A modern history of Windham county, Connecticut : a Windham county treasure book, Volume II, Part 40

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

Willimantic, his offices being located at No. 1015 Main street. In connection with other lines he has been in the fire insurance business continuously since 1894. The agency of which he is the head was founded about thirty-five years ago by the late Silas F. Loomer and in January, 1918, Mr. Elliott also bought the fire insurance agency of A. B. Adams & Company, formerly conducted by Jerome B. Baldwin, who died last January. He represents twenty-five of the leading companies, such as the Aetna Fire, the Hartford Fire and the Phoenix Fire, all of Hartford, Connecticut, and the Aetna Life Insurance Company of Hartford. His volume of business exceeds that of any other agency in Willimantic and he writes all forms of insurance, giving his time ex- clusively to this line.

On the 4th of October, 1897, Mr. Elliott was married to Miss Clara A. Hall, the eldest daughter of Gardiner Hall, Jr. She passed away November 4, 1899, her death being deeply regretted by many friends. On the 14th of November, 1906, Mr. Elliott was again married, his second union being with Christine Sayles, who died April 2, 1916, leaving a daughter, Barbara, who was born November 15, 1910.

In politics Mr. Elliott followed in the footsteps of his father and grandfather, becoming a republican when in 1888 he cast his first presidential vote for Benjamin Harrison. He served as a member of the board of aldermen in 1910 and 1911 and in the former year was a candidate for the office of mayor. He was a member of the Wind- ham town school committee for seven years and has always been interested in affairs of public import. He belongs to both the lodge and the Uniform Rank of the Knights of Pythias at Willimantic. His religious faith is that of the First Congregational church and he has been treasurer since 1899, or for a period of nineteen years. He has also been active in the Young Men's Christian Association, of which he has served as vice president and as recording secretary. While he has developed and conducted extensive and important business interests, he has never allowed commercial pursuits to so monopolize his time and attention as to leave him no chance for activity in other fields. On the contrary, he has ever recognized his duties and obligations of citizenship and his responsibilities in connection with the moral progress of the community and he stands for those things which are most worth while for the individual and for the com- mon wealth at large.

HENRY BEECHER COMINGS.

In his boyhood days Henry Beecher Comings learned the painter's trade and throughout his entire life has followed that occupation, making for himself a sub- stantial position as a representative of industrial activity in Woodstock, where his ex- cellent workmanship and his thorough reliability have won for him a liberal patronage.

He was born June 22, 1860, in Woodstock, and is a son of Samuel and Nancy Ann (Lyon) Comings. The father was born on the same farm as his son Henry and spent his entire life in Woodstock, devoting his attention to the occupations of farming and carpentering. He led a very active and useful life and became a prominent citizen of the community, taking helpful interest in public affairs and serving as a trustee of the Woodstock Academy. He was descended from one of the oldest families of Wood- stock and his wife was also a representative of one of the old families and spent her entire life in Woodstock. In both the paternal and maternal lines the ancestors of Henry Beecher Comings have played an active and important part in shaping the material development and progress of this section of Windham county.

Henry Beecher Comings, spending his youthful days under the parental roof, mas- tered the branches of learning taught in the public schools of Woodstock and afterward attended the Woodstock Academy. He lived upon the old family homestead during his boyhood days and, thinking to follow some other occupation than that of the fields, he learned the trade of painting, at which he has always worked. He continued upon the home farm until 1898, when he purchased a residence in the village of East Wood- stock, where he now resides. Thoroughness has ever characterized him in his business affairs and he early developed a high degree of efficiency in his work, so that he soon gained a liberal patronage that has increased as the years have gone by and has brought to him a gratifying annual income.

On the 9th of January, 1900, Mr. Comings was united in marriage to Mrs. Marie Elizabeth (Hill) Stroud, of Hartford, Connecticut, who was born in Salem, Massa- chusetts, and was three years of age when she was taken by her parents to Nashua, Iowa, where she was reared and educated. While in the west she became the wife of Lafayette Stroud, of Nashua, who was proprietor of a hotel in that place for a time but spent his last days in Buda, Illinois, where he passed away in 1888. His widow afterward removed to Minneapolis, Minnesota, and in 1898 returned to Con-

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necticut, establishing her home in Hartford, where she married. By her former mar- riage she has a son, Harry Lafayette, who was born in Nashua, Iowa, and is now assistant weighmaster at the coal mines in Percy, Illinois, having been identified with coal mining from the age of sixteen years.

Mr. Comings is a stalwart republican in his political views, believing firmly in the principles of the party. He belongs to the Congregational church of East Wood- stock and is serving as chairman of the church committee, while his wife is an active worker in the Ladies' Aid Society of the church and is also a member of the ladies' board of the Day-Kimball Hospital of Putnam. In a word, they are actively interested in all those forces which are valuable factors in ameliorating hard conditions of life for the unfortunate or in uplifting the individual, and their work has been effective, far reaching and resultant. They are both held in the highest esteem by those who know them and they have a circle of friends almost coextensive with the circle of their acquaintance.

EDGAR MASON WHEATON.

Edgar Mason Wheaton, who passed to the home beyond January 21, 1920, left as a precious legacy to his family and friends a memory that is cherished by all who knew him, owing to the upright life which he lived and his valuable contribution to the world's work. He was interested in all those forces which make for good and at the same time was a most active and influential business man, whose industry and intelligently directed effort made for honorable success. He was for a half century identified with building operations and with various other business interests in Putnam. Connecticut numbered him among her native sons, his birth having oc- curred in Pomfret, April 28, 1851. His ancestry can be traced back through eight generations to Robert Wheaton, of Rehoboth, Massachusetts, who was born in Swan- sea, Wales, in 1605 and came to America between 1630 and 1636. He married Alice Bowen and died in 1695 or 1696, at the advanced age of ninety years .. Following his removal from Salem to Rehoboth, Massachusetts, he was active in establishing the first Baptist church in the colony. He also bore his part in defending the settle- ment during the Indian war of 1675 and in many ways contributed to the develop- ment of the section in which he lived. He and his wife reared a large family, the tenth of whom was Rev. Ephraim Wheaton, who was born in Rehoboth, October 20, 1659, and there died on the 26th of April, 1734. In August, 1676, he wedded Mary Mason and following her death was again married. His second wife, Mrs. Hannah Wheaton, survived him, as she is mentioned in his will. He was a distinguished clergyman of the Baptist church in Massachusetts. His son, James Wheaton, who was born October 7, 1685, in Rehoboth, was survived by his wife, Mary, who with their eight children was mentioned in his will. The third son of the family was James Wheaton, who was born December 11, 1717, and died July 8, 1778. To him and his wife, Sarah, were born eleven children, the number including James Whea- ton, of the fifth generation, who was born in Swansea, Massachusetts, March 3, 1747, or 1748, and in 1775 removed to Pomfret, Connecticut. A carpenter by trade, he assisted in building the first Congregational church at Providence, Rhode Island. With his removal to Pomfret he purchased what has since been known as the Wheaton homestead. He married a Miss Slade and they became parents of six chil- dren, one of these being James Wheaton, the direct ancestor of Edgar M. Wheaton in the sixth generation. His birth occurred in Pomfret, May 5, 1789, and he died in 1874. On the 2d of May, 1811, he married Nancy Lyon and after her death was married December 2, 1816, to Betsey Angell. He was a prosperous farmer and a substantial citizen, who, following the dissolution of the whig party, became a stanch republican and for several years served as selectman. He was also a con- sistent Christian man and contributed much to conserve the general good of the community.

Angell Wheaton, son of James and Betsey (Angell) Wheaton, was born in Pom- fret, January 22, 1820, and for many years was extensively and successfully en- gaged in farming and fruit raising in Windham county, his place being known as Orchard Hill. He took a helpful interest in public affairs, supporting many proj -. ects for the general good, and he gave loyal support to the republican party. He was a leading member of the Baptist church of Pomfret, served in various offices in the church and for many years was superintendent of the Sunday school, doing everything in his power to advance the moral progress of the community. On the 8th of March, 1847, he married Lydia Ann Williams, who was born in Stonington,

Edgar Al. Wheaton

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Connecticut, January 1, 1827, a daughter of Thomas and Lucy (Fairfield) Williams, who afterward removed from Stonington to Pomfret. Mrs. Wheaton was a direct descendant of Roger Williams, founder of the colony of Rhode Island. Angell Whea- ton passed away January 4, 1889, his wife surviving until December 8, 1899.

Their son, Edgar Mason Wheaton, whose name introduces this review, fully maintained the honor of the family name in every particular. After attending the public schools of Pomfret and a select school conducted by Elizabeth Mathew- son, he started out in the business world at the age of sixteen years as collector for Henry S. Hutchins, a wholesale grocer of Providence, Rhode Island. When eighteen years of age he went to Wheaton, Illinois, which town was founded by his uncles, Jesse and Warren Wheaton, who contributed in large measure to the upbuilding and industrial development of that place. For a year and a half Edgar M. Wheaton there attended college and afterward went to Humboldt, Iowa, where he engaged in the manufacture, purchase and sale of lime and limestone as the partner of Dr. Rus- sell, under the firm style of Russell & Wheaton. After a year he purchased his - partner's interest and remained alone in business through the succeeding year. He then sold out and established a cabinet shop, in connection with which he took up the work of contracting and building, thus initiating his business experience along the line to which he devoted practically his entire life. For two years he success- fully engaged in contracting in Humboldt, Iowa, and then returned to his native town of Pomfret in November, 1872.

In the following spring, believing that excellent business opportunities could be secured in Putnam, he removed to this city and began the erection of a residence for his own use, doing all the work thereon himself. This demonstrated to his fel- low townsmen his skill and efficiency in his chosen line and soon other contracts were awarded him and his business grew apace. As the years passed he erected many of the fine residences and leading business blocks of the city, nor were his efforts confined to Putnam. Contracts came to him from various sections of New England and in addition to the erection of many structures for private parties he was awarded many government contracts. He was the builder of the government barracks at Fort Wright in Boston Harbor, the barracks at Little Gull Island on Long Island Sound, various schoolhouses in Boston, the postoffice in Meriden and the Webster high school building. In the meantime he had extended the scope of his activities, for not only was he engaged in taking and executing building con- tracts but also turned his attention to the manufacture of sash, doors, blinds and interior finishing. In this connection he built an extensive plant which covered an area of over thirty thousand square feet and was equipped with the most modern machinery. He had the misfortune to lose this plant in a fire in November, 1912, but he immediately resumed business by securing the old Fisher shoe shop nearby and there continuing his manufacturing activities. It was said of him that "Mr. Wheaton was a business man of the old school who toiled early and late and could at a moment's notice take charge of any machine in the shop, or could give a hand to workmen engaged on any kind of structural work." He was a trustee of the Putnam Savings Bank and he owned and controlled important agricultural interests, having a large farm which he found time to superintend. He took great pride in his agri- cultural interests, his place being well stocked with blooded cattle and hogs, which were many times prize winners when exhibited at the agricultural fairs of this section of the country. Moreover, in addition to the erection of many buildngs for others, he engaged in speculative building on his own account, erecting various houses in Putnam which he sold as advantageous opportunity presented. His entire business career was characterized by the strictest integrity and honor and he was never known to take advantage of a fellowman in any business transaction.

On the 25th of August, 1872, at Independence, Iowa, Mr. Wheaton was united in marriage to Miss Charity Eliza Jayne, daughter of Timothy and Phoebe (Plimpton) Jayne. Their marriage was blessed with six children. Mary Alice, who was gradu- ated from Wheaton College at Wheaton, Illinois, in 1898; Frank Angell, who com- pleted a course at Wheaton College in 1899 and then took up the study of medicine, being. now a successful practicing physician of Bellingham, Washington; Walter Alexander, who became the active associate of his father in business; Henry Ward, who met death at White's Crossing, being struck by a train, and who had pursued a mechanical engineering course in Pratt Institute of Brooklyn, New York; William Edgar, who is a resident of Putnam; and Raymond Thomas, who also makes his home in Putnam.

Mr. Wheaton ever gave his political allegiance to the republican party, believing firmly in its principles, and his interest in matters of citizenship was never of a negative character. He stood loyally for every cause which he believed would benefit

Vol. 11-18

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HISTORY OF WINDHAM COUNTY

and upbuild the community, and although never ambitious to hold public office, he acceded to the request of his fellow townsmen and on various occasions became a candidate for public preferment. He was elected alderman from the second ward when Putnam was incorporated as a city and served for two terms in that position, doing much to establish the course of the municipality during its formative period. He represented his town in the house of representatives of the state legislature of 1907 and served on the committee on humane institutions. He was a member of the Chamber of Commerce and served as its president. The cause of temperance found in him a stalwart advocate who was unceasing in his labors to secure adoption of prohibition principles. Throughout his life he was a consistent Christian and for many years served as deacon of the Congregational church, as superintendent of its Sunday school, as teacher of a bible class and in other lines of church work, at all times contributing most generously to the financial support of the church. A man of most charitable spirit, he gave freely wherever aid was needed, yet his benefactions were of a most unostentatious character. Many there are, however, who have reason to bless his memory for his kindly assistance in an hour of need. His was a practi- cal Christianity. A modern philosopher has said: "Not the good that comes to us, but the good that comes to the world through us, is the measure of our success," and judged by this standard Edgar Mason Wheaton was a most successful man. To him life meant opportunity-the opportunity for achievement in business, for the support of his community, the assistance of his fellowmen. No call to duty was ever unheeded by him and his entire life was actuated by the higher principles which find their expression in Christian service.

LOUIS HENRY LINDEMAN.

Louis Henry Lindeman is actively identified with farming, dairying and artesian well drilling, making his home in East Woodstock, Windham county. He was born in Dorum, Germany, June 4, 1865, but was only three years of age when bronght to Connecticut. His father, Louis Henry Lindeman, Sr., who for many years was a highly respected citizen of. Woodstock, was born in Hanover, Germany, August 16, 1834, and was a son of Ludvig Henry Lindeman, whose birth occurred in Germany and who there passed away in 1864. During his active life he had conducted an extensive busi- ness as a horticulturist and exporter of seeds, making his first consignment of flower and vegetable seeds to the United States in 1842. The Lindeman family originated in Holland, although members of it settled in Germany as far back as the fourteenth century.

Louis Henry Lindeman, Sr., after attending the public schools of Germany to the age of fourteen years, worked in his father's garden for about six years and then leased land and engaged in market gardening until 1866. On the 16th of September of that year he sailed for the United States, landing 'at New York on the 27th of October. He then made his way to Woodstock and for six years was employed by Henry T. Child. In 1873 he took up the florist's trade and eventually owned and utilized forty- five acres in that connection, raising flowers, nursery stock, vegetables and vegetable plants and garden truck generally. His religious faith was that of the German Luther- an church while he was in his native country, but in Woodstock he became a member of the First Congregational church. In politics he was a stanch republican. On the 9th of May, 1858, he wedded Sophia Magdalene Tavis, and about two years after his emigration to America, Mrs. Lindeman with their six children crossed the Atlantic to join her husband. She died in Woodstock, March 28, 1900, while Mr. Lindeman's death occurred in Woodstock in February, 1905.

Louis Henry Lindeman, of this review, was one of a family of fourteen children and was but three years of age at the time his mother emigrated to the new world, arriving at New York on the 4th of June, 1868. In the period of his boyhood and youth he worked to a greater or less extent upon his father's and neighboring farms and was so employed until 1897, when he took up the work of well drilling, in which business he is still engaged, giving considerable attention to the task of drilling artesian wells. In 1910 he removed to a farm in the village of East Woodstock and is now quite ex- tensively and successfully engaged in general farming and dairying, his business affairs in that connection being wisely, carefully and successfully managed.

On the 22d of March, 1898, Mr. Lindeman was united in marriage to Miss Harriet E. Allen, of Woodstock, who was born in Eastford, Windham county, and is a daugh- ter of Henry Ripley and Mary Lucy (Hibbard) Allen. The father was born in Union, Tolland county, Connecticut, and afterward followed the occupation of farming in Eastford, Windham county, until his death. His wife was born in Woodstock. Mr.

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HISTORY OF WINDHAM COUNTY

and Mrs. Lindeman became parents of three children: Mary Eleanor, who was born in Woodstock; Louisa Allen, who was born in Southbridge, Massachusetts; and Doris Harriet, a native of Worcester, Massachusetts.

In his political views Mr. Lindeman has always been a republican since age con- ferred upon him the right of franchise and he is now serving as a member of the school board but has never been a politician in the sense of office seeking. The family attend and support the East Woodstock Congregational church. Mr. Lindeman is inter- ested in all that has to do with the welfare and progress of the district in which he lives and in his own career he has illustrated the value of indefatigable energy and persistency of purpose. Starting out in life at an early age on his own account, he has steadily worked his way upward and is today one of the substantial citizens of East Woodstock.

JAMES HOWARD HUTCHINS, D. V. S.

Dr. James Howard Hutchins, who makes his home in Abington and is engaged in the practice of veterinary surgery in Windham county, was born October 28, 1879, in Abington, a son of Dr. James Howard Hutchins, who was also a native of Abington. Having arrived at years of maturity, the latter took up the study of medicine and after- ward engaged in practice in Brooklyn, New York, for a number of years. Subsequently he returned to Abington, where he continued in active practice for an extended period, becoming one of the distinguished physicians of his section of the state. He passed away in Abington in 1880, leaving a widow and two children, the elder being Adrianna M., who was born in Brooklyn, New York, and makes her home in Abington. The mother bore the maiden name of Phoebe Peal and was born in Brooklyn, New York, but when thirteen years of age became a resident of Abington, where on the 13th of May, 1875, she was married to Dr. James Howard Hutchins. Since his death she has become the wife of Clement A. Sharpe.

In the acquirement of his education Dr. Hutchins attended the district schools and the Woodstock Academy, from which he was graduated in 1898. He afterward became a student in the New York American Veterinary College, where he won his D. V. S. degree in 1905. He then entered upon active practice in Windham county, where he has since remained, making his home in Abington, and his professional skill and ability is attested by the liberal patronage accorded him. Fraternally he is identified with Wolf Den Grange and belongs to Israel Putnam Lodge, No. 46, A. F. & A. M., and to Elks Lodge, No. 574, of Putnam. His political allegiance is stanchly given to the republican party. He was elected to the state legislature in 1915 and 1916, and was made a member of the claims committee and of the committee on the furnishing of the house and capitol. He is interested in all that pertains to public progress and his aid and support can be counted upon to further every plan or measure for the general good.

JOSEPH ELDRIDGE STODDARD.

Joseph Eldridge Stoddard, a representative farmer of Pomfret, where he was born December 14, 1866, is a son of George and Angelina Chase (Williams) Stoddard. The father, also a native of Pomfret, devoted his life to the occupation of farming and also to the grocery trade, being for eight years manager of a grocery car for Randolf L. Bul- lard, the grocer of Abington. In 1874 he bought the farm now owned by his son, Joseph E., in the Marcy Hollow district of Pomfret and there devoted his attention to general agricultural pursuits, passing away upon that place when forty-nine years of age. His wife, who was born in Pomfret, died in the same house as her husband, passing away in the year 1916.

Joseph E. Stoddard acquired his education at the Four Corners school in the Pom- fret district and after his textbooks were put aside began cultivating his father's farm. He was reared to the occupation of farming, early becoming familiar with the best methods of tilling the soil and caring for the crops. He has now lived upon his present place for forty-three years, it having been purchased by his father in 1874, and he is carrying on general farming, bringing his fields under a high state of cultivation. He devotes considerable attention to the production of crops best adapted to soil and climate, and he also has a fine orchard upon his place and various other kinds of fruit. The place presents a neat and thrifty appearance and indicates the careful supervision and progressive methods of the owner, who is justly accounted one of the representa- tive farmers of this part of the county.

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On the 9th of March, 1892, at Marcy Hollow, in Pomfret, Mr. Stoddard was united in marriage to Miss Mary Annie Arnold, who was born in Marcy Hollow, within one hundred yards of her present home. She is a daughter of James Lamont and Mary (Marcy) Arnold. Her father was born in Woodstock and after his marriage removed to Marcy Hollow, in Pomfret, where he has since followed the occupation of farming. His wife was born in Pomfret and when a little maiden of but four years became an occupant of the home in which she spent her remaining days, there passing away Sep- tember 5, 1916. To Mr. and Mrs. Stoddard have been born five children. Mary Angelina, who was born January 29, 1893, is the wife of Raymond Sawyer Medbury, a resident farmer of Pomfret. Ada Maria, born November 17, 1894, is engaged in teaching school. George Arnold was born September 29, 1901. Helen Louise, born in 1907, died at the age of seven months. Charles Eldridge, born February 19, 1910, completes the family.

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A modern history of Windham county, Connecticut : a Windham county treasure book, Volume II, Part 40

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