USA > Connecticut > Litchfield County > Biographical review; this volume contains biographical sketches of the leading citizens of Litchfield County, Connecticut > Part 15
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John M. Miller was educated in Germany, and served an apprenticeship to the shoe- maker's trade. In 1853, when eighteen years of age, he left his native land for America. landing at New York, and made his home in that city for the next three years. During that time he learned the harness-maker's trade. In the following year he met with an accident on the street car line, by which he lost his left limb. From New York he went to Newark, N.J., where he remained until 1867. He then removed to Amenia, N. Y .. and for seven years was employed at his trade. Then in 1875 he came to Lakeville. Conn., and started a harness shop. which he has con-
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ducted since. He is also successfully engaged in the sale of saddlery and trunks. In 1861 he was united in marriage with Miss Mary E. Mansfield, a daughter of James Mansfield, of Newark, N.J. They have an interesting fam- ily of five daughters living; namely, Addie L., Helen M., Emily, Alicia C., and Harriet L. The two eldest, Charles A. and Mary F., died in childhood.
ALLACE CANFIELD, of the Can- field Brothers' Lime Company of East Canaan, was born in New Marlboro, Mass., December 4, 1858, son of Warren and Julia A. (Cook) Canfield. His father was a native of New Marlboro, and was a son of Roderick Canfield, a former resident of that town. Warren Canfield followed the trade of a millwright throughout his life, and died in New Marlboro at the age of sixty- four years. His wife, Julia Cook, was a daughter of Lewis Cook, of New Marlboro. She was the mother of three children, namely : William; Nellie (deceased), who became the wife of Frank Coon; and Wallace, the subject of this sketch. Mrs. Warren Canfield died at the age of sixty-five years.
Wallace Canfield passed his boyhood on the homestead in New Marlboro, and received his education in the schools of that town and in the Eastman Business College of Poughkeep- sie, N.Y. In 1891, in company with his brother, he engaged in the burning and ship- ping of lime in East Canaan, under the firm name of the Canfield Brothers' Lime Com- pany; and they now conduct a large and con- stantly increasing business, producing upward of thirty thousand barrels of lime annually, which product is shipped to Massachusetts, Rhode Island, New York, New Jersey, and to all parts of Connecticut.
In 1880 Mr. Canfield was united in mar- riage to Anna M. Sandam, daughter of Will- iam H. Sandam, of New Marlboro, Mass .; and they have one child, Dewey.
ARVEY WILCOX PINNEY, whose portrait appears on the opposite page, is well-known as one of the ablest financiers of Litchfield County and the wealthiest man in the town of Colebrook. He was born on December 16, 1811, nearly four- score and four years ago; but time has dealt gently with him, stealing not the mental vigor that marked his younger days. Though he partially lost the use of his right arm after he was seventy years old, he has learned to write with his left hand, and is now noted for the excellence of his penmanship. From the genealogy of the family in the History of An- cient Windsor, Conn., we learn that Mr. Pinney is of the seventh generation in direct descent from Humphrey Pinney, who came to America in the "Mary and John" in 1630, and made his home at first in Dorchester, Mass., whence in 1635 he removed to Wind- sor, Conn., being one of the original settlers of that town. His great-grandson, Captain Abraham Pinney, born in 1710, settled in Simsbury, Hartford County, Conn.
Mr. Pinney's grandfather, Abram Pinney, son of Captain Pinney, was born December 23, 1735; and it is thought that he was a life- long resident of Simsbury, where he was en- gaged in tilling the soil for many years. His son, Asaph Pinney, born in Simsbury, Febru- ary 12, 1767, received an unusually fine edu- cation for those days, becoming a noted math- ematician and grammarian. He taught the higher branches of mathematics for many sea- sons. In 1797 he came with four of his brothers to the town of Colebrook, and bought
HARVEY W. PINNEY.
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a large tract of land near the southern boun- dary of the town. A few acres of the land had been cleared, and a small frame house and barn had been erected. Here he resided until his decease, at the age of sixty-eight years, being engaged in agricultural pursuits during the summer seasons and teaching school winters. His wife, whose maiden name was Betty Wilcox, was a native of Simsbury and a daughter of Roger and Elizabeth (Case) Wilcox. She was born September 9, 1777, and lived until 1847, the fruit of her marriage being four children: Eliza, Emma, Asaph O., and Harvey Wilcox, the direct subject of the present sketch.
Harvey W. Pinney attended school in his boyhood, acquiring a practical education, and on the home farm became familiar with agri- cultural labors. He inherited musical talent from both of his parents and cultivated this to quite an extent, becoming so noted as a violin- ist that his services in furnishing music for dances were in great demand for thirty miles around. He also gained a wide reputation as a teacher of dancing. At the decease of his father Mr. Pinney and his brother engaged in farming on the paternal homestcad, continu- ing in company for some time. In 1840 the former disposed of his interest in the estate, and in company with his brother-in-law, Ral- zemon Phelps, opened a hotel just across the line, in Winchester, on the Hartford and Albany turnpike. A year later Mr. Pinney purchased the property where he now resides and in the management of which he has met with eminent success, having by forcsight and wise judgment in his operations accumulated a competency. He is widely known and re- spected as a very capable business man. Be- sides serving in the various local offices of trust and responsibility, in 1851 he was elected to the State legislature. In politics
he is a stanch Democrat, and a worthy repre- sentative of the best element of his party.
The wedding of Mr. Pinney and Harriet Abigail Wakefield took place on October 23, 1850. Mrs. Pinney was born October 14, 1822, in Colebrook, which was the native place of her father, Hezekiah Wakefield. Her paternal grandfather, Pattershall Wake- field, was a pioneer settler of the town, buy- ing a tract of timbered land, from which he had to clear a space to erect his humble log cabin. This hc occupied for a while alone. his first wife having previously died. After his second marriage he built a good set of frame buildings, and there he lived the remainder of his years. His second wife, grandmother of Mrs. Pinney, was Sarah Bar- nard, of Simsbury, Conn., an active and ener- getic woman, who reared her children to habits of industry and economy. Hezekiah Wakefield succeeded his parents in the own- ership of the home farm, on which he spent his long life of eighty-two years. He married Harriet Barnard, of Simsbury, a daughter of Oliver and Elizabeth (Brown) Barnard. She lived to the age of seventy-nine years, and reared a family of ten children: Emily. Walter, Orrin, Sarah, Charlotte, Francis, Harriet A. (Mrs. Pinney), Ward, Hiram, and Maria.
Mr. and Mrs. Pinney have had two sons, but have been called to part with the elder. Victor Hugo, who died February 12. 1854. at the age of two and a half years. The younger, named Lucien Vernett, was born May 9, 1853, and since his marriage with Augusta C. Burbank has been an esteemed resident of Winsted. Mr. Pinney is a well- read man, broad in his views, and possesses strong convictions, which he is fearless in expressing. In religion he is an avowed Spiritualist, firm and happy in his faith.
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AMES F. KEENAN, a highly respected citizen and a successful furniture dealer and undertaker at 290 to 294 Main Street, West Winsted, Conn., was born in that town, April 20, 1854, son of James and Ann (Hughes) Keenan, both of whom were natives of Ireland, respectively born in the years 1820 and 1819.
Having saved sufficient money to pay his passage to this country, in 1851 James Kee- nan embarked, arriving in America after a twelve weeks' voyage. He settled in Win- sted, Conn., where he learned the tanner's trade of George Dudley, for whom he worked at this business thirty-eight years, acquiring considerable property by his industry and fru- gality. He was a man of inflexible integrity, remaining always steadfast to his convictions. He served as city Burgess many years, re- ceiving the vote of both parties, although he was a Republican. In 1853 his marriage with Miss Ann Hughes was performed in the Catholic church of Collinsville, Conn. She had come to America in 1850, the year previ- ous to that of his arrival. The voyage was a rough and stormy one, and it was sixteen weeks before she landed at New York City. When in sight of port, the wind drove them to sea again. Cholera broke out on board the vessel; and of the nine hundred and thirty-six passengers who started with her but three hundred and eighty-six, or more than a third, lived to land at New York. She bore her husband two children, a son and daughter, James F. and Margaret. The latter is the wife of J. F. Coffee, of Winsted, Conn. The father died at his home at 34 Meadow Street, in which he had lived since 1861, and where his widow and son now reside.
James F. Keenan received his education in the graded schools of Winsted, and at ten years of age began to work for his own liveli-
hood at the meat business, in the employ of Parsons & Case. Later on he secured a posi- tion with the Strong Manufacturing Company, with which he remained thirteen years. Here he advanced step by step until, when he sev- ered his connection with that firm, he was head shipping clerk. In the two years fol- lowing he was successively employed as clerk in the Beardslee House of Winsted and the Gridley House of Bristol, Conn. He next engaged in railroading, as baggage master at West Winsted, from which position he as- cended to that of road master, and had charge of that line. On March 1, 1893, he embarked in his present business enterprise, under the firm name of J. F. Keenan & Co., his sister being his partner. In their spa- cious rooms they carry a large and well- selected stock of furniture, and the business is thriving under Mr. Keenan's close atten- tion.
On March 20, 1881, he was united in mar- riage with Miss Mary Baker, of Winsted, daughter of Michael and Elizabeth (Lane) Baker, both of whom were natives of Ireland. They reared four sons and one daughter. The father died in 1878, past middle life, and the mother in 1884, over sixty years of age. Mr. and Mrs. Keenan's union has been brightened by the birth of three children, of whom May died at five years of age. The others are: Annie L., a girl of thirteen years; and Eliz- abeth, who is five years old. Mr. Keenan is a stanch Republican, and he and his family are consistent members of the Roman Cath- olic church.
OSIAH W. BROWN, a well-to-do farmer of Sharon, was born in Goshen, Conn., January 23, 1844, son of Warren and Esther (Tuttle) Brown. Mr. Brown's grand- father, William Brown, resided in Goshen
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for the greater and latter part of his life. He married a Miss Hawley, and raised a family of eleven children, severally named: William, Reuben, Russell, Palmer, Warren, Lydia, Lavinia, Lavisa, Grace, Polly, and Lucy. Warren Brown, Mr. Brown's father, was born in Groton, Conn. He settled upon a farm in Sharon, and successfully cultivated it until his death, which occurred when he was sixty- six years old. His wife, Esther Tuttle, daughter of Tyranus Tuttle, of Goshen, became the mother of two children, namely: Sarah, deceased, who was the wife of Zalmon Mallory ; and Josiah W., the subject of this sketch. The mother died aged sixty-seven years.
Josiah W. Brown was educated in the com- mon schools. He assisted in carrying on the home farm, and after the death of his father succeeded to the property. He has since fol- lowed general farming, and has long held a prominent position among the farmers of Sharon. Mr. Brown married Ellen Cart- wright, and has three children, as follows: Anna, who is now Mrs. Bierce, and has two children, named Stella and Ellen; Charles, who married Mary Loucks, daughter of John C. Loucks, of Sharon; and Maurice. Mr. Brown is a member of Hamilton Lodge, No. 54. A. F. & A. M., Hematite Chapter, No. 13, Royal Arch. Both he and his wife are members of Rose Chapter, No. 14, of the Eastern Star.
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D WIGHT ROGERS, a successful stock- raiser and general farmer of North Cornwall and a lifelong resident of the place that he now occupies, was born August 3, 1832, son of Daniel L. and Har- rict (Pratt) Rogers and a grandson of Noah and Lydia (Cornwall) Rogers.
His great-grandfather. Noah Rogers, Sr., came to Cornwall about the year 1760. Noah
Rogers, Jr., was a native of Cornwall, and spent his whole life there in the pursuit of agriculture. He was thrice married. His first union was with Miss Lydia Cornwall, who died when but thirty-six years of age. having borne five children; namely, Daniel L., Lydia, Rhoda. Noah, and Abbie. His second wife was before marriage Miss Eliza- beth Wilson. At her death she left a son and two daughters; namely, Eliza, Ambrose S., and Amanda. His third union was with Mrs. Abigail Whedon. Daniel L. Rogers was born on the old homestead in Cornwall in 1790. He was reared to farm life; and, after starting out in the world for himself, he purchased the place which his son now owns. an excellent farm, located about two and a half miles east of West Cornwall. He lived to be seventy-eight years of age. His wife. who was a daughter of Miner Pratt, of Corn- wall. was eighty-six years old at the time of her death. Five sons and four daughters were the fruit of their union. They were: Henry L., Daniel M., Egbert M .. Mary E., Miner P., Harriet, Dwight, Abbie, and Har- riet, second.
Dwight Rogers acquired his early education in the common schools of Cornwall. and later on attended the Williston Seminary. After teaching school for a few seasons he purchased the old home, and has since then confined his attention to agriculture. His specialty, how- ever, is dairying and stock - raising. He keeps a fine grade of both cattle and sheep. In 1863 he was joined in marriage with Miss Lucy L. Leete, a daughter of Deacon Edward Leete. She died August 18, 1803. in the fifty-fifth year of her age, leaving five chil- dren, namely: Dwight Leete, who married Miss Fanny Smith, daughter of John B. Smith, of New Britain, Conn., and has one son, Dwight Leete, Jr. : Nellie L. : Harriet
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F .; Miner P .; and Sylvia A. Mr. Rogers takes especial interest in whatever will tend to improve the condition of the farmer and in- sure him the highest possible degree of happi- ness and prosperity. He is a charter member of the North Cornwall Grange. In religious views he favors Congregationalism, being a member of the Second Congregational Church of Cornwall, which he has served as Deacon since 1889.
A LBERT P. BRIGGS, of East Canaan, a veteran of the Civil War and man- ager of a flour and feed mill for the Barnum, Richardson Company, was born in Canaan, August 17, 1842, son of Hiram and Jane E. (Peck) Briggs. Mr. Briggs's grand- father, Daniel Briggs, moved from Boston, Mass., to Canaan. He followed the trade of carpenter through life, and raised a family of eleven children. Hiram Briggs, father of Mr. Briggs, was born in Canaan, and adopted agriculture as an occupation. He was well- known throughout his section as a progressive and useful citizen, and was actively interested in public affairs, serving as a member of the Board of Selectmen and representing his dis- trict in the legislature in 1876. Hiram Briggs died in Canaan at the age of seventy- three years. His wife, daughter of Sheldon Peck, of Canaan, became the mother of six children : Albert P., Sarah, Charles H., Lois, Miles E., and Minnie E.
Albert P. Briggs was educated in the schools of his native town, and was reared to agricultural work. He followed farming until he reached the age of eighteen, when he commenced to learn the carpenter's trade. After working as a carpenter for four years he enlisted for service in the Civil War as a pri- vate in the Nineteenth Regiment, Connecticut Volunteers. He was afterward transferred to
the Second Regiment, Heavy Artillery. Upon receiving his discharge from the service, he returned home, and for eight years was em- ployed as a clerk in a store. He next en- gaged in farming for some years, after which he agreed, in 1879, with the Barnum, Rich- ardson Company to take charge of their flour and feed mill. The firm has a steady and profitable trade. It is not confined to the im- mediate neighborhood of the mills, but em- braces a liberal patronage from adjacent towns, and averages twenty-five thousand dollars an- nually. Since 1867 Mr. Briggs has been en- gaged as an auctioneer, and has transacted considerable business in that line. He is prominently identified with public affairs. In addition to other offices he has held that of Selectman, and represented his district in the legislature during the years 1886 and 1887. He is also a member of Post No. 61, Grand Army of the Republic, Department of Con- necticut.
In 1868 Mr. Briggs was united in marriage to Ella J. Sewart, daughter of Reuben Sewart, of Canaan. They have one son, named Will- iam H., who married Katie Hayes.
ILLIAM M. CURTISS, M.D., of Cornwall Bridge, who, despite the fact that it is only about two years since he started in practice, has already at- tained a good measure of success in his chosen profession, was born at Norfolk, Conn., on November 12, 1870, son of Richard and Jo- hanna (Hannafin) Curtiss. Richard Curtiss is a prosperous agriculturist of Norfolk and a well-known citizen of that town. He and his wife are the parents of four children, all sons ; namely, Richard, Jr., John, James, and Will- iam M. The father and mother are still liv- ing, and each has attained the age of sixty years.
1
JAMES H BARNUM.
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William M. Curtiss, M.D., spent his boy- hood days on the old farm. He attended the public schools of the town, and during his vacations assisted his father with the farm work. He subsequently studied for two years at Yale College. Later he attended the Bal- timore University School of Medicine, grad- uating from that institution in 1893. Shortly after receiving his diploma, he established himself at Cornwall Bridge, where he has ac- quired a good practice. His professional calls are made over a considerable territory, neces- sitating long drives, but indicating the rapid growth of his reputation. In June, 1895, he was joined in marriage with Miss Genevieve Bierce, a most estimable young woman, and one well fitted to help him in attaining suc- cess. She is a daughter of Edward Bierce, of Cornwall, Conn. Dr. Curtiss is a member of the Litchfield County Medical Society and also of the Connecticut State Medical Associ- ation.
AMES H. BARNUM, a leading mer- chant of Lime Rock, Conn., was born August 29, 1827, at 41 Bowery, New York City, son of Ira and Clarissa (Ely) Barnum. Ira Barnum, who was a saddler by trade, was an enterprising man, and conducted an extensive business in New York and in Augusta and Macon, Ga. He died in the prime of life, at the age of forty-five.
James H. Barnum passed his early boy- hood in New York, finishing his education at Mechanic Institute. The quarter of the city where he was born was very different, it is scarcely needful to say, in the first half of this century from the Bowery of to-day. When a youth of fifteen, James 11. Barnum visited Lime Rock; and he was persuaded to remain there and work on his uncle's farm for about three years. He then entered the em-
ploy of Barnum, Richardson Company, with whom he remained several years, acceptably filling the position of business manager for a long time and finally securing an interest in the company. This he later disposed of, purchasing in 1876 the store that he now owns, which is one of the largest in Lime Rock. He carries a stock of general merchandise and drugs.
Besides attending to the pressing cares of business in connection with this large estab- lishment, Mr. Barnum has faithfully and con- tinuously served as Postmaster at Lime Rock since his appointment by President Grant. He is the oldest merchant on this line of rail- road between Bridgeport and Pittsfield. In 1849 Mr. Barnum was united in marriage with Mary M. Loveridge, daughter of V. P. Loveridge, of Lime Rock. Two children blessed their union: a daughter, named Cla- rissa A., born June 2, 1854; and Julia I ... born August 30, 1866, died June 10, 1883.
Mr. Barnum votes the Democratic ticket. He was a member of the legislature in 1858, and has acted in different official capacities in the town, serving as Selectman fifteen years. He is a Mason, belonging to Montgomery Lodge, No. 13, A. F. & A. M. Ilis resi- dence, which is a very handsome one, is in the east part of the village. Mr. Barnum's wife died December 11, 1891. She was a communicant of the Episcopal church. Mr. Barnum is well known throughout the county. and is a very popular man. llis portrait, which is herewith presented, will be recog- nized with pleasure by many friends and acquaintances.
1 OBERT P. PENDLETON, a well- known farmer of South Canaan, was born in Norfolk, July 10, 1826. son of Ethan and Lucinda (Hungerford ) Pen-
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dleton. Mr. Pendleton's grandfather, Simeon Pendleton resided in Westerly, R.I .; and his only son, Ethan Pendleton, Mr. Pendleton's father, was born in that town. Ethan Pendle- ton went to New York State, and was for many years a prosperous farmer. The latter part of his life was passed in Norfolk, Conn., where he died at the age of eighty-four. His first wife, whose maiden name was Ruth Tay- lor, left three children when she died. They were: Taylor, Frederick, and Russell. By his union with his second wife, who was be- fore marriage a Miss Hinckley, there were six children; namely, Sally, Abel, Hobart, Harry, Lucius, and Mary. His third wife was Lucinda Hungerford, of Colebrook, Conn .; and she became the mother of two children : Robert P., the subject of this sketch ; and Olive. She died at the age of forty-five. He married for his fourth wife Clarissa Mil- ler, of Colebrook, who died, leaving no chil- dren, after which he wedded for his fifth wife Huldah Wright.
Robert P. Pendleton resided with his father, and engaged in agriculture upon the home- stead in Norfolk. He inherited a farm of one hundred acres. He later moved to the farm in South Canaan where he now resides. This property, which also contained one hun- dred acres, belonged to his wife. He con- ducts general farming with satisfactory re- sults, and is well and favorably known in the district.
In 1880 Mr. Pendleton was united in mar- riage to Lois Merwin, daughter of Erastus M. Merwin, of Cornwall, and has three chil- dren ; namely, Robert E., Merwin E., and Olin H. Mr. Pendleton has advanced in masonry to the Royal Arch degree, and is a member of Western Star Lodge, No. 61, and of Meridian Chapter of Salisbury. He was a charter member and first Master of the
Canaan Agricultural Society. Both he and Mrs. Pendleton are members of the Methodist Episcopal church.
REDERICK MURRAY, one of the veteran agriculturists of Litchfield
County now enjoying the fruitage of their earlier years of toil and trials, was born in the town of Winchester, July 28, 1813. His father, Daniel Murray, was a native of the town of Torrington. His grandfather, Daniel Murray, Sr., who, it is supposed, was either born in Scotland or was of Scotch an- cestry, spent his last years on a farm in Tor- rington, where he married Lucretia, the sister of Jonathan Coe.
Daniel Murray, Jr., learned the shoemaker's trade, and followed it for a while, but after his marriage settled on a farm in the town of Winchester. At the time of purchase a few cleared acres and a small log house consti- tuted the sole improvements on his land; and in the log cabin the subject was born. After clearing more of the land he sold the place in 1815, and bought another farin in the same town. From this he removed much of the timber, made a good homestead, and resided there until his death, at the venerable age of eighty-five years. His wife, whose maiden name was Roxalany North, a daughter of Juna North, of Torrington, outlived him several years, attaining the remarkable age of ninety- five years. They were among the most re- spected citizens of the town, and reared a family of seven children, who grew to matu rity, and became useful members of the community.
Frederick Murray received a limited educa - tion in the pioneer schools of his childhood, and assisted his parents in clearing and culti- vating their land. To understand what farm-
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ing was then it should be remembered that no railways spanned our country from the Atlan- tic to the Pacific Coast, neither were there any canals; while the farmers of this vicinity had to team their produce to Hartford.
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