A modern history of Windham county, Connecticut : a Windham county treasure book, Volume II, Part 30

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

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HISTORY OF WINDHAM COUNTY

manifested the keenest interest in the welfare and progress of the district in which he lived. Windham county numbered him among her native sons, his birth occurring in Canterbury on the 3d of August, 1824.

His parents were John and Mary (Foster) Bard. The former was born in Sharon, Connecticut, June 3, 1778, and the latter in Canterbury, July 18, 1777, being a daughter of William Durkee Foster, who was a soldier of the Revolutionary war. Mrs. Bard passed away April 11, 1857. Her children were: Sophronia, who married Mr. Robins, a merchant of Brooklyn; George J., who was a gold pen manufacturer of Brooklyn, Connecticut; James D., also a pen manufacturer of Brooklyn, Connecticut, who spent his last days in Norwich, Connecticut; Edmond H., who was a music teacher and or- ganist of New York city; John, Jr., who likewise engaged in the manufacture of gold pens; J. Sprague, of Brooklyn; Charles, a former officer of the Norwich National Bank, now living retired in Norwich and enjoying good health at the advanced age of ninety-two years; Mary F., deceased; and two others who died in early life.

J. Sprague Bard acquired his education in the schools of Canterbury and of Brook- lyn, completing his course in the Brooklyn Academy. When twenty-two years of age he went to Boston and with one of his brothers established a gold pen manufacturing business under the name of Bard Brothers. They continued the business successfully there until 1848, at which time a branch factory was opened in New York, and later they concentrated their business efforts in the metropolis. On the 1st of February, 1873, George W. Mabie, Henry H. Todd, J. Sprague Bard and John H. Mabie founded the firm of Mabie, Todd & Bard, gold pen manufacturers in New York city. Mr. Bard thus remained in active business in the eastern metropolis until February 1, 1900, when he retired from the firm and returned to Brooklyn, Connecticut, where he resided until his death on the 28th of February, 1917.

Mr. Bard was twice married. His first wife was Julia A. Buell, who was born in Litchfield, Connecticut, March 12, 1830, and passed away in New York city in Septem- ber, 1863. There were two children of this marriage: Charles R., who married Louise Reed and is now a resident of Summit, New Jersey; and Frederick B., who married Grace L. Wright, of Providence, Rhode Island, and is now a resident of Brooklyn, New York. For his second wife Mr. Bard chose Sarah E. White, a daughter of Adams and Harriet (Robinson) White, whom he wedded at Brooklyn, Connecticut, November 15, 1870. When Adams White married Miss Robinson, in 1812, he purchased a beautiful house on the Brooklyn Common and here his thirteen children were born. All have passed away with the exception of the youngest daughter, Mrs. J. Sprague Bard, who was born October 28, 1835, and who is now living in the same home in which her birth occurred. To J. Sprague and Sarah E. (White) Bard were born the following chil- dren: Harriet Adams, who was born April 25, 1873, and died in the same year; Bertha B., who was born October 29, 1874, and died April 13, 1892, when in the eighteenth year of her age; Sidney W., who married Catherine Robinson and resides in Brooklyn, being teller of the Brooklyn Savings Bank of Danielson; and Ernest R., twin brother of Sidney, who served in the United States army during the World war and is now an engineer in New York.

Mr. Bard ever felt the keenest interest in community affairs and took an active part in support of all measures that he believed would prove of benefit in the upbuilding and progress of his community. He voted with the republican party and his religious faith was that of the Episcopal church, in the work of which he took an active and helpful part. He was senior warden and treasurer of St. Luke's church of Washington Heights, New York city, and for many years was senior warden of the Trinity Episcopal church of Brooklyn, Connecticut. His life was ever guided by high and honorable principles and the sterling worth of his character was recognized by all. While he won substantial success in business, he never allowed this to affect his relations with those less fortunate and his entire career was fraught with good deeds and charac- terized by honorable purposes.

JUDGE WILLIAM FENNER WOODWARD.

Judge William Fenner Woodward, an active member of the Windham county bar since 1902 and judge of the town court of Killingly since 1915, was born in Danielson, where he still makes his home, his natal day being March 16, 1875. He is a son of Warren Wheeler and Anna E. (Ross) Woodward. The father was for many years a prominent merchant of Danielson, where he conducted a drug store. He was well known as a representative of one of the oldest colonial families, tracing his descent down from Richard De Woodward, who was of Norman birth and went from Normandy to England with William the Conqueror. The name is derived from an office held by

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HISTORY OF WINDHAM COUNTY

one of the family, who was ward of the king's wood, and the family coat of arms repre- sents a man with club and shield, with a squirrel at the top. The founder of the family in America was Richard Woodward, who was born in England in 1589 and on the 10th of October, 1634, embarked at Ipswich, England, for America as a passenger on the good ship Elizabeth. He was accompanied by his wife, Rose, and their twin sons, George and John, who were born in 1621. They settled in Watertown, Massachusetts, and in 1660 Richard Woodward was a resident of Cambridge, Massachusetts. The line comes down through George Woodward, previously mentioned; John Woodward, who was born March 28, 1649; John Woodward (II), born July 18, 1675; Lieutenant Ephraim Woodward, born in Canterbury, Connecticut, January 8, 1710; Ward Woodward, born April 16. 1751; and Captain Augustus Woodward, who was born June 25, 1804, and became the father of Warren Wheeler Woodward, who in turn was the father of William Fenner Woodward of this review. In this connection a contemporary biographer has said: "The Woodward name has been conspicuous in the military life of this country and one of its representatives, Captain John Woodward, was one of the active men in and about Boston during the Revolution, as shown by the Newton, Massachusetts, records. Extracts from these show that in March, 1776, Captain John Woodward, with four others, were chosen a committee to draft such measures as they should think best for the town in this emergency. Among the resolutions was this: 'We can not and will not submit to this (tea tax) nor any other tax laid on us without our consent given by ourselves or our representatives.' On April 19, 1775, Captain John Woodward was in the battles of Lexington and Concord. On March 4, 1776, at the request of General Washington, Captain John Woodward's company marched to take possession of Dor- chester Heights. On June 17, 1776, at Newton town meeting, Captain John Woodward was chosen moderator. On January 6, 1777, Captain John Woodward loaned the town one hundred pounds and Samuel Woodward loaned one hundred and twenty pounds to pay the soldiers. On December 8, 1777, Captain John was one of a committee to pro- vide for families of soldiers then in the war. In 1779 and 1784 he served on various town committees, for in addition to his activity in military life, he served as select- man seven years, and representative two years. His brother Samuel was a graduate of Harvard College, and was ordained in 1751 to the ministry, and was settled over the Congregational church at Newton, Massachusetts. He also took part in the battles of Concord and Dorchester Heights. John Woodward, the first of the name to come to Windham county, Connecticut, purchased a rectangle of land in Canterbury, now Brooklyn, which was described as follows: 'Beginning at the Quinebaug river the north boundary extended west over Allen Hill three hundred and thirty-five rods, then south ninety-eight rods, and east to the Quinebaug river two hundred and seventy-three rods, covering one hundred and eighty-seven acres.' On this property he built the house in which Warren Wheeler Woodward was born. The greater portion of this property remained in the family until 1880, when it passed into other hands."

Warren Wheeler Woodward was born in Brooklyn, Connecticut, June 27, 1834, and became a student in the Brooklyn Academy. He afterward engaged in business in his native town as a news dealer and subsequently removed to Eagleville, now Versailles, Connecticut, where he conducted a general store. He afterward returned to Brooklyn, where he followed merchandising for two years and then removed to Danielson, where he became a druggist, continuing in that business for many years. In September, 1865, he married Miss Anna E. Ross, who was born in Newport, Rhode Island, December 15, 1842, and they became parents of three children. Mr. and Mrs. Woodward were mem- bers of the Danielson Baptist church, in the work of which they were actively and helpfully interested, Mr. Woodward being one of the organizers of the church, in which he long held official position, serving as clerk and treasurer and also on the Society's committee. He supported the men and measures of the republican party from the time when he cast his first presidential vote for John C. Fremont until his demise, which occurred in 1911. His widow still survives him and is yet a resident of Daniel- son. His death was the occasion of deep and widespread regret, for he had been a most active factor in the development of the borough and in the support of all those interests which made for its material, intellectual, social, political and moral progress.

William Fenner Woodward, after attending the public schools and the Killingly high school, became a student in the Boston University Law School, from which he was graduated with the class of 1899. In 1902 he was admitted to the bar and since that date has continued as an active representative of the profession in Danielson, where his marked ability is recognized. His professional acquirements are manifest in the success which has attended him. He has been accorded a liberal clientage and in the preparation of his cases lie has ever been thorough and painstaking. Strong in argu- ment and logical in his deductions, he has won many verdicts favorable to his clients and his devotion to their interests is proverbial, yet he never forgets that he owes a still higher allegiance to the majesty of the law. He has served as assistant prosecuting

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HISTORY OF WINDHAM COUNTY

attorney and also as prosecuting attorney of the town of Killingly and in 1915 he re- ceived legislative appointment to the position of judge of the town court of Killingly, to which he was reappointed in 1917 and is still serving upon the bench.

On the 25th of April, 1906, in Boston, Massachusetts, Mr. Woodward was united in marriage to Miss Ellen Mildred Aylward, a native of Killingly, Connecticut, and a daughter of John and Bridget (Sheridan) Aylward, both of whom were born in Ireland and have now passed away. For a long period Mr. Aylward was boss spinner in a cotton mill at Danielson, Connecticut, and for three terms served as selectman.

In politics Mr. Woodward is a stalwart republican and in his fraternal connections is a Mason, belonging to Moriah Lodge, No. 15, A. F. & A. M., and to Warren Chapter, No. 12, R. A. M. He is also a member of Putnam Lodge, B. P. O. E. He is secretary and treasurer of the Danielson fire department and also secretary and treasurer of Minnetepit Hose Company, No 1, of Danielson. He has done much to improve the fire organization of the borough and is county vice president of the state Firemen's Asso- ciation, to which position he was elected in 1914 and reelected in 1916. His military service covers connection with Company F of the Third Regiment of the National Guard of Connecticut, and after that company was disbanded he joined Company M of the Third Regiment. In the former organization he served with the rank of first sergeant. He is a popular member of the Bohemian Club of Danielson, of which he is now the president. He is interested in all that has to do with the welfare and upbuilding of his community and Danielson numbers him among its most valued and representative citizens.

JAMES GORMAN.

James Gorman, who is identified with the farming interests of the town of Plain- field, was born in County Roscommon, Ireland, and is a son of Thomas and Nellie Gor- man, who were also natives of the Emerald Isle. The father was a farmer of County Roscommon and throughout his entire life engaged in tilling the soil there. He passed away about 1885. The children born to Thomas and Nellie Gorman were: Thomas, Jr., Ellen, Patrick, Michael, Catherine, James and Maria.

James Gorman remained a resident of his native land until he reached the age of seventeen years, when he came to the United States. He landed in New York city and later made his way to Moosup, Connecticut, where he secured employment as a weaver in the mill of Sampson, Almy & Company. He was employed in that mill for about a quarter of a century and then, determining to retire from mill work, he pur- chased the farm of Andrew Johnston and has since occupied that place, living thereon at the present time. He has converted it into rich and productive fields, from which he annually gathers abundant harvests, and he is now one of the representative agri- culturists of his district.

Mr. Gorman was married to Miss Catherine Morin, a native of Ireland, the wedding being celebrated in Moosup, and they became the parents of eight children: Nellie, Mary, William, Annie, Elizabeth, James, John P. and Annie. The wife and mother passed away in October, 1917.

The religious faith of the family is that of the Catholic church, of which the father . and children are faithful adherents. In politics Mr. Gorman is a democrat and for the past ten years has been a selectman of the town of Plainfield, serving for two years of this period as second selectman. He is greatly admired by his fellow citizens as one who stands for progress and improvement in community affairs. He has been a most earnest worker in behalf of the party and has been instrumental in promoting demo- cratic successes in the district where there has been a republican vote of five to one. It is characteristic of Mr. Gorman that he accomplishes whatever he undertakes if it can be done through honorable methods, and this is manifest in his business career as well as in other lines of activity.

HERBERT R. CHAPPELL.

Herbert R. Chappell, who is engaged in the contract painting business and dealing in paints, oils and glass at No. 547 Main street in Willimantic, is numbered among the native sons of the neighboring state of Rhode Island, his birth having occurred in Providence on the 27th of December, 1850, his parents being Ralph and Mary (Horton) Chappell. The father has passed away but the mother is living at the most remarkable age of one hundred and three years, her birth having occurred on the eleventh of

- James Gorman

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HISTORY OF WINDHAM COUNTY

March, 1815. She now makes her home with a daughter, Mrs. A. Francis West, in Massachusetts.

Herbert R. Chappell, accompanying his parents on their removal to Connecticut, pursued his education in the schools of South Windham and of Willimantic. His time was thus divided until he reached the age of eighteen years. He became a resident of Willimantic in 1867 and has since been identified with the interests of the city. After his studies were terminated he acted as bookkeeper for his father, who was a contractor and builder. The present business was established on the 1st of March, 1869, and Mr. Chappell has since been identified therewith, covering a period of almost a half century. He was a youth of nineteen years when the business was established and through all the intervening period he has bent his efforts and energies toward its development and successful control. He does important contract work and jobbing and, to give a list of the contracts awarded him would be to present the names of most of the prominent buildings of the city and many of its finest residences. Some- thing of the extent of his business is indicated in the fact that he has twenty-five employes during the busy season.

On the 15th of December, 1876, Mr. Chappell was united in marriage to Miss Isabelle Webster, of Lee, Massachusetts. They are members of the Congregational church and take an active interest in its work. He is a well known Mason, belonging to the lodge, chapter, council, commandery and also to the Mystic Shrine. His life exemplifies the beneficient spirit of the craft and he is prominently, widely and favorably known among his fellow members of the fraternity. His political allegiance is given to the republican party and he has been an active worker in its ranks, his opinions carrying weight in its councils. He has served as mayor of the city, as alderman and councilman and was also burgess of the borough. In every office he has been prompt and faithful in the discharge of his duties. He became the first alder- man of the first ward and was the second mayor of Willimantic.

He is actuated in all that he does by a public-spirited devotion to the general good and stands at all times for progress and improvement in community affairs. His busi- ness interests, too, have been of a character that has contributed to public progress and improvement. He attacks everything with a contagious enthusiasm and is recognized as a man of substantial worth, straightforward, capable and reliable in business, pro- gressive in citizenship and true to high standards in every relation of life.

ARTHUR B. LAPSLEY.

Arthur B. Lapsley is one of the prominent horticulturists of Windham county, making his home in Brooklyn, where he spends the summer seasons, while the winter months are passed in Florida. Mr. Lapsley is a native of America's metropolis, his birth having occurred on Park avenue in New York city on the 27th of January, 1877. His parents were Samuel and Margaret (Jeffries) Lapsley, who were natives of Phila- delphia, whence they removed to New York, where the father engaged for many years in the stock brokerage business. He remained a successful stock broker of the metropo- lis to the time of his death, which occurred about 1900, while his wife survived until 1914. They had three children: Margaret, David and Arthur B.

The last named was educated in the public schools of New York and in Harvard University, from which he was graduated as a member of the class of 1899. Soon after completing his course he removed to the town of Brooklyn, Connecticut, where he took up his abode in 1901, purchasing what was known as the old Benjamin Brown farm, situated on the town line between Brooklyn and Pomfret, the homestead being in Brooklyn, while the large orchard adjoining is in the town of Pomfret. In colonial days this was the home farm of Peter Stuyvesant Putnam, son of General Israel Put- nam. It was sold by the former to Benjamin Brown, who occupied it many years, and he in turn sold it to his son Benjamin. Three generations of the Brown family farmed the place before it came into possession of Mr. Lapsley. For the first two years after making the purchase Mr. Lapsley spent his entire time upon the farm and placed thereon many improvements and erected several additional buildings. He at once undertook the development of a large apple orchard and, conducting his horticultural interests along the most progressive lines, built a modern packing house in order to care for the apples. He is greatly interested in fruit growing and his orchard is producing at the present time over fifteen hundred barrels, with a great part of the orchard yet to come into bearing. After his first two years in Brooklyn, Mr. Lapsley decided to spend the winter months in Florida and, closing his home in Brooklyn, he goes south each winter with his family but returns in the spring.

In New York, Mr. Lapsley was united in marriage to Miss Nina Delafield and

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they now have an interesting little daughter, Margaret, who was born in New York, March 21, 1914. Politically Mr. Lapsley is a republican, but office holding has never had attraction for him. Well descended and well bred, supplied with the most liberal educational opportunities, Arthur B. Lapsley has made his efforts a forceful factor for progress and improvement. Many of the noted thinkers of the day-men who are studying conditions and the signs of the times-are urging "back to the soil." This admonition Mr. Lapsley has heeded and, bringing to bear the most scientific and approved methods in the development of his property, is demonstrating the possibili- ties for production on the lands of New England, while his labors are constituting a stimulating influence to the efforts of others.

GEORGE EVERETT HILL.

George Everett Hill, a representative farmer of the town of Plainfield, owning a good property near the village of Moosup, was born on his present farm, October 12, 1873, a son of Orrin Almy and Nancy Ann (Belding) Hill. The father was born Feb- ruary 27, 1833, in the town of Plainfield, where he was reared and educated, and there he learned the trade of a carpenter and builder, receiving his instruction in the work from his father, Jonathan Hill, who for many years was a well known and capable carpenter of Plainfield. After working at the trade for a few years Orrin A. Hill turned his attention to farming and purchased land near the village of Moosup, in the town of Plainfield, his place being known as the Company Farm, having previously belonged to a cotton mill company. He then devoted his attention to the raising of crops best adapted to soil and climatic conditions and he likewise carried on dairying, being thus active in business to the time of his death, which occurred January 6, 1910. His wife, who was born in Winsted, Connecticut, died August 24, 1918, on the farm where their son George E. now resides, it being their home for half a century. To Mr. and Mrs. Orrin A. Hill were born three children. Harriet Evelyn, the eldest, became the wife of Edgar L. Kenyon, of Oneco, Connecticut, who was a stonecutter in the quarries of Oneco and during the last few years of his life served on the board of selectmen in the town of Sterling. He died at Oneco, December 10, 1911, leaving a widow and one son, the latter Orren Edgar, who married Gladys May Hall, of Brockton, Massachusetts. Leroy Adelbert, the second member of the Hill family, was born, reared and educated in Plainfield and in young manhood worked upon the home farm, while later he became a railroad employe. He died on the old homestead May 10, 1919.

The third member of the family is George E. Hill, whose name introduces this review. His education was acquired in the Plainfield district schools and in young manhood he began assisting his father in the work of the home farm. When his father died he took over the old home place and has since conducted it, carrying on general farming and dairying. He keeps a good herd of cattle and his dairy interests consti- tute one of the important features of his business. His political support is given to the democratic party and he attends the Baptist church. His has been an active and well spent life and as the result of his energy and perseverance he has become the owner of a good farm property in Plainfield.

D. EVERETT TAYLOR, D. D. S.

Dr. D. Everett Taylor, actively engaged in the practice of dentistry in Willimantic, his professional labors being the expression of the most advanced scientific research and knowledge in the field of dental practice, was born in Ulster county, New York, April 5, 1870, a son of John Henry and Mary (Everett) Taylor, the former now deceased, while the latter is a resident of New Haven, Connecticut. The family removed to New Haven during the infancy of Dr. Taylor, who there pursued his education in the public schools and Hillhouse high school. He prepared for his professional career as a student in the University of Pennsylvania, where he won his D. D. S. degree upon graduation with the class of 1892. He came to Willimantic in 1892. At a later period he returned to New York, where he continued in practice for twelve years. He expected to go abroad in 1914, but the outbreak of the war caused him to abandon this plan. Having already sold out his practice in New York city preparatory to visiting Europe, he again came to Willimantic, where he has now been located since 1914. He is recognized as one of the prominent members of the dental profession in his section of the state and his pro- nounced ability has gained for him a very substantial practice.

On the 18th of April, 1912, in New York city, Dr. Taylor was united in marriage to

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Mrs. Kate Hathaway Dougan. They are members of the Congregational church and have gained a wide circle of friends during the period of their residence in Willimantic. In fact, Dr. Taylor is widely known throughout this section of the country. He belongs to the Mendelssohn Glee Club of New York city, also to the Republican Club of New York city and to the Hartford Club of Hartford, Connecticut. He has always given stalwart support to the republican party since age conferred upon him the right of franchise, but he has never sought or desired office, preferring to concentrate his efforts and attention upon his professional interests, and that he holds high rank is indicated in the fact that for ten years he has been a member of the state board of dental ex- aminers and at the present time is senior member in point of service and president, and he enjoys the confidence, goodwill and high respect of his associates in the profession.

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A modern history of Windham county, Connecticut : a Windham county treasure book, Volume II, Part 30

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