A modern history of Windham county, Connecticut : a Windham county treasure book, Volume II, Part 128

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

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In 1879 Mr. Kimball was married to Miss Emma Waight, who was born in Jefferson county, New York, and died in Hampton, Connecticut, in 1880. For his second wife

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Mr. Kimball chose Lizzie Maria Baker, whom he wedded in Hampton on the 16th of February, 1886. She was born in Pomfret, Connecticut, a daughter of James and Elizabeth Sophia (Fitts) Baker, who were also natives of Pomfret. Mr. and Mrs. Kimball have become the parents of twelve children, all born in Hampton: Dean Horace, who was killed on the railroad near Elliott Station when twenty-two years of age; Alice Sophronia, the wife of John Wilcox, a farmer of the town of Windham, Con- necticut, by whom she has two children, Mildred Ethel and Annie Louise; Lucy Maria, the wife of Westley Ide, a railroad engineer of Willimantic, their children being two in number, Merrill Paul and Ruth Jane; Seth Albert, a farmer of Hampton; Arthur Ed- ward, who married Mabel Mason and follows farming in Brooklyn, Connecticut; Everett Asa, who married Nora Dorothy, of Danielson, and has one child, Clifton George, Everett being now employed in the Quinebaug mills; Earle Clifton, a fireman of the Quinebaug mills, who wedded Mary Mckeon, of Pomfret; Esther Olive, who is teaching school; Richard George and Frank Wallace, attending high school; and Charles Lewis and Harry Clinton, who are the youngest members of the family.

In his political views Mr. Kimball is a republican and has taken deep and helpful interest in public affairs, his opinions at all times carrying weight in the local coun- cils of his party. For many years he served as a selectman of Hampton, was for an extended period tax assessor of the town, has also been justice of the peace and for more than twenty years has manifested his championship of the public school system by progressive service as a member of the school board of Hampton. That he is keenly interested in agricultural progress and development is manifest in the fact that he is a charter member of Little River Grange of Hampton, belongs to the Windham County Farmers Association and to the Holstein Friesian Association of America. Success in substantial measure in his, winning him. place among the wealthy agriculturists of this section, and his progressive course has constituted an example that others have followed not only with benefit to themselves but to the upbuilding and prosperity of the community as well.

HARMIDAS COUTURE.

Harmidas Couture is regarded as one of the most progressive and enterprising business men of Moosup, where he is successfully and extensively engaged in general contracting and is also identified with mercantile and real estate interests. Through- out his life he has been actuated by a spirit of progress that has enabled him to over- come all difficulties and obstacles in his path and press steadily forward to the goal of his endeavor. He was born at North Stoukley, Shefford County, in the province of Quebec, September 25, 1875, a son of Oliver and Lucy (Lapoint) Couture. The father, also a native of North Stoukley, there spent the period of his minority and ob- tained his education. He afterward worked on a farm to the age of twenty-five years and then came across the border into the United States, taking up his abode at Southbridge, Massachusetts, where he remained for a short time, working in a cot- ton Mill. Later he returned to Canada and purchased a farm at North Stoukley, de- voting his remaining days to the further development and cultivation of his land. He reached the Psalmist's allotted span of three score years and ten, passing away in 1898, while his wife died in 1883, at the comparatively early age of forty-six years. In their family were thirteen children, of whom but five are living: Oliver, who is married and follows farming at North Stoukley, Canada; Joseph, who wedded Celina Couture and is a carpenter in the employ of his brother at Moosup; Philomene, who is a widow residing at North Stoukley, Canada; Alfred, who married and is a con- ductor on the Canadian Pacific Railroad, making his home in Montreal; and Harmidas, of this review.

The last named was reared at the place of his nativity and early became familiar with the best methods of tilling the soil and caring for the crops as he worked for his father on the home farm. In 1892, when seventeen years of age, however, he left the parental roof and made his way to Moosup, Connecticut, where he began learning the carpenter's trade in the employ of Frank Potvin, with whom he remained for three years. When twenty-one years of age he started in business independently and has since carried on general contracting with substantial success. He is thoroughly familiar with all the scientific phases of the business as well as with the practical side of the work, and many of the substantial and attractive structures of Moosup and the surrounding country stand as monuments to his skill and efficiency. As the years have passed he has also broadened his business interests and is now owner of a well appointed hardware store of Moosup and has made extensive investments in real estate. He displays notably sound judgment and keen sagacity in all business af-

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fairs and has the faculty of readily discriminating between the essential and the non- essential. Precision, enterprise and systematic methods figure as salient points in his growing prosperity. Among the large buildings which he has erected are the Floyd Cranska mill of Moosup, a large weave shed for the Aldrich mill, also a mill for the Central Worsted Company at Central Village, the Catholic church at Sterling, Connecticut, the fire station at Danielson, Connecticut, and many others.

In August, 1898, Mr. Couture was married to Miss Rose Howard, of Moosup, and they have become parents of four children: Charles, who died in infancy; Odna, who is the wife of Ernest Brother, one of the employes of her father; and Alice and Annette, both at home. The religious faith of the family is that of the Catholic church and Mr. Couture is a member of Union St. Jean Baptist of Moosup. He is also connected with Moosup Court, No. 4347, of the Foresters of America, and with Putnam Lodge, No. 574, B. P. O. E. His political endorsement is given to the republican party and he stands for all that has to do with the welfare and upbuilding of the community and commonwealth. Starting out in life on his own account when a youth of seventeen years without special advantages, he has worked his way upward through the in- herent force of his character, gaining advancement as the result of untiring effort in- telligently directed.

LOUIS ELWOOD KENNEDY.

Louis Elwood Kennedy, who is engaged in the livery and undertaking business in Danielson, where he was born January 8, 1872, is a son of Charles Prentice and Anna Ardelle (Withey) Kennedy. The father was born in the town of Killingly, Connecticut, where he acquired his education. He spent his entire life in the eastern part of the state, where he engaged in dealing in horses, becoming prominent in that connection. For many years he conducted a sales and livery stable at Dayville in connection with his father, Lorenzo Kennedy. Eventually he retired from active business and is now mak- ing his home in Putnam, Connecticut. His wife was also born in Killingly. By their marriage they became parents of nine children, five of whom are yet living.

Louis E. Kennedy was educated in the public schools of Danielson and in young manhood began clerking, being thus employed in various grocery stores in Dayville. He worked for a time in his uncle's grocery store and later was employed in the livery stable of his uncle, Frank Kennedy, at Dayville. He seems to have inherited his father's interest in horses and in fact comes of a family long connected with the business, for his grandfather before him was a well known horseman of the state. In June, 1896, Louis E. Kennedy returned to Danielson, where he established a livery and sales stable for himself. He conducts an excellent business of this character on Furnace street and he has also become successful as an undertaker, having been graduated from the Oriental Embalming School at Hartford, Connecticut, and also from the Massachusetts College of Embalming at Boston, having passed the state examining boards, and is licensed to practice in Rhode Island as well as in Connecticut.

On the 19th of October, 1900, Mr. Kennedy was married to Miss Mary G. Sulli- van, of Moosup, Connecticut, who was born in Canterbury and is a daughter of Dennis and Mary (Shea) Sullivan. In politics Mr. Kennedy maintains an independent course. He has served on the board of burgesses of the borough of Danielson and is inter- ested in all that pertains to the public welfare. His religious faith is indicated by his connection with St. James' Roman Catholic church and he belongs to Rose of Lima Council of the Knights of Columbus of Danielson. He is likewise a member of Putnam Lodge, No. 574, B. P. O. E., and of the Modern Woodmen of America, also of Oak Grove Court of the Foresters of America. Along the line of his business he has connection with the Connecticut State Embalmers Association and with the Funeral Directors Association of Connecticut. He is a popular citizen of Danielson, where he has built up a big undertaking and livery busniess. In manner he is quiet and unassuming but has those qualities which win him classification as a substantial citizen.

JUSTIN MORRIS BURRILL.

Justin Morris Burrill, a farmer of the town of Westford, where he was born August 25, 1869, is a son of James Henry and Mary (Buxton) Burrill, who were like- wise natives of Westford, the former being a son of Ebenezer Francis and Mary Jones (Grant) Burrill, natives of Grafton, Massachusetts, and of Maine respectively, the latter being born in the Pine Tree state December 8, 1823. James H. Burrill was

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educated in the schools of Westford and for about a quarter of a century followed farm- ing in his native town. When fifty years of age he removed to Liberty Hill, Connecticut, and there established a grocery store, which he conducted successfully for about twenty years, there passing away in February, 1917. His wife has also departed this life. In politics he was a republican and was a recognized leader in the ranks of his party, serving as representative to the state legislature while living in Westford. He was also a consistent member of the Baptist church and his life was ever guided by high and honorable principles. To him and his wife were born four children: Arthur Clayton, who was born in Westford and died at the age of nineteen years; Justin M .; John Everett, who was born in Westford and died at the age of fifteen; and Flora Nellie, who was also born in Westford and now lives in Thomaston, Maine.

Justin M. Burrill pursued his education in the common schools of Westford and worked upon the home farm with his father to the age of eighteen years. About 1887 he went to Worcester, Massachusetts, where he learned the machinist's trade at the Crompton loom works, there following the trade for about ten years. In 1897, however, he returned to Westford and purchased his father's farm, which he successfully con- ducted and at the same time carried on a lumber business for about sixteen years. In 1912 he purchased a second farm above his former property, known as the old Wil- liam Buxton farm, and moved his family there. He has since carried on general agri- cultural pursuits upon that place but gave up his lumber business about 1917. He still in Sweden, a daughter of Nels and Augusta (Nelson) Speare, who were also natives of that country. Mr. and Mrs. Burrill have become parents of the following named: retains the ownership of both farm properties and his management thereof has brought to him substantial success.

In November, 1889, Mr. Burrill was married to Miss Amanda Speare, who was born born in Westford; Bertha Nellie, born in Westford in April, 1900; Mary Augusta, born in Arthur, who was born in Worcester and died at the age of twenty-four years; Oscar Henry, who was born in Worcester, October 4, 1892; Elmer Edwin, born in Worcester, October 2, 1893; Herbert Buxton, born in Worcester, February 7, 1895; Alice Florence Westford, May 20, 1903; Grace Alma, born in Westford, July 6, 1905; Everett Morris, born in Westford, September 6, 1906; and John Harold, June 1, 1908.

Mr. Burrill has never lightly regarded the duties and obligations of citizenship but on the contrary gives earnest support to every plan or measure which he deems of value to the community. He has always voted with the republican party and he has been a member of the school board of Westford since his return to the town. He is one of the older representatives of the Masonic fraternity in his community and he be- longs as well to the Modern Woodmen of America, while his religious faith is that of the Baptist church. He has led a busy, useful and upright life and the sterling worth of his character is acknowledged by all who have come in contact with him.

HERMON BROWN CHAPMAN.

Hermon Brown Chapman is one of the leading cattle raisers of Windham county, owning and conducting a farm in the town of Plainfield, whereon he is successfully engaged in the live stock business. He has likewise become connected with com- mercial interests as a member of the firm of Chapman & Tripp, lumber dealers at Jewett City, and he is giving definite aid to the development of farming interests in this section of the state as president of the Windham County Agricultural Society. He is also actively identified with interests having to do with the welfare and progress of his community, especially in its moral development, and his worth as a man and citizen is widely acknowledged. Mr. Chapman was born on what is known as the old Chapman farm, in the town of Plainfield, June 22, 1860, his parents being John Lee and Sybil M. (Brown) Chapman. The ancestral line is traced back to John Chapman, who was the progenitor of those of the name living in the neighborhood of Stonington and Westerly. He was of English lineage and a son of John and Joanna (Sumner) Chapman, who resided about fifty miles from London, England. Tradition has it that the younger John Chapman was pressed into the British navy, and the ship to which he was assigned sailed to Boston, where he made his escape and fled into Rhode Island, finding refuge in the house of Samuel Allen, of Wakefield. He was a weaver by trade and followed that pursuit in North Stonington throughout his remaining days. On the 16th of February, 1710, he married Sarah Brown and his death occurred in 1760. Their family numbered eight children, the sixth in order of birth being Sumner Chapman, who was born about 1723 and who was married in Westerly, Rhode Island, February 23, 1756, to Elizabeth Herrick. Their son, Joseph Chapman, was born in 1767 and on the 21st

H.B. Chapman

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HISTORY OF WINDHAM COUNTY

of December, 1791, was married in Westerly, Rhode Island, to Elizabeth Kenyon, of Hopkinton, while following her death he wedded Eunice Clark. He resided upon the farm upon which he was born, about two miles east of Westerly, along the line of the Shore Line Road. His brother Case inherited the old home, while Joseph received a new house that his father had built. He devoted his life to farming and passed away at the age of eighty-nine years. In early manhood he was a member of the Baptist church but afterward joined the Seventh Day Baptist church. His first wife, Betsey (or Elizabeth) Kenyon, was a native of Westerly, Rhode Island, born in 1768, and her death occurred in 1825. They were the parents of eight children, the eldest being John Chapman, who was born in Westerly, Rhode Island, September 23, 1792, and who after completing his education took up the profession of teaching, which he followed for several years. He afterward became a resident of Westerly, where he engaged in farming and cattle raising on an extensive scale. In 1844 he removed to Plainfield, purchasing land in the Flat Rock district, and there he engaged in general agricultural pursuits until 1856, when an accident resulting in a fractured leg caused him to retire from active business. He was long a prominent member and elder in the Westerly Baptist church and did much toward promoting moral progress in the community. Politically he was a whig and afterward a repub- lican. He married Abigail Sisson, a daughter of Thomas and Hannah (Cotrell) Sisson and representative of a family of mingled Scotch and French nativity, the ancestral line being traced back to three brothers who settled in Rhode Island at an early day. Mrs. Chapman was born in Westerly in 1791 and passed away in Plainfield, April 1, 1849, while the death of Elder John Chapman occurred in April, 1881. They were the grandparents of Hermon B. Chapman, whose name introduces this review. Their son, John Lee Chapman, was born February 6, 1825, in Westerly, Rhode Island, and attended the public schools there. When he was nineteen years of age he removed to the town of Plainfield in company with his parents and continued his education in the Plainfield Academy. He afterward took up the profession of teaching, which he followed through seven winter seasons, while in the summer months he gave his attention to farming. When twenty-four years of age he became agent in the sale of books for Henry Bill, of Norwich, Con- necticut, and devoted five years to that work. In 1860 he purchased the farm now known as the Chapman farm, on the state road between Plainfield and Central Village, and thereon dealt extensively in cattle for a number of years but in 1892 retired from active business and sold the farm to his son, H. B. Chapman of this review. The father next purchased a place opposite his old home and there resided to the time of the death of his wife, which occurred on the 14th of February, 1901. At one time he owned seven hundred acres of land and was widely known as an extensive cattle dealer. His labors wrought marked changes in the appearance of the farm owing to the many improvements which he made thereon, for at all times he was actuated by a most progressive spirit in his work. Following the death of his wife he went to live with his son, H. B. Chapman, with whom he continued until the time of his demise on the 24th of December, 1903. In his passing the community mourned the loss of a valued and representative citizen. He had early given his political support to the whig party and afterward became a stalwart republican. At various times he rendered valuable service as a member of the board of selectmen and for several years he filled the office of justice of the peace. In 1872 he represented the town in the state legislature and was a member of the committee on roads and bridges. His life was ever actuated by deep religious prin- ciples, for while still a youth he united with the Baptist church at Westerly and later became a member of the Baptist church at Packerville, of which he continued an earnest member for about six decades. He acted as Sunday school superintendent and worked in various lines for the benefit of the church, serving as deacon for twenty years and also as a trustee of the church. He gave earnest and generous aid to the upbuilding of the cause and contributed much to the moral progress of the com- munity.

In 1855 John L. Chapman was married to Miss Maria Browning, who passed away in 1857. He later wedded Sybil Brown, who died leaving a son, Hermon Brown Chapman, then but eleven days old. For his third wife John L. Chapman chose Martha Brown, a sister of his former wife, who died eight years later. They became parents of two children: Mahlon, who died at the age of six years; and Martha, who lived to be but three months old. In 1873 John L. Chapman married Mrs. Sarah D. (Swallow) Abell, of Vermont, who died in 1875, leaving a son, J. Lee, Jr., who was educated in the Phillips Andover Academy, the Peddie Institute of Hightstown, New Jersey, and the Willimantic State Normal School, from which he was graduated in 1895, while later he attended Brown University, completing his

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course there in 1900. He has devoted his life to educational work and is now principal of the Plainfield high school and superintendent of the schools of Plain- field. John L. Chapman, Sr., was again married June 5, 1879, to Jane A. Abell, of Swanton, Vermont, who passed away in 1901.

The son of the second marriage, Hermon B. Chapman, pursued his education in the public schools of Plainfield and in the Eastman Business College at Pough- keepsie, New York, in which he was a student for two winters. Later he removed to Moosup, where he established a meat market in connection with William Cole, conducting the business in that way for a year. He then sold out and on the 20th of March, 1880, started to the west, where he engaged in herding cattle and sheep in Arapahoe county, Colorado, and in Laramie county, Wyoming. Leaving the latter state, he made his way to Chicago with a trainload of stock and from: that city returned to Plainfield and worked with his father but subsequently went to Andover, Massachusetts, where he took charge of the large farm of B. Frank Smith, who was a merchant of Boston but had extensive land holdings at Andover, Mr. Chapman acting as his manager and handling a large amount of cattle. He remained there for six years, during which time he had full control of the buying and selling of cattle. On the expiration of that period, or in 1892, he returned to the town of Plainfield and purchased the old home place of two hundred acres from his father. As the years have passed he has prospered in his undertakings and has extended the boundaries of his farm until he now owns between six and seven hundred acres. Much of this is under a high state of cultivation and some of the remainder is used as pasture land for his stock. He is extensively engaged in raising and dealing in cattle, horses and sheep and is today one of the most prom- inent cattlemen of Windham county. He has a real liking for live stock and is one of the most prominent and best known live stock dealers of this section of the state. His activities in this direction exceed those of any other live stock dealer of Windham county. He handles hundreds of head of cattle annually and his success is the result of his sound judgment, business enterprise and indefatigable industry. He is actuated by a most progressive spirit in everything that he under- takes and his prominence in his chosen line of labor is shown by the fact that he is now the president of the Windham County Agricultural Society, a position which he has occupied for the past three years. The Windham County fair grounds are located in Brooklyn and a fair is held annually. This yearly exhibition has taken on new life through the efforts and enterprise of Mr. Chapman, who has done much to stimulate an interest in the organization and promote activity in holding to highest standards in all lines of agricultural production and stock raising. Nor has Mr. Chapman confined his efforts alone to agricultural interests. In 1908 he entered into partnership with his brother-in-law, Arthur D. Tripp, under the firm style of Chapman & Tripp, and they bought out the business of R. R. Church at Jewitt City, Connecticut, where they are now dealing in lumber, coal, wood, building materials and hardware. Mr. Tripp is actively in charge of the business, while Mr. Chapman concentrates his efforts and attention upon farming and cattle raising in Plainfield. His sound business judgment, however, is an element in the successful conduct of the enterprise and in all business affairs he is ruled by a most progressive spirit.

On the 9th of February, 1888, at Plainfield, Mr. Chapman was married to Miss Lucy A. Tripp and in the town of Plainfield they are widely and favorably known. For the past six years Mr. Chapman has been a trustee of the First National Bank of Plainfield. His political allegiance is given to the republican party and for a number of years he filled the office of justice of the peace, his decisions being at all times strictly fair and impartial. He belongs to the Plainfield Grange and was one of its organizers in Plainfield. He and his wife are members of the Congre- gational church of Central Village, where Mr. Chapman has been superintendent of the Sunday school for the last five years. He is also one of the deacons in the church, contributes generously to its support and does all in his power to promote its growth and extend its influence. His has indeed been an active and useful life and one which has constituted an important element in the material and moral progress of the community in which he makes his home.

MARGUERITE JANE BULLARD, M. D.

Dr. Marguerite Jane Bullard, a most active representative of the medical profession in Windham county, making her home in Putnam, is accorded high standing by col- leagues and contemporaries in the profession as well as by the general public.

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A modern history of Windham county, Connecticut : a Windham county treasure book, Volume II, Part 128

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