A modern history of Windham county, Connecticut : a Windham county treasure book, Volume II, Part 85

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

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Joseph William Congdon acquired his education in the schools of Pomfret and made his home in that town to the age of nineteen years, when he nemoved to Howards Valley with his father. Following his father's demise he bought out the interests of his mother and sister in the home farm and continued to engage in the cultivation and improvement of that property from the time of his father's death until his own demise on the 10th of March, 1911. He was classed with the representative agricul- turists of the community, carefully conducting business affairs along most pro- gressive lines.

On the 27th of December, 1869, at Scotland, Connecticut, Mr. Congdon was mar- ried to Miss Sarah Rosella Cary. She was there born September 9, 1844. Follow- ing the death of her husband she, in 1912, purchased a home on Hampton Hill and removed to this place, which she now occupies. She is a daughter of Dwight and Susan (Bass) Cary, who were also natives of Scotland, Connecticut, her father being born in the same house in which he passed away at the venerable age of eighty- seven years. He was a farmer by occupation, devoting his entire life to that pur- suit. To Mr. and Mrs. Congdon was born one son, Frank Winslow, whose birth oc- curred on the old homestead farm at Howards Valley, May 4, 1874. He obtained his' education in the schools of Hampton and is now assistant superintendent of the state capitol at Hartford, Connecticut, making his home, however, in Willimantic. He married Emily Holt, of Hampton, and has two children, Rosella May and Josephine Holt, both of whom were born upon the old home place in Hampton. Frank Winslow Cong- don cultivated the old home farm after his father's death until he was made assistant superintendent of the Capitol building in 1916. He still owns the farm property, how- ever.

In his political views Mr. Congdon was a republican and for several terms he served as selectman of Hampton. He was also a member of the Hampton town school board for many years and was acting visitor of the schools. He filled several other public offices, including that of grand juror, and was ever loyal to the trust reposed in him. He belonged to Hampton Grange and he was recognized as one of the most prominent and progressive farmers of the section in which he lived. His religious faith was that of the Congregational church, in which he filled the office of deacon, and Mrs. Congdon is still active in the church work. He was a man of many sterling and admirable traits of character and commanded the confidence and goodwill of all who knew him, his upright life gaining for him the friendship and esteem of those with whom he came in contact.

BERT HENRY GARDNER.

Bert Henry Gardner, who is conducting a blacksmith shop at Warrenville and whose interest in public affairs is indicated in the fact that he has been chosen to serve as first selectman of the town of Ashford, was born December 4, 1866, in the village where he now resides. He is a son of William W. and Phila (Reynolds) Gard- ner. His father was born in Mansfield, Tolland county, Connecticut, and was there reared and educated, learning the blacksmith's trade afterward at Stafford Springs, Tolland county. He followed the business in that county until the early '60s and then removed to Warrenville, in the town of Ashford, where he established a black- smith and wagon shop, which he conducted successfully for many years. Eventually lie retired, turning over the shop to his son, Bert H., whom he had thoroughly in- structed in the business. The father died at Warrenville in November, 1912, at the

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age of eighty-four years, his birth having occurred in 1828. His wife, a native of Tolland county, also passed away in Warrenville.

After mastering the branches of learning taught in the district schools of Ash- ford, Bert H. Gardner attended the old Natchaug high school in Willimantic and later learned the trade of blacksmithing in his father's shop at Warrenville. How- ever, he had previously worked for one year as clerk in the store of John A. Murphy, a grocer of Warrenville, going to his father's shop when a young man of twenty years. As he developed his skill and efficiency in the line of work carried on his father more and more largely retired from the business, which at length he gave over to the charge of his son, who is now sole owner. He carries on general blacksmithing and also does all kinds of wagon work and his highly developed skill and ability along those lines has secured for him a liberal patronage. Moreover, he is thoroughly reliable in his business affairs and well merits the success which is now his. In addition he has a home farm of seventy-five acres adjoining the shop and not only cultivates his fields but also engages successfully in the raising of cattle. He like- wise deals to some extent in farm lands, but his chief business is that of black- smithing and general mechanical work, along which line he is very competent.

In 1897 at Ashford Center, Connecticut, Mr. Gardner was married to Miss Lena Matilda Gallup, who was born at Ashford, a daughter of Merritt E. Gallup, also a na- tive of the same place. Mrs. Gardner passed away at Warrenville, December 10, 1907, leaving two children: Leon Reynolds, who was born in Warrenville, December 30, 1899, and is now with his father in the shop; and William Merritt, who was born in Warrenville, where he died July 1, 1909.

In his political views Mr. Gardner is a democrat and has served as tax assessor. He has also been on the board of selectmen for four years and in October, 1919, was elected first selectman, the duties of which office he is promptly and efficiently dis- charging. He was also a member of the state legislature in 1913. Fraternally he is connected with Uriel Lodge, No. 24, A. F. & A. M., and is a past master of Ash- ford Grange. His interests and activities are thus of broad and varied scope, indicat- ing a well rounded development that has gained him classification among the rep- resentative men of the county.

ALFRED LOUIS BONIN.

Alfred Louis Bonin, a merchant of North Grosvenor Dale, was born at Attawaugan, in the town of Killingly, Windham county, Connecticut, October 17, 1879, his parents being Benjamin and Julia (Galipeau) Bonin. The father was born at St. Aimé, in the province of Quebec, Canada, and was there reared and educated. Later he worked as a woodsman for a number of years and subsequently crossed the boundary into the United States, settling at Attawaugan, Windham county, where he was employed in the mills of the Attawaugan Company. Subsequently he came to North Grosvenor Dale as loom fixer in the mills of the Grosvenor Dale Company and a few years later established a meat market in Grosvenor Dale, successfully conducting the enterprise for several years. On the expiration of that period he purchased the general store of Byron S. Thompson in the village of North Grosvenor Dale, which he carried on from 1887 until the time of his demise in September, 1910, the business increasing to very profitable proportions under his able management. His widow, whose birth occurred at Beloeil, in the province of Quebec, Canada, makes her home with her daughter at Putnam, Connecticut. Mr. and Mrs. Benjamin Bonin became the par- ents of six children: Joseph B .; Alfred L .; Emma, who became the wife of Dr. J. G. Boucher, a practicing physician of Woonsocket, Rhode Island; Rose A., the wife of Maurice A. Miour, of Putnam, Connecticut; Pierre O .; and Cleophas P.

Alfred L. Bonin spent the days of his boyhood and youth under the parental roof and began his education in the parochial school of North Grosvenor Dale, while later he continued his studies at Ste. Hyacinthe's College and in St. Joseph's Sem- inary at Three Rivers, Quebec, where he remained as a student for two years. On the expiration of that period he returned to North Grosvenor Dale and took over the store which had been established by his father. He has since conducted the business and has a well appointed store, carrying a large and carefully selected line of goods, while his reasonable prices and honorable business methods are important features in the attainment of his prosperity.

At North Grosvenor Dale, on the 4th of February, 1918, Mr. Bonin was married to Miss Camille Woisard, a daughter of Philip and Louise (Dupont) Woisard. Mrs. Bonin was appointed postmistress of North Grosvenor Dale by President Wilson in

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HISTORY OF WINDHAM COUNTY

1914 and has since occupied the position. By her marriage she has become the mother of one child, Lucien Maurice, whose birth occurred April 23, 1920.

In his political views Mr. Bonin is a republican and has served as town auditor, while at the present time he is the register of voters of the town of Thompson. He is identified with the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks, having his membership in Putnam Lodge, No. 574, and belongs also to the Union Fraternal League of Boston, St. Bernard Council No. 2078 of the Knights of Columbus and to the Union St. John the Baptist of North Grosvenor Dale. The religious faith of the family is that of the Catholic church and Mr. Bonin is a communicant of St. Joseph's church of North Grosvenor Dale. His entire life has been spent in this locality and his sterling worth is recognized by all with whom he has had business or social relations.

HENRY HOLT STARKWEATHER.

For thirty-eight years Henry Holt Starkweather has been the express agent at Danielson, where he is also conducting business as a dealer in harness, leather and wagons, having one of the leading harness establishments of the place. He like- wise deals in horses and through his business interests and express service has be- come widely known. He was born at Hampton, in the Howards valley district, on the 18th of May, 1852, his parents being Ezra and Mary Eliza (Flint) Starkweather. The former was a son of Jabez Starkweather, who was born in the town of Mans- field, near Storr's College, where the family have lived for several generations. Throughout his entire life Jabez Starkweather engaged in farming on the old home- stead near Storr's College. His son, Ezra Starkweather, was born at Mansfield, Tol- land county, Connecticut, May 7, 1807. There he acquired his education, attend- ing school to the age of sixteen years, when he began farm work in Hampton upon a farm in Howards valley which he afterward purchased. Following his marriage he became owner of the property and resided thereon until his death, becoming one of the representative agriculturists and progressive men of the community. He served for a time as selectman in the town of Hampton. He married Mary Eliza Flint, who was born in the town of Windham, May 26, 1815, a daughter of Jacob and Hannah (Holt) Flint, the former a farmer of the town of Windham. The death of Ezra Stark- weather occurred in 1888, and his wife, long surviving him, died in 1905, having reached the very advanced age of ninety years.

Henry Holt Starkweather acquired his education in the district schools of Hamp- ton in the Plainfield Academy and in Natchaug high school at Willimantic. After his textbooks were put aside he assisted his father in the development of the home place until he reached the age of twenty-one years, at the same time teaching school dur- ing the winter. He taught school in Brooklyn, Plainfield and Canterbury before at- taining his majority and as a teacher he imparted clearly and readily to others the knowledge that he had acquired. After reaching adult age he began selling books in New Jersey and also sold patent medicine from a wagon in New Jersey, Pennsyl- vania, New York and Connecticut for a period of two and a half years. He then re- turned to Hampton, establishing a grocery store at Clarks Corner, and he was also postmaster and station agent for the New York, New Haven & Hartford Railroad at that place for two and a half years. In 1881 he disposed of his business interests there and removed to Danielson, where he purchased a trucking and express busi- ness, doing the collecting and delivering for the Adams Express Company. In the fol- lowing November he was appointed agent for the company and sold his trucking business. He has since acted as agent for the Adams Express Company and its suc- cessor-the American Railway Express Company, which he now represents. He has continuously acted as express agent at Danielson for thirty-eight years, having been appointed in January, 1882. In addition he has established a harness and leather busi- ness and also deals in wagons and horses. He has bought horses in Canada and various other sections and has brought them to Danielson for sale. He lias likewise de- veloped a large trade as a harness dealer and has become one of the active mer- chants of the town.

On the 24th of November, 1875, Mr. Starkweather was married to Miss Carrie Sophronia Burnham, of Hampton, Connecticut, who was there born, her parents being Ebenezer and Sophronia (Colburn) Burnham, also natives of Hampton. Mr. and Mrs. Starkweather have become the parents of four children. Bertha Carrie, who was born in Hampton, is the wife of Lyman A. Cook, a farmer of Townsend, Massa- chusetts, and they have two children. Clifford Horace, who was born in Hampton, is the cashier of the Danielson Trust Company. He married Alice L. Hereaux, of Dan- ielson, and they have one child, David. Byron Dwight, born in Danielson, is auditor

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of the California Telegraph & Telephone Company at Redlands, California. He married Minnie Ready and has one child, Byron. Howard Henry, born in Danielson, is a printer, now located at Winterhaven, Florida.

Politically Mr. Starkweather is a republican and fraternally is connected with Quinebaug Lodge, No. 34, I. O. O. F., of which he is a past noble grand. He is also connected with the encampment and has filled all of the chairs in both branches of the order. His membership relations likewise extend to the Rebekah branch of the Odd Fellows. His religious faith is that of the Methodist Episcopal church. He is regarded as one of the substantial and highly respected citizens of Danielson, who in all of his business affairs has been found thoroughly reliable and who at all times is an obliging official of the express company.

FRANK ENOS HARRINGTON.

Frank Enos Harrington, the superintendent of the Davis & Brown woolen mill of Fast Killingly, has been identified with the textile industry throughout his entire busi- ness career and he made his initial step in the business world when a youth of fifteen. He was born in Assonet, Massachuetts, February 2, 1885, a son of Joseph F. and Eliza- beth (Travis) Harrington. The father was born in Berkeley, Rhode Island, and was a son of Ephraim and Mary (Drabble) Harrington, the former one of the early mill workers of the village of East Killingly and perhaps the oldest living veteran of the mill industry there. He was an overseer in the carding rooms of the mills for many years and is now living retired, but his wife has passed away. Their son, Joseph F., was a young child at the time of the removal of the parents to East Killingly, where he has spent his entire life with the exception of a few years when he was employed in mills elsewhere. He occupied the position of overseer in the Chase mills at Elmville and sub- sequently was overseer of the woolen mills at Stafford Springs, Tolland county, Con- necticat, and overseer of the Chase mill at Elmville, Connecticut, from which place he removed to Baltic, Connecticut, to accept the position of overseer in the woolen mill there. He next returned to East Killingly, where he became overseer in the mill of Fred R. Smith & Company, and later he accepted a position in the Pequot mills at Dan- ielson, Connecticut. After resigning his position in the Pequot mills he retired from active life of that character and purchased a farm at East Killingly, upon which he resided to the time of his death in 1910. His wife was born in Manchester, England, and in early girlhood became a resident of Webster, Massachusetts, while later she removed to East Killingly, where she became acquainted with Joseph F. Harrington, who sought and won her hand in marriage. She passed away ere the death of her husband.

While born in Assonet, Massachusetts, Frank Enos Harrington was brought to East Killingly by his parents during his early childhood and was educated in the town schools. Like his father and his grandfather, he turned to the woolen textile industry for em- ployment and entered the mill of the Chase Woolen Company at Elmville when a youth of fifteen. There he learned the trade of weaving and after a year spent in that mill he entered the mill in which he is now employed, beginning work there in 1901. It was then known as the F. R. Smith mill, with which he continued for a year, after which he resigned his position and opened a small store for the sale of candy, sodas and similar goods at the East Killingly depot. He conducted his business there for a year and a half, at the end of which time he again obtained employment at the Smith mill as a loom fixer. At the age of nineteen he was made boss or overseer of the weaving room in the same mill and when the firm of Davis & Brown, the present owners, took over the mill, he was continued as overseer of the weaving room and acted in that capacity until Charles Chase retired from the superintendency and Mr. Harrington was advanced to the position of superintendent of the mill, in which capacity he has served since Novem- ber 1, 1918. The Davis & Brown mill is one of the oldest on the Whetstone brook and is devoted to the manufacture of cheviot and Tibet cloths of medium grade, utilizing water power from the brook but having also an auxiliary steam plant. The mill furnishes employment to about seventy hands.

On the 18th of October, 1909, at Norwich, Connecticut, Mr. Harrington was married to Miss Agnes Sands, who was born in Rhode Island and when seven years of age was brought to East Killingly by her parents, Robert and Elizabeth (Place) Sands. Mr. and Mrs. Harrington have two children: Vivian Leslie, born July 7, 1911; and Roger Frank, November 30, 1918. Both are natives of East Killingly.

In politics Mr. Harrington maintains an independent course, voting according to the dictates of his judgment. His religious faith is that of the Episcopal church and fraternally he is connected with Moriah Lodge, No. 15, A. F. & A. M. His activity has largely centered along business lines and he is the president of the Chestnut Hill Reser-

FRANK E. HARRINGTON

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voir Company, which controls the water power of the Whetstone brook that supplies water power to the mills. He is a practical mill man who started in a very humble position and has advanced step by step through intermediate promotion to the superin- tendency of one of the substantial productive industries of East Killingly. He is a man of genial disposition, pleasant and agreeable, and very popular in the village in which he lives, while by all the employes of the mill he is held in the highest regard.

WILLIAM BELLEVANCE.

William Bellevance, proprietor of one of the fine confectionery establishments of Moosup, was born at St. Fabien, in the province of Quebec, Canada, June 1, 1879, a son of Edward and Matilda (Rehoux) Bellevance, who were also natives of St. Fabien. They became the parents of twelve children, eight of whom were born in Canada, after which the family removed to Moosup, where four more children were added to the household. These were Mary, Phoebe, Edward, Alfred, Salina, Emma, William, Odelia, one who died in infancy, Trefflie, Delia and Ellen.

.William Bellevance attended the public schools of Moosup, Connecticut, until 1893, being but a little lad when the family located there. He continued his studies until 1893, when he secured employment in one of the mills of the city and thus worked for eight years. In 1901 he purchased the newspaper business of Hugh Murphy and enlarged the scope of the trade to include candy and various other lines. He built up this business steadily and successfully but on the 2nd of December, 1914, lost his establishment by fire. The following year, with undaunted spirit and renewed energy, he built a new two-story brick business block and again opened a large stock of goods for sale. His property is known as the Bellevance block and he now has one of the large and attractive stores of the city, carrying an extensive line of con- fectionery, newspapers and similar articles. His earnest efforts to please his patrons, his reasonable prices and progressive methods have brought to him a very gratifying patronage.

On the 28th of September, 1901, Mr. Bellevance was married to Miss Cordilia Hart, of Wauregan, Connecticut, where she resided to the time of her marriage. Mr. and Mrs. Bellevance have become parents of nine children: William, Jr., Eugene, Loretta, Irene, Edward, Eva, Beatrice, Cecelia and one who died in infancy.

In his political views Mr. Bellevance maintains an independent course, voting according to the dictates of his judgment without regard to party ties. He belongs to the Roman Catholic church and is a member of All Hallows Council, No. 270, K. C., at Moosup, of which he is the treasurer. He is likewise identified with the Inde- pendent Order of Foresters, the Fraternal Benefit League, the Woodmen of the World and with the Elks Lodge, No. 574, at Putnam. Unfaltering energy and progressiveness have constituted the basic elements in his successful business career, and he is now one of the representative merchants of Moosup.

WILLIAM MINOR TOWNE.

William Minor Towne, proprietor of the Riverview Farm in the town of Can- terbury, Windham county, was born in Brooklyn, Connecticut, February 22, 1855, a son of Asa and Mary (Stowell) Towne. The father, a native of Thompson, Connecticut, and educated in the schools of that town, began work as a farm hand in young man- hood and was also employed as a stage driver in an early day, driving stage from Worcester to Douglas, Mass. He afterward learned the stone mason's trade and re- moved to Brooklyn, Connecticut, where he worked at his trade for a number of years. He then turned his attention to farming and followed this for a number of years in the town of Brooklyn, later moving to Wauregan. He died at Brooklyn, Connecticut, August 18, 1881. To him and his wife were born seven children but only two are now living, the daughter being Thresa E., the wife of Willard James, a resident farmer of Anita, Iowa.

William Minor Towne, spending his youthful days in Brooklyn, there began his education, which he continued in the public schools of Wauregan. He started in the business world as an employe in the Atwood cotton mill at Wauregan and there re- mained as a weaver for a number of years. He next went to Hampton, Connecticut, where he took up the occupation of farming, and subsequently he turned his atten- tion to the lumber business, in which he engaged for a brief period. In an accident, however, he lost his left hand and was forced to give up that line of work. He

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possessed ambition and energy, however, and resolved that this accident should not prove a detriment to him. He leased a farm in Hampton in 1884 and with a small amount of live stock and a cash capital of ten dollars began to develop the farm prop- erty, upon which he remained for nine years. In 1893 he bought farm land in the western part of the town of Canterbury, upon which he lived for two years, and after- ward he became manager of a large farm in Dayville, Connecticut, for James E. Keech. He occupied that position for five years, proving most capable in the manage- ment and development of the place. He then returned to Hampton, where he followed farming until January 18, 1900, when he removed to Canterbury, purchasing what is known as the Riverview Farm, upon which he has since lived. He devotes his land to general farming and dairying and deserves much credit for the ability which he has displayed in the conduct and management of his agricultural interests. Although he has suffered the loss of one hand, there is no machine which he cannot operate nor is there any kind of farm work that he cannot do. He has shown marked adaptability in this way and has won a place among the most successful farmers of Windham county.

At Hampton, Connecticut, February 23, 1881. Mr. Towne was married to Miss Min- nie E. Davis, a native of Norwich, Connecticut, and a daughter of George and Susan (Geer) Davis, and they have become the parents of two children: Clara Viola, now the wife of Henry Larkham, a resident farmer of Canterbury, Connecticut, whose sketch appears elsewhere in this volume; and James Ezra, who works upon the home farm with his father.

Mr. Towne and his family attend and support the Congregational church of Can- terbury and they are people of high personal worth, enjoying the warm friendship and regard of all who know them. He and his wife and son are members of Canterbury Grange, No. 70, Patrons of Husbandry. In his political views Mr. Towne is a repub- lican and has filled the office of assessor for three years, has been a member of the board of relief for five years and for three years was a delegate to the republican con- ventions held at Hartford. His life record should serve to inspire and encourage others, showing what can be accomplished though individual effort even in the face of obstacles and difficulties.

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A modern history of Windham county, Connecticut : a Windham county treasure book, Volume II, Part 85

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