A modern history of Windham county, Connecticut : a Windham county treasure book, Volume II, Part 61

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

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CLEMENT ABISHA SHARPE.

Clement Abisha Sharpe, now deceased, was born in Abington, Connecticut, July 31, 1852, a son of George and Mary Putnam Waldo Sharpe. His father was born at Elliots in Pomfret, and removed to Abington, in the same town, where he engaged in agriculture and the meat business. He was an earnest church worker and long a leader of the choir in the Abington Congregational church. His wife was born in Pomfret and was a great- granddaughter of General Israel Putnam. In early womanhood she became Mrs. Phillips and was one of the first settlers in Illinois, where her husband met an accidental death. On returning east she married George Sharpe and spent her remaining days in Pomfret.

Clement Abisha Sharpe acquired his education in the public schools in Pomfret, and engaged in agriculture as a life work. On March 21, 1883, he was united in marriage with Mrs. Phebe Peal Hutchins, a native of Brooklyn, New York, but who became a resident of Abington at an early age. To them were born five children. Clement Andrew, who is engaged in the lumber business in Abington, married Clara Martin, a daughter of Charles F. and Catherine Elliott Martin. Mary Putnam is a successful school teacher. Carl Mortimer, a farmer, married Edna Butler, of Deep River, Connecticut, and now resides in Milford, Connecticut. Virginia Southard is a school teacher, living in Danielson. Harriet Frances died when nine months old.

Politically Mr. Sharpe was a stanch republican, and in 1888-89 served his district as representative in the Connecticut General Assembly. He also served his town as tax assessor and road commissioner for a number of years. He was a member of the Congre- gational church and was organist there for twenty-five years. He passed away April 19, 1901, in the same room in which he was born in the old Sharpe home, at the age of forty- eight, and his death was the occasion of deep and widespread regret, for he left behind many friends.

PATRICK JAMES DANAHEY.

Patrick James Danahey, an attorney at law practicing in Willimantic, not only chose as a life work a profession where advancement depends entirely upon individual merit and ability but made for himself the opportunity of entering actively into the work of the profession, being entirely dependent upon his own resources from an early age. Actu- ated by a laudable ambition, he has steadily advanced, utilizing every chance to take a forward step, and his orderly progression has brought him to a most creditable position in professional circles. He was born in Colchester, Connecticut, February 24, 1875, a son of Sylvester and Ellen (Murphy) Danahey.

While spending his youthful days in the home of his parents he pursued a district and public school education in nearby villages and in the high school at Rockville, shar- ing in the advantages of the other children of the family. He has one brother who is still living, Joseph, who occupies a farm in New Hampshire. After completing his high school course Patrick J. Danahey took up the profession of teaching, which he followed in Columbia, Franklin and Mansfield, Connecticut, and during this period he devoted his leisure hours to the study of law, pursuing his reading in various law offices until his admission to the bar at Rockville, Connecticut, in April, 1898. In 1904 he removed to Willimantic, where he has since practiced and has made for himself a most creditable position in the ranks of the legal fraternity. With a mind naturally analytical, logical and inductive, he prepares his cases with great thoroughness and care and presents his cause so clearly that he seldom fails to win the verdict desired. He is now filling the position of assistant prosecuting attorney of Willimantic and he has been a justice of the peace since attaining his majority.

On the 26th of October, 1904, Mr. Danahey was united in marriage to Miss Helen S. Jones and they have one son, Calvin N., who was born August 24, 1907. In politics Mr. Danahey has always been a stalwart democrat and has served as a member of the city

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council of Willimantic, acting in that capacity from 1903 until 1905. He has been a dele- gate to various democratic conventions and does all in his power to promote the growth and secure the adoption of the political principles in which he so strongly believes. He is a man of firm purpose, resolute in support of all that he believes to be right, and his position upon any vital question is never an equivocal one. He is connected with no clubs or lodges but concentrates his efforts and attention upon his professional interests, which he regards as eminently worthy of his best efforts. His devotion to his clients' interests has become proverbial, yet he never forgets that he owes a still higher allegiance to the majesty of the law.

JOSEPH WYLIE CUTLER.

Joseph Wylie Cutler, of Putnam, was practically living retired at the time of his death but for many years figured prominently in business circles of his city. For an extended period he was a successful coal merchant but, disposing of his interests in that connection, devoted his attention to the management of a highly developed farm of one hundred acres which he owned on Putnam Heights, also to the control of other extensive real estate holdings, and to his duties as a director in the First National Bank of Putnam. He was likewise a stockholder in the Putnam Foundry & Machine Company and his pos- sessions were the direct result and merited reward of earnest, persistent effort, intelli- gently directed. He used his time and talents wisely and well and his efforts were of a character that contributed to public prosperity and progress as well as to individual success.

Mr. Cutler was born in Central Village, in the town of Plainfield, Connecticut, Feb- ruary 5, 1841, and traced his ancestry back through seven generations, in which connec- tion a contemporary biographer said: "The family name of Cutler, now so largely repre- sented in English speaking countries by men of intelligence, wealth and influence in the various communities in which they have resided, is a time-honored one. Members of this family have for many generations held positions of trust and enjoyed the respect and esteem of their fellow townsmen." Since early colonial days the family has been represented in New England and has been characterized in successive generations by patriotism, by intellectual strength and integrity of purpose. The Cutler family of Wind- ham county comes down from James Cutler, who was born in England in 1606 and in 1634 crossed the Atlantic to become a resident of Watertown, Massachusetts. Thus through nearly three centuries the family has been represented on American soil. The ancestral line is traced down through his son, Lieutenant Thomas Cutler, who was born in Watertown, Massachusetts, about 1648. He became a prominent member of the church of Lexington, Massachusetts, and soon after the incorporation of the town, on the 20th of March, 1712, he was chosen one of the tything-men. He also served as assessor, constable and selectman and in public records is mentioned by the title of lieu- tenant. He died in Lexington, July 13, 1722. His son, Jonathan Cutler, was baptized at Watertown, Massachusetts, June 17, 1688, and died at Killingly, Connecticut, where an inventory of his estate was ordered June 10, 1746. On the 8th of May, 1710, he sold his lands in Killingly, Connecticut, and removed to Colchester, this state. On the 17th of August, 1710, he was married in Watertown to Abigail Bigelow and they became parents of six children, including Captain William Cutler, who was born in Bellingham, Massa- chusetts, March 24, 1726-27. Soon afterward his parents removed to North Killingly, now Thompson, Connecticut, and later Captain William Cutler became a resident of Plain- field, Connecticut. He was married November 7, 1750, to Susannah, daughter of Joseph Shepard. He became a captain of the military forces of Connecticut in 1766 and on the Lexington alarm marched from Plainfield, Connecticut, to the relief of Boston in April, 1775. He died in February, 1802, at the age of seventy-five years. Simon Cutler, grand- father of Joseph W. Cutler and a representative of the family in the fifth generation, was born in Plainfield, Connecticut, September 6, 1766, and from his father inherited the homestead, upon which he resided and which he cultivated throughout his entire life. On the 17th of December, 1797, he married Betsey Herrick, who passed away August 5, 1821. He later married a widow and he passed away June 1, 1843, in the house in which he was born.

Job Herrick Cutler was a native of Plainfield, Connecticut, born June 3, 1807, and on the 8th of, September, 1886, at the age of seventy-nine years, he passed away at Danielson, Connecticut. He resided in Plainfield until 1872 and engaged extensively in dealing in cattle there. After that date he lived retired in Danielson. His vote was cast for the candidates of the whig party until its dissolution, after which he became a stanch repub- lican, and he filled many town offices, while in 1857 he represented his district in the state legislature. He is spoken of as "jovial and good-natured, seldom known to become

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angry under any circumstances, and a man highly respected by all who knew him." His religious faith was indicated by his membership in the Congregational church of Central Village. On the 24th of May, 1836, he wedded Mary Elizabeth Wylie, who was born August 22, 1813, a daughter of John and Sarah Susannalı (Dorrance) Wylie, of Volun- town, Connecticut, and died in Danielson, December 14, 1890, having for four years sur- vived her husband.

In taking up the personal history of Joseph W. Cutler we present to our readers the life record of one who was long widely and favorably known in Windham county. At the usual age he became a pupil in the district schools near his father's home, pursuing his studies to the age of sixteen, and in the periods of vacation he worked upon the farni, which comprised three hundred acres. After his textbooks were put aside he continued to aid in the development of the old homestead until 1868 and then purchased the prop- erty, which he further improved for about four years and then sold. In 1875 he took up his abode in Putnam and afterward purchased a farm of one hundred acres, for he greatly enjoyed outdoor life and ever found pleasure in agricultural pursuits. In the meantime, however, important commercial interests claimed his time and attention. In 1877 he established a wholesale and retail coal trade and developed his business to large proportions, winning notable and well deserved success in the undertaking. In 1897 he admitted his younger brother, Edward J. Cutler, to a partnership and their interests were then conducted under the firm style of J. W. Cutler & Brother. Joseph W. Cutler con- tinued actively in the coal trade until 1907, when he retired from that business, but indolence and idleness were utterly foreign to his nature and he could not content him- self without some business activity. He accordingly managed his farm, which comprised one hundred acres of splendidly developed land on Putnam Heights. He also made judicious investment in other property and had extensive real estate holdings in Putnam. In addition he was a director of the First National Bank and a stockholder in the Putnam Foundry & Machine Company. In 1893 he erected the large building known as the Armory. Whatever he undertook he carried steadily forward to success and obstacles in his path seemed to serve but as a stimulus for renewed effort on his part. In his vocabulary there was no such word as fail and when he felt that one avenue of oppor- tunity closed he sought out other paths whereby he might reach the desired goal.

On the 18th of January, 1866, Mr. Cutler was married to Miss Mary Larned Buck, who was born in North Killingly, January 13, 1842, a daughter of Elisha and Charlotte (Steere) Buck and a granddaughter of Aaron and Anna (Lawrence) Buck. To Mr. and Mrs. Cutler were born two children: Alice Laura, who was born November 3, 1867, and died April 29, 1874; and Annie Gertrude, who was born July 13, 1875. The death of Mrs. Cutler occurred in 1915. Mr. Cutler was again married January 23, 1917, to Mary Josephine Manter. He passed away on the 28th of June, 1919.

After age conferred upon him the right of franchise Mr. Cutler was a stalwart cham- pion of the republican party and when twenty-two years of age was appointed deputy sheriff of Plainfield, in which capacity he served for nine years. He was also constable of his town and selectman for two years, but after his removal to Putnam persistently refused to accept political office, although many such would have been conferred upon him had he consented to serve. However, he was a member of the board of relief of Putnam and he was interested in all that pertained to the welfare and progress of his city along the lines of material, intellectual, social and moral progress. His is an un- tarnished name. He was most loyal to high standards of manhood and to equally high standards of citizenship and those who knew him entertained for him the warmest regard, so that he long had an extensive circle of true friends in Putnam.

JOHN F. CARR.

John F. Carr is the secretary and treasurer of the J. F. Carr Company of Willi- mantic and is thus well known in mercantile circles of the city. A native of Massa- chusetts, he was born in Lee, February 15, 1859, a son of John and Nora (Ford) Carr. After acquiring a public school education he worked upon farms, early starting out to provide for his own support, never having opportunity to attend school after reach- ing the age of twelve years. Experience, however, has been to him a thorough teacher, and, possessing an observing eye and retentive memory, he has learned many valuable lessons. He continued at farm work until he reached the age of eighteen years, after which he was employed in grocery stores and paper mills until 1891, when he came to Willimantic and became interested with his brother in the business which they are now conducting. His connection with this undertaking covers twenty-six years. Their store is one of the famous Besse system of stores and is one of the most enterprising commercial establishments of the city. John F. Carr took over the store in 1897 and

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now employs five men. His store room is twenty-five by one hundred and fifteen feet and he also utilizes a basement twenty-five by fifty-five feet. He carries an extensive stock, has equipped his placo with fine fixtures and the store is modern and attractive in every way. He holds to the highest standards, not only in the stock carried, but in the per- sonnel of the house and in the treatment rendered to patrons, and the integrity and enterprise of his business methods have brought to him a constantly increasing success. In addition to his mercantile interests he is connected with a laundry here and also with the Willimantic Industrial Association and with the Willimantic Improvement Association.

On the 26th of June, 1894, in Bethel, Connecticut, Mr. Carr was united in marriage to Miss Sarah Ryan and they became the parents of a son, John Patrick Carr, who was educated in the parochial and high schools and also pursued a business course in Pough- keepsie, New York. He passed away in February, 1917, on the threshold of young man- hood, being nineteen years of age, and his death was the occasion of the deepest sorrow not only to the immediate family but to the entire community, for he was popular and had many friends in the city.

Mr. and Mrs. Carr are members of St. Joseph's Roman Catholic church and fra- ternally he is connected with the Knights of Columbus and with the Benevolent Pro- tective Order of Elks, being one of the trustees in the latter organization. He is like- wise the president of St. Vincent's Society and he belongs to the Chamber of Commerce. All these associations indicate the nature and breadth of his interests and show him to be a man of kindly spirit, of generous disposition and of high moral worth. In politics he is a republican and has often been solicited to become a candidate for office but has continually refused. He regards the pursuits of private life as in themselves abundantly worthy of his best efforts and prefers to concentrate his time and energies upon his commercial interests, which have constantly grown in volume and importance.

CHARLES WARREN WILLIAMS.

Charles Warren Williams is the owner of an excellent farm property which is pleasantly and conveniently situated a mile and a half northwest of Danielson. He acquired this place in 1900 and through the intervening period has devoted his time and energies to its further development and improvement, converting it into one of the fine farms of this section of the state. He deserves much credit for what he has accomplished, as he started out in the business world empty-handed and his prosperity is the direct reward and outcome of his labors.

Connecticut numbers him among her native sons, for he was born in Attawaugan, Windham County, December 8, 1877, his parents being William Henry and Lydia A. (Horton) Williams. The father was born at Foster, Rhode Island, and acquired a district school education near his birthplace. As a young man he began working as a farm hand and was thus employed for several years. Later he went to Arkwright, Rhode Island, where he was employed in a grist mill for several years. He afterward took up his abode at Attawaugan, Connecticut, and there operated a sawmill for several years, being employed by Augustus Bassett. Later he removed to Danielson, Connecticut, and took charge of the grist mill for the Quinebaug Company. That he is most capable and efficient in this particular is indicated in the fact that he has occupied the position con- tinuously since 1878, and throughout this entire period, covering more than forty-two years, has had entire charge of the plant, formulating the plans and directing the activ- ities of the enterprise. He married Lydia A. Horton, a native of Providence, Rhode Island, and a daughter of Lucius Horton. By this marriage two children have been born, the younger being Lucius B. Williams, who married Clara M. L'Henreux and is engaged in operating his portable saw mill in Danielson and other Connecticut and Rhode Island towns.

Charles W. Williams pursued his education in the public schools of Killingly and after his textbooks were put aside turned to the occupation of farming by entering the employ of C. J. Bush on Bush Hill, in the town of Brooklyn. He there remained from 1896 until 1897 and afterward worked on a farm for E. P. Danielson, of Killingly, Con- necticut, for a period of four years. It was his great desire, however, to engage in business on his own account and he carefully saved his earnings until his industry and economy had brought him sufficient capital to enable him to purchase his present farm property. He acquired one hundred and sixty acres, known as the Wilson Farm, about a mile and a half northwest of Danielson and overlooking the Quinebaug river on the west, with Danielson to the southeast. The farm has all modern improvements and accessories, including the latest improved machinery and substantial buildings, furnish- ing ample shelter to grain and stock. In addition to tilling the soil Mr. Williams is

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raising thoroughbred Ayrshire cattle, having now a fine herd numbering about forty head. He has upon his place a Natco hollow tile silo with two hundred tons capacity, the only one of the kind in Windham county. He has made various other improvements, has a fine barn one hundred and twenty by forty feet, and has erected other structures which stand as monuments to his progressive spirit and unfaltering enterprise.

On March 30, 1904, Mr. Williams was united in marriage to Miss Dora May Deane, a daughter of Charles E. and Mary E. (Nelson) Deane, natives of Massachusetts. In politics Mr. Williams maintains an independent course, nor has he been an office seeker, although he has served on the board of relief. Fraternally he is connected with Quine- baug Lodge, No. 34, I. O. O. F. and Unity Encampment No. 21; also Killingly Grange, No. 112, and Quinebaug Pomona No. 2. He belongs to that class of substantial citizens of whom New England has every reason to be proud. He can boast an honored ancestry, for he is a representative in the eighth generation of the descendants of Roger Williams, and the same spirit of loyalty and devotion to duty which marked that pioneer settler of New England is manifest in Charles Warren Williams.

BERNARD GEORGE BROWN.

Bernard George Brown, chief engineer of the Attawaugan Mills at Attawaugan, where he was born December 10, 1892, is a son of George Lewis and Evelyn (Matthews) Brown. The father is a native of the town of Eastford, Windham county, and there in young manhood he followed the occupation of farming. Early in life he removed to Attawaugan, where he was employed in the carding department of the Attawaugan Mills, in which he has risen to the position of overseer. His wife, who was born in the town of Killingly, also survives and they are well known in the village of Attawaugan and throughout the surrounding town.

Bernard G. Brown attended the public schools of Attawaugan and of Ballouville and was graduated from the Killingly high school at Danielson as a member of the class of 1910. Following his graduation he entered the employ of the Attawaugan Company as assistant engineer of the mills at Attawaugan and in 1916 was advanced to the position of chief engineer of the mills, which position he has since acceptably filled. Before completing his high school course he began to study steam, electric and power engineering and continued to take home courses in steam engineering after he left the high school. He has so perfected his knowledge of the subject that he is now the chief engineer of the Attawaugan Company mills and has full charge of all the power that operates both the Attawaugan and the Ball uville mills and furnishes electric light and other motor power. He is thoroughly qualified for the important duties that devolve upon him in this connection by reason of his wide study and practical experience.

At East Killingly, Connecticut, on the 1st of September, 1914, Mr. Brown was married to Miss Lena Shippee, a daughter of Albert Henry and Emeline (Place) Shippee, who were natives of East Killingly, where her father followed the occupation of farming to the time of his death. His widow still survives him. Mr. and Mrs. Brown have a little son, Carlisle Mathews, born in Attawaugan, October 10, 1919.

Fraternally Mr. Brown is connected with Maria Lodge, No. 15, A. F. & A. M., of Danielson. He enlisted in the United States army for the World war on the 5th of August, 1918, and was discharged on the 14th of December of the same year following the signing of the armistice. In politics he has always been a republican and his religious faith is indicated by his membership in the Attawaugan Methodist Episcopal church. He is an alert and energetic young man who is making steady progress along business lines and has already attained an enviable position.

MARCEL JETTE.

Marcel Jette is now living retired in Wauregan, where he is filling the office of selectman. He was born in the parish of St. Gregoire, in the county of Iberville, in the province of Quebec, Canada, June 10, 1847, his parents being Alexis and Adelaide (L'homme) Jette, who were natives of Iberville county, where the father followed the blacksmith's trade. In 1866 he removed with his family to Wauregan, Connecticut, where he continued to work at his trade, spending his remaining days there.

Marcel Jette acquired his education in the schools of his native town, where he remained until 1865 and then became a resident of Wauregan, Connecticut. For two years he was engaged in outside work with the Wauregan Company and in 1867 became a clerk in the general store of the Wauregan Company, which owns the mills. He con-

Bemand G. Brown.

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tinued in active association with that company until 1895, when he retired from busi- ness life, having in the meantime steadily worked his way upward until he was active in control and operation of one of the important industries of this section of the county.

In July, 1867, at Moosup, Connecticut, Mr. Jette was united in marriage to Miss Mary Mayno Menard, who was born in Iberville county of the province of Quebec and in young womanhood became a resident of Wauregan, where she passed away in 1909. She was a daughter of Francis and Sophia (Gusslin) Menard, also natives of Iberville, where her father followed farming. His wife died in that country and he afterward removed to Wauregan, where he was employed as a laborer. He was married again there and spent his last days in Wauregan. To Mr. and Mrs. Jette were born fourteen children, ten of whom are living, and all of whom were born in Wauregan, as follows: Docithe E., who is engaged in merchandising at Danielson, Connecticut; Marcel, a mill worker in Wauregan; Eliza, who is the wife of Alfege Goyette, a mill worker; Joseph, a clerk in the store of the Wauregan Company; Isaac, who is employed as a clerk at Danielson, Connecticut; Elodia, who gave her hand in marriage to O. V. Chartier, of Bos- ton, Massachusetts; Alpherie, who is engaged in the butchering business at Wauregan; Rosealma, the wife of Louis Giebbault, a carpenter residing in Wauregan; Emalda, at home; and Valdeda, who is Sister Marcel Theresa in St. John's convent of Waterbury, Connecticut.

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A modern history of Windham county, Connecticut : a Windham county treasure book, Volume II, Part 61

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