USA > Connecticut > Litchfield County > Biographical review; this volume contains biographical sketches of the leading citizens of Litchfield County, Connecticut > Part 10
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Lewis attended the Cheshire Military Acad- emy and a commercial school at Poughkeepsie, N. Y. He is employed in his father's estab- lishment. In politics Mr. Lewis is a Demo- crat. He has always been actively interested in the growth of the town, and has filled many offices, serving for some time as Warden of the borough. In religious belief he is a Con- gregationalist.
ILAN M. ROGERS, agent of the New York, New Haven & Hartford Railroad Company, stationed at Torrington, Conn., was born in Michigan, January 10, 1838, son of Orlando and Thirza (Fuller) Rogers. His grandfather, Joel Rogers, who was born February 16, 1769, was a resident of North East, Dutchess County, N. Y., from his fifth year, and was there engaged in general farming up to the time of his death, August 30, 1855.
Orlando Rogers was a native of Dutchess County, New York, and on his father's farm learned the art of successful farming. He set about reclaiming some wild land in Michigan; but, his health failing, he returned to New York State, and two years before his death he removed to Bridgeport, Conn, where he died in 1871, at the age of sixty-one. He married Thirza Fuller, a townswoman of his own, who lived to be sixty-one, dying at the home of her son, the subject of this sketch. They were the parents of eight children, five of whom are now living, namely: Hilan M., whose name heads this article; Henry; Ellen, widow of the late N. W. Lewis; Sarah J., wife of E. W. Webster; and Mary, widow of the late Walter Gilbert.
Hilan M. Rogers received a common-school education. He enlisted for the Civil War as a private in Company B, Twentieth Connect-
icut Volunteer Infantry, and before his term of service ended was promoted to the rank of Corporal. He served three years, and was a participant in all the prominent battles of the Twelfth Army Corps, including the bloody fields of Chancellorsville and Gettysburg. Later he was transferred to the Army of the Tennessee, and was under Sherman's command during his march from Atlanta. to Richmond. In the engagement at Bentonville, N.C., he was wounded by a minie ball, but not seri- ously, and was for a time in the Knight Gen- eral Hospital in New Haven, Conn., where he received his discharge from the service. Re- turning home he went to work November I, 1865, on the Naugatuck Railroad, now the New York, New Haven & Hartford Railroad. He was first employed as clerk in the office for two years, and then as an extra hand, act- ing for one year in a clerical capacity. On November 1, 1868, he was appointed agent at Seymour, remaining till May 16, 1870, when he was transferred to his present position, the station then being called Wolcottville. He had at that time but one assistant, but the business of the road has so increased that now he has ten men under his charge. He has general supervision of an enormous freight traffic, and also attends to a large general ticket business. He has been connected with the road some thirty years, and has proved a most efficient and capable business man, ful- filling with steadiness, coolness, and ability the arduous duties of his post.
In January, 1870, Mr. Rogers was united in marriage with Josephine, daughter of George Hoyt, a book-keeper of Ansonia, Conn. Mrs. Rogers died in 1888, at the age of forty-two, leaving one son, William H., who is a clerk in the station office with his father. He married Louise Geiger, of Torrington, and has one child, Hilan M., Jr. In politics Mr.
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Rogers is a Democrat. Though living in a Republican town, he has been nominated for several offices of trust; but he had no desire for political honors, and declined to serve. He was, however, Probate Judge for a year, and has been on the School Committee at different times. In Masonic circles he oc- cupies a prominent position, belonging to Seneca Lodge and Cyrus Chapter of Torring- ton, Buel Council of Litchfield, Clark Com- mandery of Waterbury, Pyramid Temple, Mystic Shrine, of Bridgeport, and Lafayette Consistory, Scottish Rite. He is also a member of Unity Lodge, No. 3054, of the Knights of Honor, Torrington, and has been Treasurer of Cyrus Chapter, No. 45, Royal Arch Masons, since its organization. As a comrade of L. W. Steele Post, Grand Army of the Republic, he keeps fresh the associa- tions of army days. Mr. Rogers is a member of the Episcopal church, of which his wife was also a communicant, and has taught in the Sunday-school and has been a Vestryman for years. He is a valued citizen of Torring- ton, and as agent at one of the most important stations on the New York, New Haven & Hartford Railroad has a wide circle of ac- quaintances, who regard him with esteem.
RS. CHARLES W. HINSDALE, of Litchfield, was born in Bethle- hem, Conn., daughter of Dr. Al- gernon S. and Cornelia (Bennett) Lewis. Mrs. Hinsdale's great-grandfather, Gersham Lewis, was an early settler in Litchfield, where he resided for many years. Her grand- father, Ozias Lewis, was engaged in agricult- ure, and passed his whole life in Litchfield. He was a prominent man of his day, and served as High Sheriff of Litchfield County for nine years. He died at the age of eighty
years. He married Mary Jones, of Guilford, Conn., who by him became the mother of four- teen children, and died in Litchfield at an advanced age.
Algernon S. Lewis, father of Mrs. Hins- dale, was reared to an agricultural life. He studied medicine with Dr. Abbey, and after taking his degree at Castleton commenced the practice of his profession in Bethlehem, where he resided for a few years. He then moved to Milton, and a short time later located in Litchfield, where he conducted a lucrative practice for many years. He was a skilful and highly esteemed physician, a prominent citizen, and an earnest Christian. He was closely identified with public affairs, was Town Collector, and was actively interested in church work. Five years previous to his death he was compelled by failing health to retire from practice; and he died in 1870, aged sixty-one years. His wife was born in Litchfield, daughter of Charles G. Bennett, who was a native of Sharon, Conn. Her grandfather, Edward Bennett, who was born in Columbia, Conn., settled in Sharon, where he followed the trade of a blacksmith in con- nection with farming, and died there at a good old age. Charles G. Bennett, Mrs. Hins- dale's maternal grandfather, acquired his father's trade, and after following that occu- pation in Litchfield for a time as a journey- man established himself in the blacksmith's business on his own account. In 1814 he erected the house in which Mrs. Hinsdale now resides, and died in 1841, aged fifty-eight years. He married Polly McNeil, danghter of Samuel McNeil, a tailor of Litchfield : and she became the mother of four children. of whom Cornelia, Mrs. Hinsdale's mother, was the eldest. Dr. and Mrs. Lewis were the parents of four children, three of whom are living, namely: Cornelia, the subject of this
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sketch; George Sidney, who resides in Hart- ford; and Albert Parmelee, who is auditor in a railroad office in Indianapolis. The mother died at the age of eighty-one years.
Cornelia (Lewis) Hinsdale has been a life- long resident of Litchfield, and received her education in that town. On March 6, 1866, she was united in marriage to Charles W. Hinsdale. Mr. Hinsdale was born in Har- winton, Conn., son of Wolcott and Hannah (Jones) Hinsdale. Mr. Hinsdale's grand- father was a native of Harwinton, where he followed agriculture throughout his life. He was a prominent citizen, and a street in his native town still bears his name. He died at an advanced age. Wolcott Hinsdale, Mr. Hinsdale's father, followed the sea in his early manhood, and was master of a merchant vessel, engaged in the West India trade. He later became a prosperous farmer in Harwin- ton, where he passed the remainder of his life. He was a veteran of the War of 1812. His wife, whose maiden name was Hannah Jones, was a native of Harwinton. Her grandfather, Julius Jones, was accidentally killed in Hartford, while preparing cartridges for the army. Her father, who was born in Hartford, was a soldier of the Revolutionary War, and participated in the campaign which resulted in the surrender of General Burgoyne at Saratoga, N.Y. After the war he settled in Harwinton, where he engaged in farming, and died at the age of eighty-four years. Mrs. Wolcott Hinsdale was the mother of two children; namely, Sarah and Charles W. She died at a good old age in the home of her daughter in Litchfield.
Charles W. Hinsdale, though reared to agri- culture at an early age, engaged in mercantile pursuits. He entered a store in Harwinton as a clerk, and after remaining there for a time came to Litchfield. Here he enlisted as
a private in Company A, Nineteenth Connect- icut Volunteers. He was subsequently pro- moted to the rank of Quartermaster, and served until the close of the Civil War. After he was discharged he returned to Litch- field, and became a clerk in the store of F. D. McNeil. He later secured an interest in the business, and in 1893 purchased his partner's interest, since which time he has successfully conducted the store alone. He has the oldest established trade in Litchfield, and holds a steady and profitable patronage. Mr. and Mrs. Hinsdale are members of St. Michael's Church, of which Mrs. Hinsdale's great- grandfather was formerly sexton. She is an active member of the Ladies' Guild. Mr. Hinsdale has been librarian for many years.
HARLES J. YORK, superintendent of the New England Pin Company and a prominent man in Winsted, was born in Torrington, Conn., May 2, 1841, son of Jesse and Mary (Hurlbut) York, the former a native of North Stonington, Conn. His father, William York, father of Jesse and also a native of Stonington, died in 1820, when in middle life His wife, whose maiden name was Naomi Ray, survived him many years, passing away in 1867 at Voluntown, Conn., where she is buried. They reared a family of two sons and four daughters, only one of whom, a son, survives. He was for many years a guard of the prison at Sing Sing, N. Y., and is now an octogenarian.
Jesse York was born in 1809, and passed his life in farming. He was an upright and conscientious man and a member of the Meth- odist church up to the time of his death, which occurred when he was sixty-seven years old. His wife was the daughter of Robert and Mary Hurlbut. She was married to Mr.
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York in Winsted in 1835 by the Rev. Daniel Coe, of the Methodist church, of which relig- ious body she is a consistent member. Mrs. York is still living, hale in mind and body. She had three children, as follows: Charles J., the subject of this sketch; David, who died in Winsted, August 31, 1894, at the age of fifty, leaving a wife and two sons, Fred- erick and Charles, living respectively in Win- sted and Waterbury; and Wilbur F., an un- dertaker in Waterbury.
Charles J. York received a fair education in the district schools, which he attended until fifteen years of age. On May 4, 1857, shortly after his sixteenth birthday, he en- tered the employ of the New England Pin Company, and made such good use of his time and opportunities that seven years ago he be- came superintendent of the concern. This company was established in 1854, so that prac- tically Mr. York's life has been identified with that of the company, it being but three years old when he entered the works. The business has yearly increased, and is now in a thriving condition, furnishing employment to from eighty to ninety hands and occupying two large buildings.
On November 18, 1862, Mr. York was mar- ried to Mary E., daughter of John F. and Deborah (Wing) Bartlett, both natives of Maine. Her father is still living in Win- sted, but her mother died in 1854. Mrs. York received a good education, graduating from a normal school and teaching for some years before her marriage. One daughter has blessed this union, F. Idella, now the wife of Charles B. Moore in Winsted and the mother of one son, Russell York Moore.
Mr. York is active in politics. He has served three terms in the State legislature, has been a member of the School Board, and has filled other offices. He is a Royal Arch
Mason, having served as High Priest of the local Chapter three terms. In the Methodist church, to which he and his wife belong, he has been Trustee and Steward; and for twenty-five years he has been regularly elected superintendent of the Sunday-school. He is also a member of the William L. Gilbert Board of Trustees. The family resides at 72 Elm Street, in the handsome house which he built in 1872.
A® UGUSTUS A. LORD, who is living retired from the active pursuits of business at his pleasant home on North Street, Litchfield, is the worthy rep- resentative of one of the oldest and most honored families of this section of the county. His great-grandfather, Lynde Lord, Sr., a native of Lyme, Conn., came to this county when a young man in 1753, and purchased in Litchfield town a large tract of timbered land, which he cleared and cultivated. He became one of the largest landholders in this part of the State and a very prominent citizen. He was elected Sheriff of Litchfield County, a position which he filled most creditably for twenty-nine years. his son being his Deputy for a portion of the time. He was employed in the public service the larger part of his time, and lived to be sixty-eight years of age.
His son, Lynde Lord, Jr., grandfather of Augustus A. Lord, graduated from Vale Col- lege, and spent his life on the paternal home- stead in the village of Litchfield. nearly opposite the present home of his grandson. He married Mary Lyman, and they reared a large family of children. Of these. Erastus A., who was brought up to farming, found rural occupations uncongenial to his tastes, and went when a youth to Massachusetts. where he learned the trade of a bookbinder.
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This he followed as an occupation for several years in Boston, whither he moved during the War of 1812. He subsequently spent a few years in Baltimore, Md., but in 1822 came to Litchfield and lived until 1844. He then returned to Boston, where he had charge of Dr. Abbey's sanatorium for a while. He sub- sequently returned to the home of his birth, where his death occurred in the sixty-ninth year of his age. To him and his good wife, formerly Charlotte Dorman, six children were born, of whom three are living; namely, Au- gustus A., Frances M., and George. The last-named is a resident of Hartford. The mother outlived her husband, dying at the home of her son Augustus, at the age of eighty-eight years. She was a woman of steadfast Christian principles, and she was a strict and devout member of the Episcopal church.
Augustus A. Lord is a Bostonian by birth and breeding, born November 5, 1815, in Hancock Street, within the shadow of Massa- chusetts's historic capitol. He passed a few of his earlier years in Baltimore; but his memories of the place are very indistinct, he having been but seven years of age when his parents returned to Litchfield. After leaving the district schools he attended for a while a school in Watertown, one of Boston's subur- ban towns. He was engaged in the book and stationery business for a time, but agricultural pursuits occupied the larger portion of his life. He devoted himself to the care of his parents during their declining years. He had charge of the homestead property, which he conducted with undoubted success until his retirement from the activities of life. In politics Mr. Lord votes with the Republican party, being a stanch advocate of its princi- ples. He has never sought official honors, although he served most satisfactorily for
one term as Burgess of the borough. For many years he was connected with the Lone Star Lodge. He is broad in his religious opinions, and was formerly a regular attendant of the Episcopal church, contributing gener- ously toward its support. Though well ad- vanced in years, Mr. Lord is a bright and active man, thoroughly familiar with the leading questions of the day and full of many interesting reminiscences of early times.
RANCIS BROWN, whose brief memoir given below is supplemented by an ex- cellent portrait on the opposite page, was for many years an esteemed resident of Winsted, Conn. He died on June 1, 1894, being then nearly seventy-nine years of age. . His widow, Mrs. Maria M. Hewitt Brown, still makes her home in this pleasant village.
Francis Brown was born in 1815, in the city of Hartford, Conn. His father, James Brown, died some six years later, leaving a widow with nine children, all of whom grew to mature life.
When eleven years of age Francis was de- prived by death of a mother's guidance and wise counsels, and he and a younger sister were taken to the home of a married sister. A year later the lad, who was of a rather deli- cate constitution, went to the home of a brother-in-law at Pine Plains, where he was put to work in James Dewell's scythe factory, a hard position for one so young and unused to toil. His school advantages were limited ; but he developed a love for reading, and, selecting books useful for improvement, he acquired a good education through his own efforts, and subsequently represented Winsted in the legislature. He made his first appear- ance here in 1833, a youth of eighteen years, with but eight cents in his pocket, having
Frances Youun .
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started on foot for Hartford, but had been fort- unate to secure an occasional ride with some traveller. Hunting up Mr. Hinsdale, he ap- plied for work in the scythe factory, and hav- ing been promised a situation he visited his sister until the place was open for him, when he began work as a finisher of scythes. From this humble position he was gradually ad- vanced, and in 1838 was made general superin- tendent of the works. The first two years of his employment Mr. Brown worked by the piece, toiling early and late ; but even then he made but a dollar and a half per day. With the perspicacity and good judgment that mark the able financier Mr. Brown invested his sur- plus earnings, acquiring a property that en- abled him to spend his last years in the enjoy- ment of leisure.
On August 15, 1837, Mr. Brown was united in marriage with Maria M. Hewitt, who was born in Winsted in 1812. Her parents, Joshua and Polly (Williams) Hewitt, were both of Connecticut birth, Mr. Hewitt's native place being New London, and his wife's the town of Plymouth. The only child born of the union of Mr. and Mrs. Brown was a daugh- ter, Susan M., now the wife of Charles G. Perry, of Stratford, Conn., and the mother of three children. Through the marriage of a grand-daughter Mrs. Brown has one great- grandchild, Georgia S. Beach. For eighteen years Mr. and Mrs. Brown had a very attrac- tive home on Meadow Street, where they re- sided until 1872. Deciding to spend that year in California they broke up house-keeping and afterward travelled every year, visiting in these pleasure trips nearly every State in the Union.
Neither Mr. nor Mrs. Brown ever united with any church, but for many years both were liberal supporters of the Congregational soci- cty. Mr. Brown was always interested in the
cause of temperance, sparing neither time nor money to advance the movement. Mrs. Brown, a woman of much intelligence and force of character, generous and public-spir- ited, is using the wealth at her command not for herself alone, but in various ways to pro- mote the highest interests of the community. In more recent years she has occupied rooms at the Beardslee House, one of the best and most homelike hotels in the State.
From this house can be seen, on the summit of the hill, the beautiful monument erected by the village of Winsted in memory of her sons who fell in the Civil War, a memorial of which the people may well be proud, and for which Mrs. Brown deserves much credit, she having contributed from the estate left her by her husband over sixteen thousand dollars toward its erection. This tall marble shaft has an inside measurement of twelve feet in length and breadth, and is lined from base to apex with polished marble panels, whereon are inscribed the records of the three hundred and more brave men from this place that willingly sacrificed their lives for their beloved country.
UDGE GEORGE C. HARRISON, who. with the exception of two terms, has served as Probate Judge since 1876, is also a leading agriculturist of Cornwall, where he was born on May 19, 1840, son of John R. and Eleanor (Bradford) Harrison. Noah Har. rison, great-grandfather of George C., was the first representative of this branch of the family in Cornwall. His son, Edmund Harrison, was born in that town in 1768. Edmund Harrison nearly all his lifetime lived in Cornwall Hol- low, where he followed the occupation of a farmer, and died at the very advanced age of ninety-eight years and eight months. He married Miss Ruth Hopkins, of Warren,
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Conn., who made him the father of eight chil- dren, as follows : Rufus, Noah, Myron, Chand- ler, Lucretia, John R., Hannah, and William H. The mother lived to be eighty-five years old.
John R. Harrison, who was born in Corn- wall, received his education in the common schools of that town. For a number of years he engaged in teaching, after which he was in mercantile business at Cornwall Centre. He subsequently settled on the old homestead and devoted his attention to agriculture with satisfactory results. In his political views he was a Democrat, and he took a leading part in public affairs. For seventeen years he served his town as Selectman. He was a Judge of the Probate Court for six years, and a Repre- sentative to the State legislature during three sessions. He died in Cornwall Centre at sev- enty-three years of age. His wife, Eleanor (Bradford) Harrison, was a daughter of James F. Bradford, of Cornwall, and was of the sixth generation in direct line from Governor Brad- ford. She lived to be eighty-two years old. Their four children were: George C .; Cath- erine, wife of William H. H. Hewitt, who has a son and daughter, Mary C. and William H. ; Wilbur F., who married Miss Harriet E. Miner, a daughter of Luther Miner; and John B., who married Miss Florence Porter, and has three children - Florence E., Wilbur T., and Katie.
George C. Harrison was educated in the common and select schools of Cornwall. At an early age he turned his attention to farm- ing. Later he bought a farm of his father near Cornwall Centre, where he has since lived. It contains three hundred acres of land, on which he is prosperously engaged in mixed farming and dairying.
In 1862 he was united in marriage with Re- becca Todd, a daughter of Carrington Todd, of
Cornwall. They have nine children, of whom Cynthia R. married F. H. Monroe, and has one son, George H. ; Eleanor H. is the wife of Mark Halliday; George E. married Miss. Flora Moore, and has two daughters, Betsey and Rebecca; Katie J. is the wife of Henry D. Whitney, and has one son, Burke Emerson. The rest are: Charlotte A., Gertrude C., Anna S., Mabel T., and John R.
Judge Harrison is a stanch Democrat. In 1870 he served as a Representative in the State legislature; and for eleven years he has filled the office of Town Clerk and Treasurer very acceptably. At the present time he holds the office of Judge of the Probate Court, hav- ing since his first election in 1876 served in that position about seventeen years. He and his family are attendants of the Methodist Episcopal Church of Cornwall.
ILLIAM H. GRISWOLD, an enter- prising and successful boot and shoe dealer of Thomaston, was born in Goshen, Conn., November 18, 1859, son of Homer W. and Mary (Butler) Griswold. Mr. Griswold's grandfather, Julius Griswold, who was of English ancestry, was a native of Litch- field, Conn., where his father was an early set- tler. Julius Griswold followed the occupation of a millwright and contractor, and resided in Litchfield until his death, which occurred at the age of eighty-seven years.
Homer W. Griswold, Mr. Griswold's father, was born in Milton, Litchfield County. He learned the trade of a machinist and tool- maker in Terryville. In early manhood he went West, where he followed his trade and also engaged in farming for a time. He returned later to his native State, and while residing in Goshen enlisted as a private in the Nineteenth Regiment Connecticut Volunteer
BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW
Infantry. He served three years in the Civil War, during which time he was advanced to the rank of First Lieutenant in recognition of his capacity for the military service. He sub- sequently drew the notice of the War Depart- ment, and at the close of the war he was offered a captain's commission in the regular army, which he respectfully declined. After leaving the service he returned to Goshen, and later went to Waterbury, where he remained for a time. He finally settled in Terryville, of this county, and since has had charge of the shipping department of the Eagle Lock Com- pany. He is still active at the age of sixty- six. His wife is a daughter of the late Lewis L. Butler, who was formerly a prosperous farmer of Harwinton, Conn., and a representa- tive of an old and reputable family of that town. Mr. and Mrs. Griswold have had four children, three of whom are living, namely : William H., the subject of this sketch; and Louise and Lotta, who are teachers in Cam- bridge, Mass. Louise Griswold is a specialist in geography, and took a prize at the World's Fair for an unusually fine display of maps. She is an expert teacher, an interesting and instructive writer. Both parents are members of the Congregational church, of which the father is a Deacon.
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