norwich for many years. He continued to devote his life to agricultural pursuits and died on the old homestead in 1894, while his wife survived until 1897. They had a family of five children: Louisa, now deceased; Pratt Amos; and Helen, Mary and Wil- liam, all of whom have passed away.

Pratt A. Allen therefore is the only survivor of the family. He spent his youthful days in the town of Canterbury and is indebted to its public school system for the educa- tional opportunities which he enjoyed and which qualified him for life's practical and responsible duties. He was in school to the age of thirteen and then accompanied his parents on their removal to Baltic, where he continued his studies. As a young man he worked on the farm for his father and also engaged in peddling milk and farm produce for several years. Following the demise of his father he inherited the old homestead and year after year continued its further development and improvement until 1918, when he retired from active business and is now enjoying well earned rest. For a long period he had successfully carried on general farming and dairying, both branches of his business proving profitable.

In his political views Mr. Allen is a republican and his religious faith is indicated by his membership in the Congregational church at Hanover. He has led a busy and useful life and his sterling worth and fidelity to principle have commanded for him the respect and confidence of all with whom he has been brought in contact.

EDWARD JOHN KEEGAN.

Edward John Keegan, thoroughly familiar with every branch of woolen manufac- ing and every phase of the trade, has been identified with the business since making his initial step in manufacturing circles. He is now filling the responsible position of superintendent and manager of the Keegan mill. He was born in Chepachet, Rhode Island, August 8, 1875, his parents being Lawrence and Eliza (Fagan) Keegan. The father is a native of the city of Kildare, Ireland, but in his childhood was brought to the United States by his father, who with his family located at Burrillville, Rhode Island, where Lawrence Keegan was reared and educated. He started out in the business world as an employe in the Chase mill and applied himself with thoroughness to the mastery of the business, of which he made a close study. He followed this line of busi- ness throughout his active life in various places. In 1885 he removed to Wilsonville, Connecticut, and purchased a mill from Oscar Chase. He thoroughly systematized the business, developed it according to modern progressive lines and continued in active management for a considerable period but is now living retired. The mill, however, is still in operation, being now carried on under the name of the Keegan mill and utilized for the manufacture of woolen cloth. Lawrence Keegan was united in marriage to Miss Eliza Fagan, who was born in the county of Meath, Ireland, and who now resides in Wilsonville. They became the parents of four children: James, who has passed away; Lawrence P., filling the position of postmaster at Wilsonville; Edward John, of this review; and Catherine, deceased.

Edward J. Keegan accompanied his parents on their various removals and acquired his education in the public schools of Nasonville and of Greenville, Rhode Island. His early business training came to him as assistant in his father's mill at Wilsonville and

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HISTORY OF WINDHAM COUNTY

with this plant he has since been identified, so that he knows every phase of the woolen business from the time the crude materials are received until the finished product is turned out and placed upon the market. As his knowledge and skill have increased he has been promoted from time to time and now occupies the responsible position of superintendent and manager of the Keegan mill, which has seven sets of cards, twenty- three hundred and twenty-eight spindles and twenty-three looms. The entire plant is operated by water power, coming from the French river, and they also have an electric plant. The machinery and equipment are thoroughly modern in every particular and in the management of the mill Mr. Keegan displays a most progressive spirit and there is no phase of the business with which he is not thoroughly acquainted, so that he is able to direct the labors of the operatives most wisely.

On the 8th of September, 1914, Mr. Keegan was married to Miss Dorothy Shields, of Hurricane Island, Maine, a daughter of William Shields, a native of the Pine Tree state. The three children of this marriage, Lawrence, Catherine and William, are all yet at home.

The religious faith of the family is that of the Catholic church and Mr. Keegan is identified with Webster Council, No. 228, of the Knights of Columbus. Fraternally he is connected with the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks. His has been an active and useful life and each step which he has made in his business career since starting out in his father's employ in early life has been a forward one. He early recognized the fact that industry and thoroughness are salient features in the attainment of suc- cess and these qualities have by him been continuously employed in winning advance- ment in the manufacturing circles of New England.

HON. THOMAS GILBERT CLARKE.

In a history of Connecticut extended mention should be made of Hon. Thomas Gilbert Clarke, long a valued resident of Windham county. He was born in the town of Franklin on the 16th of June, 1809, a son of Allen Gates and Celinda (Darling) Clarke. He spent the greater part of his life in the town of Canterbury and was ever a worthy representative of an honored and prominent family. His brother was the Rev. Asa F. Clarke, who for many years was pastor of churches in Vermont and Massachusetts. His sister was Mrs. Lucius Chandler, who long resided in Pomfret, Connecticut, and who was the mother of Louise (Chandler) Moulton, the noted writer of Pomfret, whose juvenile writings for many years were of keenest interest and benefit to children. Seven genera- tions of the family to which belonged Thomas G. Clarke are buried in Canterbury and upon the tombstone that stands at the head of the grave of Nathaniel Clarke in the old Brewster burying ground is the inscription: "He was a Zealous Defender of Christian- ity, of Civil and Religious Liberty and of Good Order." A well founded tradition makes Nathaniel Clarke a descendant of the Thomas Clarke who came over in the Mayflower and who gave his name to Clarke's island in Plymouth harbor.

Thomas Gilbert Clarke, whose name introduces this review, studied theology in early life and preached to a limited extent but devoted the greater part of his life to the occupation of farming and became a prominent representative of agricultural interests in Canterbury. He owned and occupied at different times two well known places in Windham county-first the farm which was formerly the home of General Moses Cleve- land, the founder of the city of Cleveland, Ohio. It was upon this place that all of his children were born. He afterward became the owner of the dwelling on Canterbury Green that is now the home of his son-in-law, Andrew J. Hetrick, who is mentioned elsewhere in this work. It was in this place that Prudence Crandall was conducting a school which she changed from a school for white children into one for colored people, and thus her name became widely known as people either endorsed or criticised the" project.

For many years Mr. Clarke remained a leading factor in the life of Windham county -a representative of one of the oldest and best known families of the state. He was called upon to represent the town of Canterbury in the state legislature on several occasions and was also a member of the state senate. He thus left the impress of his individuality and his ability upon the legislative history of the state, for during his connection with the general assembly he gave the most thoughtful and earnest con- sideration to the various vital problems which came up for settlement.

His first wife was Cressa Judson, a niece of Hon. Andrew T. Judson, who was ap- pointed by President Andrew Jackson as United States judge for the district of Con- necticut. He gained a wide and well earned reputation as a jurist, leaving the impress of his individuality and ability in marked manner upon the judicial history of the state. The second wife of Thomas G. Clarke was Sarah H. Johnson, a descendant of Captain

THOMAS G. CLARKE

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Obadiah Johnson, who was an officer under General Israel Putnam in the Revolutionary war. To the first marriage of Mr. Clarke there were born six children, five of whom survived at the time of his death. He had traveled beyond the ninety-second milestone on life's journey ere "the weary wheels of life at length stood still." In his death there passed one who had been an historical character of the state, not only by reason of the fact that he had reached a most venerable age, but also by reason of what he had achieved in the course of his long, useful and honorable life.

ANDREW T. J. CLARKE.

Among the most splendidly equipped farm properties in Windham county is the six hundred acre tract of land known as the Kendall homestead and now occupied and managed by Andrew T. J. Clarke, who is justly accounted one of the most progressive agriculturists of his section of the state. He was born in the town of Canterbury, Sep- tember 20, 1860, and is a son of Thomas G. and Cressa (Judson) Clarke, mentioned else- where in this work. They, too, were born in the same locality and in his youthful days Thomas G. Clarke devoted his time largely to the acquirement of an education in the public schools. He afterward attended the Hartford Theological Seminary but aban- doned his plan of becoming a member of the ministry and returned to Canterbury, where he devoted his life largely to the occupation of farming. He was very prominent in public affairs and left the impress of his individuality and ability upon the political his- tory of the state. His fellow townsmen, appreciating his worth and his devotion to the general good, elected him to represent his district in the house of representatives and also in the state senate. He proved an able member of the general assembly and did not a little to shape the state legislation. He died about the year 1901 and in his passing Windham county lost one of her representative and honored citizens. His family num- bered six children but only two are now living, the younger brother of A. T. J. Clarke being John D. Clarke, a well known lawyer of Springfield, Massachusetts.

Mr. Clarke of this review was reared in his native town and he supplemented his public school education there obtained by study in the Killingly high school and in the Plainfield Academy. In young manhood he took up the occupation of farming and was employed as a farm hand by others for a number of years. In 1885 he and his family established their residence on the farm which was the birthplace of his wife, and through the intervening period, covering more than a third of a century, they have remained upon this place. Mr. Clarke has made many improvements in the buildings, has installed a private electric lighting system, has equipped the farm with modern machinery and has instituted every progressive measure and method that would en- hance the value of the place and promote its productiveness. The farm comprises six hundred acres of rich and valuable land and in addition to the cultivation of the fields he keeps from one hundred to two hundred head of cattle, thus being one of the prom- inent stock raisers of Windham county.

It was on the 12th of March, 1885, that Mr. Clarke was married to Miss Ella Gertrude Kendall, a daughter of Henry and Emeline Hyde (Stevens) Kendall. . To them were born six children: Edith D., who is now the wife of Fred O. Stone, a millman of North Grosvenor Dale, Connecticut, and the mother of one child, Harriet Gertrude; Ethel E., the wife of Stephen Coffee, a resident farmer of Brooklyn, Connecticut; Cressa M., de- ceased; Florence Louise; June Kendall; and Ruby Isabella Judson, the wife of George Edgar Whitney, of North Grosvenor Dale, who is general manager of outside work for the Grosvenor Dale Mill Company. The present residence of Andrew T. J. Clarke and his family is one of the old homes of the town of Canterbury. It was built in 1783 by Asa Bacon, who occupied the place and followed farming until his death, when the prop- erty was purchased by the Lester family, who sold it twelve years later to James Carey. After farming it for twelve years he sold it in 1840 to John Kendall, the paternal grand- father of Mrs. Clarke. Upon the death of Mr. Kendall the place passed into possession of his sons, George and Henry Kendall, who were prominent farmers of Canterbury and each was called upon to represent the town in the state legislature. Henry Kendall married Emeline Hyde Stevens and they were the parents of Mrs. Andrew T. J. Clarke. The father died in December, 1893, leaving his share of the home place to his widow and daughter, Mrs. Clarke. The other brother, George Kendall, remained a bachelor and died in 1907, at which time Mrs. Clarke inherited his share of the old homestead.

Mr. Clarke and his family attend the Congregational church of Brooklyn and take a keen interest not only in the moral progress but in the social development of the community, occupying an enviable position in social circles. Mr. Clarke is a member of the Windham County Agricultural Association and the Windham County Farmers Asso- ciation and keeps in touch with the most progressive methods having to do with farm

ANDREW T. J. CLARKE

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development. His political allegiance is given the republican party and upon its ticket he was chosen to represent his district in the state legislature of 1901-2. For twenty- one years he served on the school board. He is a broad-minded man, keenly interested in everything that pertains to the material, intellectual, social, political and moral progress of the community, and in various ways he has left the impress of his in- dividuality and ability upon the history of Windham county and of the state at large.

ANDREW JACKSON HETRICK.

Andrew Jackson Hetrick is now living retired in Canterbury but for many years lived a most active life and the unfolding of his life story displays much of interest. He was born July 5, 1837, in the village of Hetrick, situated in the southeastern part of York county, Pennsylvania, and named in honor of his grandfather, Christian Hetrick. Tbe latter was born in Germany and came to America, settling in York county, Penn- sylvania, where he secured a large tract of land. He then returned to his native country, after which he brought his wife, who bore the maiden name of Katherine Wareheim, back with him to the home which he had prepared. He then concentrated his efforts upon farming in York county and became a prominent and influential citizen of that sec- tion of the state. He served as a general in the Pennsylvania militia and was otherwise prominently connected with public affairs, and when the country became involved in war with England in 1812 he became an officer of the American army. His son, Christian Wareheim Hetrick, was born in the village of Hetrick, Pennsylvania, there acquired his education and followed farming throughout his entire life. He was one of the men ap- pointed by the state to take up collections and organize the free school system in Codorus township, York county, and was one of the original advocates of free education for the children. His labors were very efficient in this work and he became chairman of the first school committee and a leader in the movement which gave to his district its efficient free school system. He was also a capable farmer, enterprising and progressive in all that he undertook. He was born in 1799 and passed away at Hetrick in 1879. His wife, who in her maindenhood was Henrietta Wolfram, was born in the town of Wolfram, York county, Pennsylvania, named in honor of her people, but now called Brodbecks. Her death occurred in Hetrick.

Andrew Jackson Hetrick acquired his education in the district schools of his native village and in the schools of the borough of York, also in the York County Academy at York and in the high school at Elizabeth, New Jersey. He next entered the Pearl Cottage Seminary at Elizabeth, New Jersey, which was a preparatory school for Princeton, and his college course was pursued in Princeton University, from which he was graduated in 1860 with the Bachelor of Arts degree. He afterward became a tutor in a private school on a large plantation at Bayou Robert in Louisiana and was thus engaged at the time of the outbreak of the Civil war. Returning to the north, he entered the Union Theological Seminary of New York city, from which he was graduated in 1864 and was then ordained to the ministry of the Presbyterian church in the metropolis. In 1865 he was called to the pastorate of the Congregational church at Westport, Connecticut, where he labored for eight years, and in the meantime Princeton University conferred upon him the Master of Arts degree in 1863. He left Westport to accept the pastorate of the Congregational church at Preston, New London county, Connecticut, where he labored for three years and then became pastor of the Canterbury Congregational church in 1876. His powers in the ministry were constantly developing as the result of his wide reading and his study not only of books but of human nature. On leaving New England he went west to Kansas City, Missouri, where he had a brother living, and after visiting there for a time he again accepted the pastorate of the Canterbury Congrega- tional church in Connecticut, where he labored for a year. He then returned to Kansas City, however, and established a private school, which he conducted for a year, but again returned to Canterbury and once more became the minister of the Congregational church. He entered upon his work here with a contagious enthusiasm that soon brought substantial results. Writing letters to former residents of Canterbury then living else- where, he sought their cooperation and financial aid in the upbuilding of the church and made needed and extensive repairs upon the church property and the parsonage. He added various improvements and he worked untiringly in the advancement of the cause until he became city missionary for the city of Norwich, Connecticut. His labors there covered a period of three years, or from 1898 until 1901. When the law was passed establishing the position of probation officer, he was appointed to serve in that capacity in the city of Norwich by Judge Lucius Brown and occupied the position for six years, or from 1901 until 1907, being the first probation officer of Norwich and doing splendid work in that connection, his labors proving a potent force in "awakening the little seeds

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of good asleep throughout the world." In 1907 he resigned the position and returned to Canterbury, where he has since lived retired. He had reached the Psalmist's allotted age of three score years and ten when he again took up his abode in Canterbury. In 1901 his father-in-law, Thomas G. Clarke, had passed away and Mr. and Mrs. Hetrick came into possession of the old Clarke homestead on Canterbury Green, where Mr. Het- rick now resides.

It was on the 25th of December, 1879, at Kansas City, Missouri, that Mr. Hetrick was married to Miss Josephine Judson Clarke. She was born in Canterbury, Connecticut, in the same house that was once the farm home of the family and was owned by Moses Cleaveland, the founder of the city of Cleveland, Ohio. Mrs. Hetrick was reared in Can- terbury, where she passed away December 11, 1916. Her parents were Thomas Gilbert and Cressa (Judson) Clarke. Her father was a native of Connecticut and in early life studied theology and preached to a limited extent but gave the greater part of his life to the occupattion of farming and became a prominent representative of agricultural interests in Canterbury. He is mentioned elsewhere in this work. Mr. and Mrs. Hetrick became the parents of a son, Harold Storrs, who was born in Kansas City, Missouri, October 15, 1880, and was partially reared in Kansas City and in Canterbury. He was graduated from Yale University with the class of 1901, after which he made a tour of Europe, spending a year in travel. He went across on a cattle ship and "roughed it" in Europe, gaining much valuable knowledge and broad experience in his sojourn on that side of the Atlantic. Following his return to his native land he entered the United States Military Academy at West Point and was graduated at the head of his class in 1906, winning the rank of second lieutenant in the Engineer Corps of the United States army, the ten men having the highest rank in the class being permitted to enter the Engineer Corps. Lieutenant Hetrick was sent to Cuba, where as an army officer he engaged in road building, and was afterward transferred to the Philippine Islands, where he continued for three years, during which period he was made a first lieutenant and was engaged in instructing engineering officers. Returning to America, he was on duty on the Mexican border at Leon Springs, Texas, and later was assigned to the work of improving navigation in the Ohio river. His efficiency won him promotion to the rank of captain and later to that of major and during the great World war he was made a colonel of the Forty-second or Rainbow Division and was assigned to Camp Mills, New York. From that point he went overseas and as colonel commanded the One Hun- dred and Seventeenth Engineers of the Forty-second Division. He was on the general staff for four months and later was assistant chief of staff of the Second Corps while that command was with the British army. Following his return to America he was in command of the Washington Barracks at Washington, D. C., and later was assigned to the Engineer Corps at Mobile, Alabama. He was later in command of the Fourth Levee Engineer District, covering an area from a point seven miles below Vicksburg, Mississippi, to the head of the passes of the Mississippi river. He won his advancement through merit and his experiences were indeed broad and valuable as well as interesting. Colonel Harold S. Hetrick, U. S. A., was shot by an unknown intruder in his home at New Orleans, Louisiana, on the night of January 1, 1920, and died at the hospital the following morning. The body was buried at Arlington cemetery, Washington, D. C., and the officers and men of the engineering district of which he was commanding officer have erected a beautiful monument to his memory.

In politics Rev. Andrew J. Hetrick is a republican. He has ever been a student of the vital problems which affect the welfare of community, commonwealth and country, and while he has now passed the eighty-second milestone on life's journey, he keeps in touch with the questions and interests of the day. There is an old age which gives out of its rich stores of wisdom and experience for the benefit of others and such is the record of Rev. Hetrick, whose life has indeed been a forceful factor for good and whose memory will remain a blessed benediction to all who knew him long after he shall have passed from the scene of earthly activities. It is to be hoped. however, that he will be spared for many years to come, as there are hundreds who prize his companionship and friendship. He now occupies one of the attractive old mansions on Canterbury Green, of the old typical style of New England architecture, and the home is most interesting by reason of the many beautiful and attractive heirlooms that it contains.

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A modern history of Windham county, Connecticut : a Windham county treasure book, Volume II, Part 121

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