USA > Connecticut > Litchfield County > Biographical review; this volume contains biographical sketches of the leading citizens of Litchfield County, Connecticut > Part 14
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served as administrator of many, his ability and integrity being unquestioned. He was a charter member of the Litchfield Grange, and has been its Treasurer since its organization in 1888, the society having now a membership of one hundred and seventy-five. Mr. Ives and his family are regular attendants of the Congregational church.
A faithful likeness of Mr. Ives occupies a preceding page of this volume.
RS. JULIETTE A. STRONG, a lady in high standing in Winsted, is the widow of the late Clark Strong, who was a prominent manufacturer of that town. He was the son of John Strong and grandson of David Strong, both of Chatham, Conn., the latter a farmer and an innkeeper. Clark Strong, when completing his education at the Monson Academy, met there the lady who afterward became his wife and is the subject of this sketch. After his marriage he settled in St. Louis, where he was a teacher for some time, and later was called to a professorship at Westminster College, Fulton, Mo. At the breaking out of the Civil War the college was closed, as there was some fighting in that vicinity; and Mr. Strong returned to his father's home at East Hampton, Conn. In the following year he enlisted for nine months in the Twenty- fourth Connecticut Infantry, serving as Ad- jutant. He was under the command of General Banks in the first engagement at Port Hudson, and while delivering an order re- ceived a gunshot wound, which was so serious as to necessitate a stay of three months in the hospital at New Orleans. When convalescent he came home on furlough, the regiment re- turning one month later. Soon after the close of the war Mr. Strong, in company with his
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brother David, who had served in the war with him, holding the rank of Lieutenant, took up the manufacture of coffin trimmings in East Hampton, beginning on a small scale. Within two years they moved to Winsted, and built a large factory, where a thriving business has since been carried on. For five years prior to his death Mr. Strong was in poor health, and travelled in Colorado and the South in the hope of obtaining relief. He died at his home in Winsted, July 15, 1878. His marriage took place in 1853. He be- longed to the Republican party, but was not in the political arena.
Mrs. Strong is the daughter of David and Asenath (Smith) Lewis, both of Massachu- setts, but residents for some time of Stillman Valley, near Rockford, Ill., where Mr. Lewis was engaged in farming. They made the long journey thither, more than a thousand miles, over the rough country, in emigrant wagons. On the way they passed through Chicago, when it was little more than a mud-hole. In Stillman Valley, a very fine farming country, Mr. Lewis bought some six hundred acres of land, and settled there with some twenty other families, among whom were the Rev. Eben - ezer Brown, a Congregational preacher, who became pastor of the First Church, Willard Andrews and wife, and a brother of Mr. Lewis. After some years of pioneer life Mr. Lewis sold his farm, and in 1852 moved to Rockford, where he engaged in the manufact- ure of cornstarch. Subsequently a fire de- stroyed his buildings, and the financial panic further reduced his resources. In conse- quence Mr. and Mrs. Lewis, now well ad- vanced in years, came to East Winsted with their daughter. The mother died in 1877, at the age of seventy-seven, and the father in 1884, at the age of eighty-nine. They had three children: L. M. Lewis, deceased, who
was a farmer in Stillman Valley; Abbie. wife of Philetus Fales in Ottawa, Kan. ; and Mrs. Strong.
Mrs. Juliette A. Strong was but four years old when she went with her parents to Illi- nois. She grew up among the hardships of pioneer life. - She, however, completed her education at Monson Academy, after which she taught for some time in Rockford, Ill., where she later married Mr. Strong. After her marriage she went to St. Louis with her husband, and came East with him at the break- ing out of the war. She.has lost four chil- dren, two of whom died in infancy. Lewis D., her oldest son, died in 1876, when but twenty years old, a promising young man. who had distinguished himself as a student and was just starting in business. Gertrude S. married W. F. McClelland, and resides in Denver, Col. She has one daughter, Juliette. so named after her grandmother. Lester Clark Strong married Antoinette Loomis, of Winsted, and has one son. Mrs. Strong since her husband's death has held his inter- est in the business, with the efficient aid of her son Lester. Her home is at 100 Main Street, where her husband died.
FORGE STANLY BURNHAM. . well-known resident of Winchester and identified with the best interests of this section of the State, is a native of this county, born January 4. 1830, in the town of Barkhamsted, on the homestead of his father, Hiram Burnham. Mr. Burnham represents one of the earliest families to settle in Con- necticut. He is a descendant of one Thomas Burnham, who bought land in Hartford from the Indians, and was subsequently one of the most extensive land-owners of his das. CA comprehensive history of the Burnham family.
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compiled and published by Roderick Burnham in 1884, may prove of interest to the readers of this volume.) The paternal grandfather of the subject, also named Thomas Burnham, was born at East Hartford, and, after his marriage to Chloe Fairchild, moved to Hart- land, where he was soon numbered among the most enterprising and skilful business men of the place. He engaged in several occupa- tions, being a carder, a cloth-dresser, the owner and manager of a saw-mill, and an ex- tensive farmer. In the sunset of his life he removed to Ravenna, Portage County, Ohio, that he might spend his last days with his son.
Hiram Burnham was reared to man's estate in his native town. After his marriage he resided for a short time in Bloomfield, and then removed to Barkhamsted, where he bought a partly improved farm, which he suc- cessfully conducted until 1853. In this year he removed to the vicinity of Winsted, where he and his wife subsequently died. He was prominent in political affairs, was a stanch Whig, and represented his district in the State legislature. His wife in maidenhood was Hannah Clerene Sanford, daughter of Strong Sanford, an officer in the Revo- lutionary army. After the close of that memorable war Strong Sanford married Tem- perance Hotchkiss; and they settled in this county, where they reared their children. Mr. and Mrs. Hiram Burnham reared but two of the three children born to them, namely: George Stanly, the subject of this sketch; and Laura Clerene, who married John Wood- ford, of Winsted. Mary Jane died, aged six years.
George S. Burnham received his early edu- cation in the district school, and subsequently attended the academies of Warren, Mass., and of Granby, Conn. At the age of eighteen years
he began his professional career by teaching during the winter season for some ten years, the remainder of each year being spent in farming or travelling. In his travels he visited the States of New York, Ohio, and Pennsylvania. Mr. Burnham was subse- quently associated with his father in farming. A year later he assumed the entire manage- ment of the homestead property, engaging ex- tensively in dairying. With another man he carried on a cheese factory in South Street, Winchester, for four years, after which he sent his milk to the condensing factory for two years. In 1874 he removed from his na- tive town to Winsted, and for three years was engaged in a mercantile business, dealing largely in wool, generally selling in the New York markets. In 1877 he purchased the Elmwood farm, located on the side hill, three-fourths of a mile from Winsted post- office, and occupying a beautiful site, over- looking the village of Winsted and the surrounding country.
The union of Mr. Burnham and Mary C. Crampton was celebrated in the month of De- cember, 1864. She was born in Farmington, Conn., a daughter of William Crampton, who was a prosperous farmer and a dealer in pro- visions and lumber. He was a stanch mem- ber of the old Whig party, and was very prominent in local affairs. He served as Justice of the Peace for many years, and rep- resented the town of Farmington in the State legislature. He married Esther Cowles, of that town, a daughter of Rufus and Rachel (Moss) Cowles; and they had seven children, namely: Rufus C., Thomas, DeWitt, Rachel, Mary (Mrs. Burnham), Elizabeth, and Ada- line. Rufus, the eldest, was graduated from Yale College, and was for a long time Pro- fessor of Mathematics and Astronomy at the Illinois College in Jacksonville, where he
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EDWARD C. HOTCHKISS.
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subsequently died. The union of Mr. and Mrs. Burnham has been blessed by the birth of three children: Alice Sanford, Isabella Grace, and George Nelson. The latter is a commercial traveller, representing a Hartford firm; and Alice S., who was the wife of Pro- fessor James Bingham, formerly of Winsted, but now a teacher at the Tillotson Institute at Austin, Tex., died at the home of her parents, November 8, 1895, leaving a baby girl two weeks old. Mr. Burnham is held in high regard by his fellow-townsmen, and his influence and assistance are always sought in behalf of undertakings for the benefit of the general public. In him the Republican party finds a strong ally. He has served as chair- man of the Board of Relief. He was also one of the organizers of the First National Bank of Winsted, and has since been a Director and much of the time an Auditor. At present he is Overseer of the Still River Grange, in which he has served as Chaplain and Treas- urer. Both he and his wife are active and valued members of the First Congregational Church. He has acted as chairman of the society for a number of years, and for a quarter of a century he has been a teacher in the Sunday-school.
DWARD C. HOTCHKISS, of Torring- ton, Conn., senior member of the firm of Hotchkiss Brothers & Co., con- tractors and builders, was born in Naugatuck, New Haven County, Conn., November 5, 1833. lle is a son of Charles and Electa (Brace) Hotchkiss, and comes of a noted fam- ily of builders, both his father and grand- father having been largely engaged in carpen- try. The grandfather, Dyer Hotchkiss, was born in Prospect, Conn., and spent most of his life in Naugatuck, where he owned a saw-
mill and manufactured lumber for his building operations.
Charles Hotchkiss worked as a journeyman carpenter in his youth, in early manhood as- suming the responsibility of an independent builder. In 1841 he left Naugatuck, and settled in a part of Torrington which was then an unreclaimed wilderness. There he cleared a tract of land, and erecting a saw- mill was soon actively engaged in the manu- facture of lumber, at the same time doing some building. In 1857 he sold his saw-mill property, and establishing the plant now man- aged by his sons became prominent and well- known as a builder throughout the district, and gained a reputation for good workmanship and prompt execution that has aided much in the success of the present firm. He successfully conducted business until 1880, when he sold his interest to his sons, and retired. He is now in his eighty-fifth year, and is still ac- tive and in possession of his faculties. His wife, formerly Electa Brace, who died in 1888, was a native of Torrington, and was one of six children, two of whom are still living. Her father, Harland Brace, was a cooper by trade. Mrs. Charles Hotchkiss was a mem- ber of the Congregational church, of which her husband was Deacon for many years. Their union was blessed by seven children, five of whom are living, namely: Edward C. and Henry, of Torrington; Albert, of New York: Fidelia, wife of Hiram Clemons; and Eugene.
Edward C. Hotchkiss was seven years of age when the family moved to Torrington. He here received his education, and learned the carpenter's trade with his father. At seventeen he displayed such ability and dis- cretion that he was intrusted with authority to act as foremin, taking charge of important contracts. He subsequently became a mem-
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ber of the firm, the name from 1856 to 1866 being C. Hotchkiss & Son. In 1866 his brother Henry was admitted, and "Son " was changed to "Sons." In 1880 Edward and Henry purchased their father's interest, and up to 1888 the business was conducted under the name of Hotchkiss Brothers. It has yearly increased, and the reputation of the firm is such as to retain old customers and to con- stantly add to the list of new ones. Besides being constantly engaged in filling contracts for building, they deal largely in building ma- terial; and they are the largest manufacturers of sashes, blinds, and doors in the State, giv- ing continuous employment in their factory and yard to one hundred men. Edward C. Hotchkiss is also an architect, and is very skilful in drawing plans.
In 1856 he married Amelia Briggs, of Sara- toga, N.Y., whose father was a farmer and butcher in that town. Mrs. Amelia B. Hotch- kiss was one of fourteen children. She died in 1881, at the age of forty-seven, leaving three children, namely: Edward H., who in 1888 became associated in business with his father, the name of the firm being changed on his account to Hotchkiss Brothers & Co .; Josephine, wife of Harlow Pease, of Stock- bridge, superintendent of the building busi- ness of his father-in-law; and Minnie, wife of C. H. Dougal, a druggist in Torrington. Mr. Hotchkiss subsequently married Mrs. H. R. Fellows, of Torrington, daughter of Emory Coe, of Winsted. She was educated at Ipswich, Mass., and taught school for twenty years, for fifteen years being thus engaged in Torrington.
Politically, Mr. Hotchkiss is a Republican. He cast his first vote for John C. Frémont, walking ten miles in order to deposit his bal - lot. He was in the State legislature in 1871 and 1875, and in Torrington served as Select-
man two years, was on the Board of Burgesses two years, and was many years a member of the Board of Relief. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity, belonging to Seneca Lodge of Torrington, Cyrus Chapter of Royal Arch Masons, Clark Commandery of Water- bury, and Pyramid Temple of Bridgeport, the only one in the State. He attends the Con- gregational church, to which his first wife be- longed, and of which his second wife also is a member. Mr. Hotchkiss is a broadly intelli- gent man, and is regarded with esteem and re- spect by all who know him. His portrait appears on another page.
EORGE P. WARD, a well-known and successful business man of Litchfield County, was born August 24, 1844, in Riverton, Hartford County. His ancestors were for many generations among the most worthy residents of York- shire, England, where his father, Michael P. Ward, and his grandfather, John Ward, were both born and bred.
The grandfather remained in Yorkshire sev- eral years after his marriage with Miss Parker, who bore him six children; namely, James, Ellen, Michael P., Alice, Isabelle, and Charles. In 1828 he emigrated to America, and settled in North Adams, Mass., living there until 1836. In that year he moved to Hartland, Hartford County, where he pur- chased a tract of land from Ezra Doolittle. The property was situated on the west side of the west branch of the Farmington River, and included a valuable water-power and a saw-mill, it being one of the oldest improve .! estates in that locality. In the fall of 1836, assisted by his sons, all of whom came to this country, he began the erection of a calico- mill, which he completed and put in opera-
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tion the following year. His sons were in company with him; and under the firm name of John Ward & Sons they continued the man- ufacture of calicoes until 1851, when he retired to his farm, which he thereafter superintended until his death, at the venerable age of eighty- two years. After the death of his first wife he married again, but of this union there were no children.
Michael P. Ward, father of George P. Ward, preceded his father to the United States, coming here in 1825, being then a venturesome youth of sixteen years. He made the voyage in a sailing-vessel, the trip occupying several weeks. He first secured work at Hudson, N. Y., in a calico-mill, where he was soon made superintendent, re- maining there until 1833. He then went to North Adams, Mass., and with his brother James leased a mill, and bought the stock; and for three years they were sucessfully en- gaged in the manufacture of calico. In 1836 he accompanied his father and brothers to Riverton, where he was associated with them in business until 1851. In that year he bought the Williams & Burbank Scythe Com- pany's mills, located at the junction of the Farmington and Still Rivers, and forming a stock company, of which he was the President, Secretary, and Treasurer for a number of years, engaged in the manufacture of scythes. He finally retired from the management, and devoted his time to his private interests until his demise, at the ripe old age of eighty-five years. His wife, whose maiden name was Sarah Ormrod, was a native of England, and came to America with her mother, brothers, sisters, and step-father. She, too, lived to a good age, dying when seventy-five years old. She bore her husband thirteen children; namely, Sarah (deceased), Peter (deceased), Mary J., John, Josephine, George P., Horace,
Charles (deceased), Victoria, Emma, Will- iam, Belle, and Clarence.
George P. Ward received his elementary education in the district school. This he ad- vanced by attendance at the academies of New Marlboro and Suffield. He subsequently taught school for one term. Since that time he has been associated with his brothers in different branches of business, dealing ex- tensively in stock, tobacco, and lumber; and Fortune seemed to smile on whatever enter- prise he engaged in. From 1878 until 1893 he manufactured paper, the firm being known as Ward Brothers, one of the most substantial in the county. They sold the plant in 1893. It had been in the family for a long period of years.
Mr. Ward married Emogene Tifft, the nup- tials being celebrated August 26, 1870. They have an interesting family of children; namely, Clayton, Jessie, Robert, and Horace. Mrs. Ward's father, J. W. Loren Tifft, was a native of Providence, R.I., and son of Stephen and Eliza (Ballou) Tifft, farmers and lifelong residents of Rhode Island. He was a scythe manufacturer, and followed his trade in different places. He was employed in Windham, Vt., where Mrs. Ward was born ; but his last years were spent in Cornish. N.H. The maiden name of his wife was Lo- rania Pierce, a native of Londonderry, Vt .. and a daughter of Joel and Amanda (Sweet) Pierce. Mr. Pierce was a blacksmith by trade, and did the smith work for the con- tractors on the Vermont Central Railway. Both he and his wife departed this life at Cavendish, Vt. Mr. Ward is a man of prom- inence and influence in the community. He is an earnest Republican, and has served his party as chairman of the Town Committee. For a number of years he has been a dele- gate to district, county, and State conven-
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tions. In 1888 and 1890 he was elected to represent his town in the State legislature. Mrs. Ward is a consistent member of the Con- gregational church.
EORGE V. CAPRON, a jewelry mer- chant of Falls Village and a veteran of the Civil War, was born in Floyd, Oneida County, N. Y., December 27, 1834, son of Ledyard and Olive (James) Capron. Mr. Capron's grandfather, Elisha Capron, re- sided in Preston, New London County, Conn., and was a shoemaker by trade. Ledyard Ca- pron, Mr. Capron's father, was born in Preston, Conn., and followed shoemaking as an occupa- tion. He removed to Dutchess County, New York, where he resided for the remainder of his life, and died at the age of seventy-three. His wife, who died aged fifty-two years, became the mother of eight children; namely, Susan, John, Charles, Elisha, Giles, George V., James, and Ella.
George V. Capron received his education in the public schools. He assisted his father until he reached the age of sixteen, at which time he commenced to learn the trade of a carpenter. After following that occupation for three years, he worked for a still longer period in a grist-mill. When the Civil War broke out, he enlisted as a private in Company G, Second Regiment, Heavy Artillery, Con- necticut Volunteers, and served with his regi- ment until discharged. Some time after his return from the army he settled in Falls Village, where he established himself in the jewelry business, and has since conducted a profitable trade. Mr. Capron has been promi- nently identified with public affairs in Falls Village for several years. He was for two years a member of the Board of Selectmen, represented his district in the legislature dur-
ing the years 1880 and 1881, and is at the present time serving as Deputy Sheriff. He is a comrade of O. H. Knight Post, No. 58, Grand Army of the Republic of Lakeville, and is a member of Montgomery Lodge, No. 13, A. F. & A. M. In 1873 Mr. Capron was united in marriage to Mary J. Bump, daughter of Heman Bump, of Millerton, Conn., and has one son, named George W. Mrs. Capron is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church.
RS. MARY ANN CULVER, one of the old and respected residents of Winsted, is the widow of Ed- ward Eaton Culver, a prominent builder and contractor of that town, who died in Winsted on New Year's Day, 1894. Mr. Culver was born in Colebrook, Conn., son of Philander and Prusa ( Hewet ) Culver. Philander Culver besides manufacturing hats worked in a tan- nery. He spent the declining years of his life on a farm in Litchfield, and died in Winsted at the home of his son when sixty-three years old. His wife lived to be ninety-one years of age, dying here in 1884. They reared eight children, two of whom are now widows, living in Winsted.
Edward Eaton Culver, after completing his education at the common schools, entered the tannery at Colebrook, and there spent several years. He also spent some time in Litch- field, after which, in 1851, he came to Win- sted, and engaged in contracting, building, and lumbering. Mr. Culver erected many of the best buildings in the town, among which may be mentioned the opera house and the large school-house in the west part of Win- sted. After he retired from active business he was chosen by Mr. Gilbert to superintend the building of the Gilbert Home and the lay- ing out of the grounds. When his business
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was most prosperous, Mr. Culver employed a large number of men. Associated with him in the lumber trade were his son and Hosea T. Streeter, who after his death carried on the business under the same name. He was nearly sixty-six when he died. In politics he was a Republican and in good standing in the party. He was Selectman for four years and Water Commissioner for thirteen years. He was also Director of the Winsted Savings Bank, and served on the Loan Committee; and he belonged to the Royal Arcanum and the American Mechanics. In religious belief he was Congregationalist, being a member of the Second Church from its beginning and one of the society committee.
On November 1, 1849, Mr. Culver married the lady whose name appears at the head of this article, the ceremony taking place at Litchfield. Mrs. Culver is a native of Sud- bury, Mass. Her maiden name was Bowker, being a daughter of Daniel and Ruth (Brown) Bowker. Her father was a farmer, who had an estate of one hundred acres, which is yet in the family, and is now occupied by the fifth generation. The farm, originally a large one, has been reduced by division. Mr. Bowker died in 1853, when eighty-two years old. His wife had passed away some years before, laying down the cares of life at sixty- eight. They had fourteen children, and Mrs. Culver is the youngest of eleven who grew to adult age. She has but one living sister, Harriet, wife of Horace S. Gillett, of Indian- apolis, Ind. Mrs. Culver was educated at a boarding-school, and is a refined and culti- vated lady. Her married life has been shad- owed by affliction, for she has lost two chil- dren. Lucius F. died when two years old; and Elizabeth Ann, then the young wife of Charles T. Donaldson, died in 1873, cut off in her twenty-fourth year. Mrs. Culver's
living children are: Florence E., who resides with her mother; Edward M., a lumber mer- chant, who has succeeded to his father's busi- ness, and is senior partner in the firm of Culver & Bristol; and Marion L., a graduate of the West Winsted High School. The house on Wheeler Street in which Mrs. Cul- ver and family reside was built by her hus- band in 1872, and for over twenty years has held their household gods and sheltered them in joy and sorrow.
OHN M. MILLER, who is successfully engaged in the manufacture of har- nesses, saddlery, and trunks in Lake- ville, was born in Würtemberg, Lentenbach, Germany, on September 21, 1835, son of Michael and Catherine (Schönleber) Miller. Michael Miller, who was also a native of Würtemberg, was a weaver by trade, and did the weaving for all the surrounding towns. He died at the age of fifty-four years, and his wife attained the same age. They were the par- ents of four sons and four daughters; namely, Christiana, Jacob, Frederick, Catherine, Lon- ise, Christian, Fredricka, and John M.
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