A modern history of Windham county, Connecticut : a Windham county treasure book, Volume II, Part 80

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

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While attending college he assisted in the practice at the hospital of the institu- tion and during vacations practiced with a preceptor engaged in general practice. On the 1st of June, 1900, he came to Willimantic, considering this city a promising field,

DR. BURT K. DOW

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although he did not know any one here who could help him in launching upon his career. He has since continuously practiced in Willimantic and since receiving his first few cases and proving his ability his clientage has continuously grown so he now covers an extensive territory in the eastern part of the state and not only that, but he has made many personal friends who admire him for his straightforward dealing. To Dr. Dow is, due the greater credit for what he has achieved as he has made his way un- aided by any one and worked himself up from a poor boy into a recognized and honored professional position.

On the 25th of December, 1900, occurred the marriage of Dr. Dow and Miss Bessie L. Wells, of Waterbury, Vermont, and to them has been born a son, Richard B., whose birth occurred on the 3d of September, 1903.

Fraternally, Dr. Dow is a member of the Masonic order and the teachings of the craft guide his conduct toward his fellowmen.

For fourteen years he was secretary of the Connecticut Veterinary Medical Asso- ciation and for one year served as president, the honor being conferred upon him in recognition of his interest and efforts in advancing the welfare of the organization and his standing and ability in the profession. He was a member of the State Board of Veterinary Registration and Examination and served as secretary and treasurer of this board from June, 1905, to July, 1913. From October, 1911, to July, 1913, he was deputy commissioner on Domestic Animals for Connecticut, and while holding this office worked energetically to eradicate contagious diseases among animals and promote the interests of the live-stock industry throughout the state.

His political allegiance is given to the republican party, and while he has given much thought and help to promoting public measures of value, he has never desired of- fice as a reward for any service which he may have rendered his party. He is a public- spirited man, and as much interested in the growth and advancement of his community as in his own success and one who unselfishly gives the deepest consideration to his duties as a loyal and useful American citizen.

JOHN NELSON ANDERSON.

The long years of his residence in Windham county and his close, honorable and successful connection with farming interests through an extended period well entitle John Nelson Anderson to rank with the representative residents of this section of the state. He makes his home at Fabyan, in the town of Thompson, Windham county. He was born in Jönköping, Sweden, October 30, 1847, a son of Andrew and Carrie (Nelson) Johnson, who were also natives of that place. There the father had a little farm and in addition to its cultivation worked in a foundry. The mother died in Sweden and the father afterward came to America, making his home with his son at North Wood- stock, Conecticut, until he, too, passed away in 1889.

John N. Anderson pursued his education in the place of his nativity, but this op- portunities in that direction were quite limited and his most valuable lessons have been learned in the school of experience, which he has found ofttimes a difficult but always a thorough teacher. He did farm work in Sweden until the spring of 1872, when he came to America and was employed in the cranberry bogs of Dr. George A. Bowen at Woodstock. He came to New England especially to engage in that work, making the trip with Jonas M. Johnson and others of their nationality, and Mr. Ander- son and Mr. Johnson shared the honor of being the oldest Swedish settlers of Windham county, having reached Woodstock on the 9th of May, 1872, or almost a half century ago. Mr. Anderson worked for Dr. Bowen until the fall of that year, when he entered the employ of Zenas Marcey as a farm hand at Woodstock, there remaining for a year. He then took up the work of a carpenter and stone mason and largely gave his attention to carpentering in Putnam and Norwich, Connecticut, for some time. Eventually, however, he returned to Woodstock, where he cultivated a rented farm for a year. In 1904 he removed to the vicinity of Fabyan, in the town of Thompson, and rented his present home farm. He has since devoted his attention to its cultivation and improve- ment, and in addition to raising the cereals best adapted to soil and climate he is engaged to some extent in dairying. Since 1904 he has lived upon the place which he now occupies.

On the 30th of October, 1873, at Woodstock, Mr. Anderson was united in marriage to Miss Inga Frederickson, who was also a native of Jönköping, Sweden, and came to America in order to wed Mr. Anderson, to whom she had plighted her troth in her native land. She died at Thompson, Connecticut, in March, 1916. They were the parents of eleven children, of whom ten are living: Charles, a resident of Voluntown, Connecticut; Ida, the widow of Andrew Dexter; Henry, a Baptist minister of Rhode

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HISTORY OF WINDHAM COUNTY

Island, who married Bertha Avery; Nellie; Annie, deceased; Lillian; Harry; Mary, the wife of William Lun, of Norwich, Connecticut; Nina, the wife of Lucius Austin, of Thompson; Arthur; and John, who became a member of the United States navy in July, 1918.

In politics Mr. Anderson is a republican and has served on the school board of Woodstock. He also belongs to the Woodstock Swedish Congregational church. For forty-eight years a resident of Windham county, he has lived to witness many changes as the work of development and transformation has been carried steadily forward here, and his record as an industrious, energetic and progressive business man is an enviable one.

JAMES WELD CARTWRIGHT.

James Weld Cartwright, identified with electric lighting and street railway inter- ests in Maine, was born on the 11th of October, 1868, in Cincinnati, Ohio, and is a son of James Weld and Emily Julia (Avery) Cartwright, the former a native of Boston, Massachusetts, and the latter of Cincinnati, Ohio. He is descended from old colonial families, being connected with the Cartwrights, the Welds, the Cushmans, the Brad- fords, the Haydens and Starbucks-names that are well known in connection with the history of New England's development.

James W. Cartwright, of this review, after attending the public schools of Boston, continued his education in the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, from which he was graduated with the class of 1889. He then turned his attention to electric lighting and street railway interests and his activities were directed along these lines until 1910. He is now engaged in orcharding at Hampton.

On the 20th of December, 1894, at Brookline, Massachusetts, Mr. Cartwright was married to Miss Martha Barstow Cutler, daughter of James H. Cutler, mentioned else- where in this work. They are parents of two children, Helen Weld and Charles Copp Cartwright.

WADE ULYSSES WEBSTER.

Wade Ulysses Webster is chief of the fire department at Willimantic and is a past president of the Connecticut State Firemen's Association, while in business circles he is widely known as the assistant superintendent of the Hall & Bill Printing Company, Incorporated. Mr. Webster was born at Willington, Tolland county, Connecticut, June 5, 1874, and is a son of Eugene Samuel and Elizabeth (Brayman) Webster. The father was born at Willington, where he acquired his education, and there learned the trade of spoolmaker in the thread mills of the Gardner Hall, Jr., Company, this being one of the early thread mills in America. He was connected therewith for many years and then removed to Holyoke, Massachusetts, where he was employed in the spoolmaking department of the Merrick Thread Mills. Subsequently he was connected with a similar department of the Hadley Thread Mills in Holyoke, where he continued for about six years. In 1881 he removed to Willimantic and secured a position in the spool depart- ment of the mills of the Linen Thread Company, now the American Thread Company, with which he continued until his death on the 6th of June, 1903. His wife was born at Union, Tolland county, Connecticut, and now lives with her son, Wade Ulysses, in Willimantic. In their family were five children: Wade U .; Jessie, the wife of Charles Webster, a mill man of Taftville, Connecticut; Mabel, the wife of Paul Dupuis, a barber of Hartford, Connecticut; Grace, the wife of George K. Allen, who is in the mail service at Willimantic; and Lizzie D., who was a twin sister of Grace and died in infancy.

Wade U. Webster acquired his education in the public schools and in the Natchaug high school at Willimantic. He then entered the printing business as an employe on the Connecticut Home, a prohibition newspaper of Willimantic, of which Allen B. Lin- coln was editor. He was afterward with the Willimantic Daily Herald and there com- pleted his apprenticeship. In 1894 he entered the employ of the Hall & Bill Printing Company, Incorporated, of Willimantic, as a job printer in the composing room and since that time has steadily worked his way upward, being now assistant superintendent of the plant and a stockholder and one of the directors of the company. This is one of the large concerns of the kind in Willimantic and in addition to an extensive job print- ing business which they carry on, they do a considerable amount of commercial printing for manufacturers, making printed wrappers, labels, etc. They have customers all over the United States and Canada and also do a large export trade in the line of some of

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their printing specialties. Working in all of the various departments of the plant, Mr. Webster developed broad efficiency, so that he is well qualified to assume the respon- sibilities of the position which he is now filling.

On the 2nd of November, 1898, at Willimantic, Mr. Webster was united in marriage to Miss Carrie Ozema Harper, who was born at Sutton, in the province of Quebec, Can- ada, a daughter of Adolph and Alice Harper, who were also natives of Quebec. Mr. and Mrs. Webster now have one child, Leroy Wade, who was born in Willimantic, March 20, 1900, and is in the employ of the American Thread Company at this place.

In politics Mr. Webster is a republican. When he was twenty-five years of age he was elected city sheriff of Willimantic, being the first candidate ever elected to this posi- tion on the republican ticket. He made so excellent a record in the office that he was reelected, serving for two terms. His most important public service, however, has per- haps been done in connection with the fire department. In 1895, when he attained his majority, he joined the old Alert Hose Company No. 1 of the Willimantic Volunteer Fire Department, which then had all hand-drawn fire-fighting apparatus. He served with that company as hoseman, afterward became assistant foreman and eventually foreman and in 1908 he was appointed chief of the entire fire department. To that position he was reappointed in 1909, 1910 and 1911. In the following year, owing to a change in the city administration, he was not reappointed. Immediately, however, he again joined the old Alert Hose Company as hoseman and continued therewith until July 1, 1917, when the entire fire department was reorganized and the old volunteer companies disbanded, being superseded by a regular paid department, with paid call men. At that time Mr. Webster left the department but in January, 1918, was appointed chief of the new depart- ment and has since occupied that position. He has ever been most keenly interested in this department, with which his effort has been a labor of love. He has entirely motor- ized the department and by his own efforts and energy has built up a fire-fighting organ- ization that is a great credit to the city and one that offers adequate protection to the business interests and homes of Willimantic, being second to none in New England in a city of similar size. That Mr. Webster is regarded as an authority upon questions relative to fire-fighting organizations is indicated in the fact that he was elected to the presidency of the Connecticut State Firemen's Association and he belongs also to the International Association of Fire Engineers, to the National Firemen's Association and to the Connecticut Fire Chiefs Club. He is also a member of the Willimantic Chamber of Commerce and he belongs to Natchaug Lodge, No. 22, K. P., of which he is a past chancellor, while of the grand lodge of the Knights of Pythias he has been a member. From 1894 until 1898 he was prominent in athletic circles and won many medals and prizes as a track athlete. His religious faith is that of the Congregational church. It will thus be seen that his interests are broad and varied, making him a man of well rounded character and one whose service has been of marked benefit to the district in which he lives.

HENRY WILLIAM SELLIG.

Henry William Sellig, conducting a sheet metal business in Putnam, was born in Webster, Massachusetts, August 18, 1874, his parents being Charles and Mary (Dyer) Sellig, natives of Germany and of Ireland respectively. The father came to the United States with his mother in his boyhood days, subsequent to the death of his father, and they settled in Webster, where he completed his education and then began learning the trade of a loom fixer. After being thus employed for a few years he removed to Lynn, Massachusetts, where he continued to work at the trade for a year and then became a resident of Norwich, Connecticut, where he continued for about eight years, working as a loom fixer in the Sturdevant mills. In 1882 he returned to Webster and was again employed as a loom fixer in the Slater mill until a few years ago but during the past five years has acted as watchman in the cambric mill of The Slater Company at East Webster. Throughout his entire life he has thus been identified with the industrial activity of New England. Politically he is a democrat and his religious faith is indi- cated in his connection with the St. Louis Catholic church in Webster. To him and his wife have been born seven children: Henry W .; Charles, who was born and now resides in Webster and who married Miss Mary Ryan, by whom he has one child, Frances; Annie, who was born in Norwich, Connecticut, and lives in Webster, Massa- chusetts; Mary, who was born in Norwich and is the widow of James Brophy, who died leaving two children, Ilene and Leo, who are with their mother at Webster; Elizabeth, who was born in Norwich and resides in Webster; Grace, who was born in Webster and is the wife of James Duffy, of that city, by whom she has one child, Leo; and Joseph, who was born in Webster and is now a cook at Worcester.

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Henry W. Sellig was educated in the graded schools of Webster to the age of sixteen years, when he started out in the business world as an employe in the Slater mills. For about a year he worked in the weaving department and then went to the dye department, where he continued for three years. In 1895 he entered the mechanical department of the Slater mills, where he learned the sheet metal business, remaining there for ten years. From 1905 to 1917 he worked in various tin and plumbing shops of Putnam and then purchased the business of Perry & Brown and moved the equipment to No. 15 Pomfret street, where he still carries on the sheet metal business. He has prospered during the succeeding period of three years and has now a business of very gratifying and substantial proportions.

On the 15th of April, 1903, in Webster, Massachusetts, Mr. Sellig was joined in wed- lock to Miss Lillian R. Place, who was born in Webster, a daughter of James and Maria (Bates) Place. They now have one daughter, Katherine, born in Putnam, February 12, 1907. The parents are members of St. Mary's Catholic church and fraternally Mr. Sellig is connected with the Eagles of Putnam, while his political endorsement is given to the republican party. He early learned the value of industry as a factor in the world's work and because of a life of persistent and earnest labor he has made for himself a sub- stantial and creditable position among the representatives of industrial activity in his adopted city.

JAMES HOBART CUTLER.

The life record of James Hobart Cutler covered a span of seventy-six years. He was born at Oxford, Massachusetts, October 30, 1842, and passed away at Hampton, Con- necticut, on the 19th of August, 1919. His parents were Hobart Copp and Helen M. (Clarke) Cutler. The family early became residents of Windham county, Connecticut, his father being for many years a prominent citizen of the town of Putnam.

James H. Cutler obtained his education in the Bacon Academy at Colchester and also in the Andover Academy at Andover, Massachusetts. He started out in the business world when about twenty years of age and for an extended period was actively and successfully engaged in various business enterprises, his sound judgment directing his investments and his activities, his labors being at all times accompanied by good results. For many years he was at the head of a Providence firm which manufactured hardware on an extensive scale. He was also at one time the chief partner in the Nashua Lock Company, which was later merged with the Lockwood Manufacturing Company of South Norwalk, Connecticut. For fifteen years prior to his retirement from business he was connected with the General Electric Company in a managerial capacity. He stood for progress and improvement in all business connections and his diligence and enterprise brought most substantial results.

In 1866, at Providence, Rhode Island, Mr. Cutler was married to Miss Martha M. Barstow, a daughter of Amos C. Barstow, and their children are: Mrs. Martha Barstow Cartwright, who is the wife of James W. Cartwright; and Amos Barstow Cutler, who married Annie M. Cartwright. The home of the son is in Florida. Mr. Cutler passed away at the home of his daughter and a life of great usefulness was thus ended. During his last decade he had given very freely of his time and means to promoting the interests of the dairymen of New England and was a most stalwart champion of the cause of pure milk. Any activity for the benefit and upbuilding of his section of the state was sure to receive his earnest endorsement and support and his life at all times measured up to high standards of manhood and citizenship. He was a representative of old colonial stock, being connected with the Torrey, Clarke, Copp, Hobart and Cutler families, names which have long been honored in the history of Connecticut. His own life was cast in harmony with the record of a most honorable ancestry and all who knew Mr. Cutler spoke of him in terms of warm regard.

WILLIAM WATSON.

William Watson, who for many years was connected with farming interests in Scotland, Windham county, was born in Trowbridge, England, and after acquiring his education took up the manufacture of woolen goods, which he conducted at Trowbridge for a few years.

In early manhood Mr. Watson was married at Trowbridge to Miss Mary A. Forrest, also a native of that place, and while living in England they became the parents of seven children: Eliza, Sarah, Mary Anne, William, James Fergus, Olivia and Susanna.

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After living for a number of years in England subsequent to his marriage William Watson came with his family to the United States and settled in New York, where for a few years he engaged in the redressing of many imported fabrics and also the redress- ing of broadcloth, fine velvets, etc., that would arrive in defaced condition from the old world. He would then refinish them for the trade, displaying marked skill in this line of work. He afterward left New York and made brief stops in different cities before coming with his family to Scotland, Connecticut, in 1858. Here he purchased a farm in the northern part of the town and bent his energies and attention to the cultivation and improvement of his land for many years or until forced to retire from active busi- ness. His remaining days were spent in a period of well earned rest to the time of his death, which occurred in 1896, his wife surviving him for only about a year, her death occurring in 1897.

William Watson was a republican in his political views after becoming a naturalized American citizen, but while he gave earnest endorsement to the party, never sought or desired office. He attended the Baptist church and the sterling worth of his character was attested by all who knew him.

Four children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Watson after coming to America, making altogether eleven. Those born in the United States were: Margaret Matilda, born in New York; Thomas Henry, born in Fitchville. Connecticut; Henrietta, born in Westerly, Rhode Island; and W. Annette, born in Scotland, Connecticut. A more detailed record of the family cannot fail to prove of interest to those who have long been acquainted with them. The eldest daughter, Eliza, after coming to the United States was married to Barber Lewis, who died in Killingly, Connecticut, in March, 1919. They had one child, William Ira. Sarah Watson became the wife of John J. Woodward and died in New Orleans, Louisiana, in 1917. They were the parents of one child, Watson Dodge. Mary Anne became the wife of Joseph Wilcox and died in 1915. William died unmar- ried. James Fergus died soon after coming to the United States. Olivia is now a resi- dent of Scotland, Connecticut. Susanna became the wife of Milo Sharpe and they now reside in North Franklin, Connecticut, with their two children, Elmer Elsworth and Edna Estella. Margaret Matilda is the wife of Charles Haughn, of Texas, and has one child, Olivia Crosby. Thomas Henry married Hannah Houghton, of New Orleans, and their children are Maude Olivia and William Gardner. Thomas H. Watson died in 1919. Henrietta became the wife of James Otis Sherman. W. Annette is residing in Scotland, Connecticut.

William Watson, Jr., the fourth child of the family, came with his father to Scot- land, Windham county, when twenty-one years of age. He soon afterward took active part in the cultivation and management of his father's farm and during the last few years of the latter's life carried on the place entirely and continued the successful im- provement and further development of the farm until 1904, when he removed to the village with two of his sisters who had lived upon the farm with him. There he spent his remaining days retired from active business until his death, which occurred October 2, 1919. Like his father, he was a man highly esteemed in the community by reason of his sterling worth and the many excellent traits of his character. He, too, was a republican in politics and for a number of years he served on the board of relief in Scotland. The family name has ever been an untarnished one in Scotland, standing as a synonym for all that makes for the uplift of the individual and the betterment of the community.

JAMES NELSON BOTHAM.

James Nelson Botham was for many years one of the most highly respected resi- dents of Pomfret and his death was the occasion of deep and widespread regret when he was called to his final home. He was born in that part of Pomfret that is now Put- nam, on the 12th of May, 1835, a son of Kibah and Zipra (Keach) Botham. The father was born in Pomfret, where he spent his entire life, following the occupation of farming. His wife was born in Pomfret, and following the death of her husband she went to the home of her son in Montville, Connecticut, and there passed away, having reached the notable age of one hundred years.

James Nelson Botham acquired his education in the common schools and spent his youthful days upon the home farm in Pomfret, after which he remained for a few years in Phoenixville, in the town of Eastford, Windham county. He afterward re- turned to Pomfret, where he learned the carpenter's trade, which he followed through- out his entire life. Acquiring skill and experience along that line, he eventually became a boss carpenter and contractor and he built more houses and barns in Pomfret than

JAMES N. BOTHAM

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any other man. His life was one of untiring industry and thrift and in his entire career there were few leisure hours.

Mr. Botham was ever a most highly respected resident of the community in which he lived. He was of a charitable nature and he did many kind acts to his less for- tunate neighbors and the word benevolence became largely synonymous with his name in the community in which he lived. He was one of the most active, faithful and loyal members of Israel Putnam Lodge, A. F. & A. M., of South Woodstock, for more than thirty-five years and during that time he never paid any dues, owing to the fact that he was admitted at a time when there was no initiation fee charged and when there was a liberal sum in the treasury and no running expenses. The hall was furnished free and because of there being no overhead expenses the members were not required to pay regular dues. Mr. Botham had been a member of the lodge for more than thirty years before regular dues were collected. When it was decided to pursue that course all veterans of thirty years' membership were made exempt from dues and accordingly he never had to contribute in that way to the treasury, but it is said of him that in the matter of collecting money to help out unfortunate lodge members his name always headed the list and his contribution was the largest to the cause, for his benevolent spirit prompted ready and generous assistance wherever aid was needed. It is also said of him that for a period of over eight years he never missed a lodge meeting, driving from his Pomfret home to the lodge room in South Woodstock in all kinds of weather. Mr. Botham's military experience covered service as a member of Company F, Eleventh Connecticut Volunteer Infantry, in the Civil war, with which he served for two years, being honorably discharged at the end of that time on account of physical disability due to sickness incurred in the line of his duty. He was in the hospital for a few months before being discharged.

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A modern history of Windham county, Connecticut : a Windham county treasure book, Volume II, Part 80

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