USA > Connecticut > Litchfield County > Biographical review; this volume contains biographical sketches of the leading citizens of Litchfield County, Connecticut > Part 16
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Mr. Murray remained beneath the parental roof-tree until his marriage with Ann Caul, the daughter of William and Elizabeth Caul, of Winchester, when he settled on the farm where he now resides. This is pleasantly lo- cated west of the lake, one and a half miles from the village of Winsted, and contains one hundred and sixty-five acres of choice and well-cultivated land. The family circle in- cludes seven children; namely, Catherine, Daniel, Ellen, Mary, Frederica B., Julia, and Anna. Mrs. Murray died January 6, 1892. Daniel, the only son living, owns a fine farm about a half-mile from the home of his father, where he is carrying on general agriculture, paying especial attention to his horses, among which are some very fine ones. He married Rebecca Nash; and they have one child, Emily. Mr. Murray is an estima- ble man, a stanch adherent of the Republican party ; and, though never an aspirant for offi- cial honors, he takes an earnest interest in local affairs.
R OLLIN DANIEL WILSON, proprie- tor of the Riverside Farm, was born April 28, 1838, son of Daniel B. and Adeline (Doolittle) Wilson. Captain Abijah Wilson, his paternal grandfather, son of Noah and Ann Wilson, was born De- cember 18, 1746, in Torrington, and there spent his carlier years in tilling the soil. After his marriage he removed to the town of Winchester, where he purchased a large tract of wild land, including the homestead now owned and occupied by Rollin D. Wilson. He cleared a good farm, on which he and his
wife, whose maiden name was Hannah Bush- nell, spent the remainder of their days. He was a man of remarkable intelligence, very prominent in public affairs, and was elected to the State legislature in 1798 and in 1802.
Daniel B. Wilson was reared a farmer, and became identified with the agricultural inter- ests of this locality. He died March 31, 1886, on the farm where he had spent his life, a period of more than fourscore years. He married Adeline Doolittle, a native of Winchester, and the daughter of Lyman and Achsa (Davis) Doolittle. She departed this life February 17, 1882, preceding her husband by a few years. She reared a fam- ily of nine children; namely, Elvira, John, Margaret, Jane, Rollin D., Emerette, Ade- laide, Henry, and Isabelle.
Rollin D. Wilson began his pursuit of knowledge at the district school, and later at- tended a select school in Robertsville, taught by the Rev. Mr. Mace. On the home farm he obtained a practical experience in agricult- ure during the first twenty-one years of his existence; but then, following his mechani- cal inclinations, he commenced work in a clock factory. He earned fair wages while there, and in time was able to buy sixteen acres of land from his father. On this tract there was a small house, which had previously been used for school purposes, and in which he and his wife began house-keeping. He had worked in the clock factory seven years. when it was burned. Mr. Wilson then turned his attention to his early occupation. in which he has since continned, having been prospered from the first. He has added to his original acreage, having bought the larger part of the parental homestead, and has now a valuable farm of seventy-five acres, all in a high state of culture. In 1804 he erected a commodions frame house, pleas-
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antly located on the west bank of the Still River; and here he and his wife exercise generous hospitality, welcoming either
a friend or stranger within their gates.
The marriage of Mr. Wilson with Augusta Evans, a native of this county, was performed in October, 1867. She bore him no children; but at her death she left an adopted daugh- ter, Adella. On August 30, 1887, Mr. Wil- son married the second time Miss Minnie Pierce, who was born in the town of Norfolk, Litchfield County. Her father, the late John Pierce, a native of Berkshire County, Massachusetts, who during his earlier years was employed in a carding-mill, and subse- quently followed the trade of a carpenter, spent his last years in Winsted, living some- what retired. His wife, whose maiden name was Harriet Cobb, was a native of Winsted, Conn., and a daughter of Allen and Pluma (Hinman) Cobb. Mr. and Mrs. Wilson have had two children namely: Harvey, born January 19, 1889, who died August 17, 1890; and Howard, a bright and active little fellow, born May 15, 1892. The family at- tend and support the Second Congregational Church, of which Mrs. Wilson is a member. Politically, Mr. Wilson is a stanch supporter of the principles of the Democratic party.
UGENE L. PHELPS, a successful mer- chant and an extensive real estate owner of Litchfield, Conn., was born in this town October 22, 1853, son of John and Martha L. (French) Phelps. Mr. Phelps's great-grandfather, John Phelps, built the well-known United States Hotel in Litch- field, and conducted that hostelry as long as he lived. His son, Edward Phelps, who was born in Litchfield, December 17, 1772, settled upon a tract of land which is known as Echo
Farm ; and he cleared and improved it into a state of cultivation. He was a prosperous farmer, passing the active portion of his life in that occupation. He died October 3, 1859.
John Phelps, the second son of Edward, was born in Litchfield. He was educated in the common schools and at the high school, and for a time followed agricultural pursuits upon the old homestead. He afterward engaged in running a saw-mill, and still later adopted the carpenter's trade. His wife, Martha L. French, whom he married in 1842, was born in Charlestown, N. H., February 3, 1819, and was a daughter of Lee French, a native of that town. Her grandfather, Abel French, was a lifelong resident of Charlestown, where he fol- lowed the trade of a carpenter and joiner, and was a highly respected citizen. He died at the age of sixty-nine; but his wife, Lucy Wright, of Concord, N. H., daughter of a sea captain, lived to reach the advanced age of ninety years. Lee French was reared to farm life, and also worked at the carpenter's trade with his father. He resided in Charlestown for many years, but at length moved from there to Charlemont, N. H., where he died aged seventy-seven. His first wife, Lavinia Hotchkins, a native of Charlestown, became the mother of three children, two of whom are still living, namely : Martha L., Mr. Phelps's mother; and Abel. Mrs. Lavinia H. French died at the age of thirty-one. Martha L. French resided in Charlestown until reaching the age of sixteen, when she came to Connecti- cut and engaged in teaching school for some years before she was married to Mr. John Phelps. She has had three children, two of whom lived to reach maturity, namely: Eu- gene L., the subject of this sketch; and Lu- cretia, who married for her first husband John Stanton, and for her second Daniel Berry, of Waterbury. Mrs. Martha French Phelps re-
EUGENE L. PHELPS.
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sides in Litchfield, and is still bright and active at the age of seventy-six. She was for- merly a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, but later became an Episcopalian.
Eugene L. Phelps was educated in the dis- trict schools of his native town and lived with his parents until he was nineteen years old. In 1872 he established himself in a general mercantile business on West Street, and a short time later he moved his stock to a store in Judd's Block. By careful attention to busi- ness he secured the confidence and liberal patronage of the general public, and rapidly advanced in prosperity. On June 10, 1886, his store, including the stock, was totally destroyed by fire, thus causing him to sustain a severe loss; but in company with others he built the Barracks, so called, where he con- tinued his business for two years. He then bought land and erected the Phelps Block, the ground floor of which is occupied by Wessel & Gates's pharmacy, Bigelow's market, the post- office, and his own store, which is twenty by sixty feet. The upper floors are occupied by the Phelps Opera House, which seats six hun- dred people, the Grange Hall, and the lodge- room of the Knights of Columbus, the En- quirer office, and a barber shop. After relin- quishing general store-keeping Mr. Phelps conducted a large bakery, which was situated upon the main street of the town. He later sold that enterprise and engaged in his present business, which has developed into large pro- portions. He carries an extensive assortment of cigars, tobacco, and smoker's articles, and also handles teas and coffees.
In 1875 Mr. Phelps was united in marriage with Ella J. Austin. She was born in Har- winton, Conn., only daughter of Amariah and Mary (Hine) Austin, the former of whom was well known as the stage driver from litchfield to East Litchfield. Mr. and Mrs Phelps have
two children, Lulu E. and George. Lulu E. Phelps was carefully educated in a private school, and has attained proficiency in the study of languages. The family attend the Congregational church and Sunday-school.
Mr. Phelps is an able business man and a useful citizen. His success in life is due to his energy and industry, and these commend- able qualities have also been displayed for other purposes than his own business affairs. He has always exhibited a deep interest in the welfare of the community, and is ever ready to aid in the furtherance of any movement which is calculated to be of benefit to the town. He is a Democrat in politics, and occupies a proni- inent position in local affairs. For several years he was a member of the Board of Bur- gesses, and is at the present time Warden of the borough. Ile has been Chief of the Fire Department since its organization, and has presided as chairman of the Democratic Town Committee for many years. He is well ad- vanced in the Masonic fraternity, being a member of St. Paul's Lodge of Litchfield, Darius Chapter, Buell Council, Clark Com- mandery of Waterbury, and of Pyramid Tem- ple of the Mystic Shrine of Bridgeport.
A portrait of Mr. Phelps occupies the page opposite the beginning of the foregoing sketch.
EORGE R. WILLCOX, a blacksmith of Canaan, was born in that town, April 11, 1844, son of Lucius and Belinda (Deming) Wilcox. Mr. Wilcox's grandfather, Reuben Wilcox, was a native of Cornwall. He was a cooper by trade, and followed that occupation through life. Ile died at the age of sixty-five years, having raised a family of eight children, severally named: Lucius, Whiting, Robert, Edwin, Henry, Lucia, Fanny, and Marrietta. Lu-
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cius Wilcox, father of Mr. Wilcox, was born in Cornwall. He learned the trade of a blacksmith, an occupation which he followed during the active period of life, and is now re- siding with his son in Falls Village. His wife, Belinda Deming before marriage, a daughter of Ruel Deming, of Canaan, became the mother of ten children; namely, Harriet, Mary, George R., Emma, Lucia, Jennie, Edwin, Elizabeth, Lee, and Ellen. The last three are dead. The mother died aged sixty- five years.
George R. Wilcox attended the schools of Canaan, and when very young began to learn the blacksmith's trade. He afterward con- ducted a general blacksmith business in South Canaan. In 1885 he purchased his present farm, situated about two miles south of the village. He then built a new shop, where he is still following his trade with his usual activity. He also continues to superintend his farm. In 1865 he was united in mar- riage to Mary F. Curry, daughter of George Curry, of Falls Village, and has one son, named Eliot A. Mr. Wilcox in politics is an active Republican. He is a member of the Board of Selectmen and a Free and Accepted Mason of Hoosatonic Lodge. He and Mrs. Wilcox attend the Congregational church.
HAUNCEY S. FOSTER, a pros- perous merchant tailor and clothier of Winsted, was born in Jefferson, Schoharie County, N. Y., September 12, 1827. His father was Smith Foster, of New Marlboro, Mass .; and his grandfather was Ezekiel Foster, an oldtime schoolmaster, who devoted part of his life to agricultural pursuits. Ezekiel, having passed the age of threescore and ten, died, and was interred in the cemetery at Norfolk, Conn. His wife,
Sarah (Smith) Foster, was the daughter of Captain Smith, a soldier of the Revolution, who fought in the battle of Bennington, and served till the end of the war. Mr. and Mrs. Ezekiel Foster reared two sons and four daughters.
Smith Foster was a spinner in the woollen- mills of Norfolk, and was also a capable farmer. He removed to Jefferson, Schoharie County, N. Y., and there for some years cul- tivated a farm, returning to Connecticut in his old age. He was a fine scholar for his time and an especially good penman, looking after his son's book-keeping as a pastime and taking great pleasure in the neat appearance of the books. He was a man of fine carriage and commanding appearance, well-preserved and active up to the time of his death, which occurred when he was eighty-two years old. His wife, to whom he was married in 1826, was the daughter of Eliphalet Clark, of Haddam, Conn., and the grand-daughter of Ezekiel Clark, a musician in the Revolution- ary army. Her father, who was a wealthy land-owner in Haddam, moved to Norfolk. The farm on which the Hillshurst House now stands was part of the property he acquired then. Mrs. Clark, a member of the Thomas family, was of Welsh descent. Mrs. Foster was a beautiful woman. Her mother used to fondly say of her, "She was as handsome a gal as there was in old Haddam." She died when about seventy-one years old, leav- ing two daughters and one son, the latter the subject of this sketch. Emily Foster became the wife of Horace B. Stevens, of Canaan, Conn .; and Miss Sarah Foster lives at the old home in East Canaan.
Chauncey S. Foster acquired a fair com- mand of the three R's (reading, 'riting, and 'rithmetic) in the district schools, which he attended until fifteen years of age. His father
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allowed him the choice of a finished educa- tion or a trade; and he chose the latter, be- ginning his apprenticeship in Norfolk and nnishing in New York City when he was twenty-one years of age. He has been a suc- cessful man. The burden of his sixty-odd years sits lightly upon his shoulders, his sum- mer vacations in the Adirondacks being still enjoyed with all the zest and activity of youth.
Mr. Foster was married at the age of twenty-four to Helen E., daughter of Eben- ezer and Fanny (Yale) Beebe, of South Canaan, and has two children living. George C. is a cutter in his father's tailoring estab- lisment; and Fannie Belle is a promising young musician, who was educated at Wind- sor, Conn. A son, Junius, died when a little over two years old.
Mr. Foster is Secretary and Director of the Winsted Edge Tool Company. He votes the Republican ticket, and is active in Lodge matters, having been a Mason for forty years, and holding the position of Past High Priest of the Chapter of same, having filled in suc- cession all the chairs. In the Methodist church Mr. Foster is a respected member.
EWIS CATLIN, a prominent farmer of Harwinton, was born in that town July 6, 1824, son of Lewis and Annie (Catlin) Catlin, both natives of Har- winton. The Catlin family has been identi- fied with the agricultural interests of Har- winton for many generations, Mr. Catlin's grandfather, also Lewis Catlin, who was born in Harwinton, June 3, 1758, being a farmer in that town. Extracts obtained by the family from the records of the War Department show that Grandfather Catlin enlisted in the Revo- lutionary army in the summer of 1776, and
subsequently re-enlisted twice, and that he participated in the battle of Stillwater and assisted in carrying General Benedict Arnold from the field when he was wounded. Return- ing to his native town after the close of the war, he resumed his agricultural occupations, acted for years as a Justice of the Peace, and died January 7, 1839. On June 26, 1785, he was married to Candace Catlin, who survived him some years, and was in receipt of a pen- sion from the government on account of her husband's services in the Revolutionary War. One of their sons, George S. Catlin, who was born in Harwinton in 1808, was a graduate of Amherst, and for years was a prominent law- yer in Willimantic, Conn. In 1848 he was elected to the United States Congress from the Third Congressional District, and in the same year was the Democratic candidate for gov- ernor of Connecticut. He was well-informed on all the topics of the day and was an eloquent speaker. His sister, Candace, married Gen- eral Morris Woodruff, father of Judge George C. Woodruff, and grandfather of the present Judge George M. Woodruff, of Litchfield.
Lewis Catlin, father of the subject of this sketch, devoted his life to agriculture, spend- ing his earlier years on the old homestead and the latter part of his life in the village. He also entered the political field, represented the town in the legislature, and was for many years a Justice of the Peace. He died at the age of sixty-six. His wife, who, though bear. ing the same surname, was no relation, was a daughter of Benjamin Catlin, also a farmer of Harwinton. She died at the age of seventy- one, having borne seven children. Of these, three are still living, namely : Anna, widow of the late Addison Webster, of Harwinton ; Lewis, the subject of this sketch ; and Lucy A., wife of Henry Reynolds, a carpenter .ind joiner of Harwinton.
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Lewis Catlin went to work at the age of fourteen, entering a store in Harwinton, where he was employed as clerk for two years. He then spent five years down South in Georgia engaged in mercantile pursuits, at the expira- tion of which time he returned to Harwinton and opened a general store. This venture proved a success, and eight years later he undertook the management of a farm, conduct- ing the store and the farm conjointly for about twenty years. He eventually disposed of his mercantile interests, and turned his attention wholly to farming. Mr. Catlin is a man whose ability and good judgment command success. That he has the confidence of his fellow-townsmen is shown by the frequent calls he receives from them to act as appraiser of property and administrator in settling estates. He was married in 1848 to Joan R., daughter of Truman Kellogg, a prominent and wealthy citizen of Harwinton. Truman Kel- logg, who acquired a fortune in Georgia in his youth, used to hold an open purse for Harwin- ton when financial aid was needed for its improvements. He died in 1854, at the age of sixty-four. He had two daughters, now deceased, namely : Jane, who married Luther Hoadley ; and Joan R., who died at the age of fifty-two. Two children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Catlin, Edward K. and Jane H. The latter married Frank S. Crossman, a boot and shoe dealer of Brooklyn, N. Y., and has two children : Louis C., travelling salesman for a jewelry firm of South Attleboro, twenty-one years of age; and Ella K., eighteen years old.
In politics Mr. Catlin has ceased to be a party man, in order to support the best candi- dates. He was at first a Democrat, then a Republican ; and now he is independent. He represented his district in the lower house of the State legislature in 1852, 1862, and 1865, was elected from the Fifteenth Senatorial Dis-
trict in 1871, and has served as Postmaster and Town Clerk of Harwinton twenty-five years. He is a man of unusual intelligence, and holds a leading place in the community, not alone on account of the prominence of his family, but also because of his own sterling character. He is actively connected with the Congregational church, as were also his wife and children.
ORACE NORTH, a representative agriculturist of this section of Litch- field County and a well-known resi- dent of the town of Colebrook, was born October 10, 1833, on the farm where he now resides. His father, Martin North, was like- wise a native of Colebrook, born November 5, 1804, son of Rufus North, who was born, it is supposed, in Torrington, December 24, 1769.
The North family originated in England, the branch in America being directly traced back to the emigrant ancestor, John North, who was born in England in 1615, and who twenty years later came to this country, mak- ing the voyage in the good ship "Susan and Ellen." He was one of the first settlers of Farmington, Conn., where he married and spent the rest of his days. His son Thomas, born in 1649, married Hannah Newell, a. daughter of Thomas Newell, and was a life- long resident of Farmington. Their son Ebenezer, born in 1703, married Sibyl Curtis, and with his wife removed to Torrington, of which they were among the first settlers, and where their son Martin was born December 14, 1735. Martin was twice married, his first wife, the great-grandmother of the subject of this sketch, having been Abigail Eno. Their son Rufus, the grandfather of Horace North, removed from Torrington to Colebrook, and purchased the North homestead, on which his grandson, Horace, resides. He was an ener-
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getic, persevering man, and a typical pioneer. He labored hard during his life to clear a homestead from the wilderness, and died June 20, 1841. His wife, whose maiden name was Esther Robards, was born June 15, 1768, and lived until March 5, 1856.
Martin North, father of Horace North, when old enough assisted in clearing the land and tilling the soil. He was by nature a mechanic; and, although he never learned a trade, he used tools of all kinds with a facility that saved him much expense, and enabled him to have many labor-saving devices that he should otherwise have dispensed with. He succeeded to the ownership of the parental homestead. He married Mercy North, a native of Colebrook, born December 28, 1808, being a daughter of Enos and Celina (Pinney) North, and they reared two sons: Henry, a resident of Guthrie County, Iowa; and Horace, the subject of this sketch. The mother died in July, 1894, at the home of her son Henry. Enos North was born in Torrington, Novem- ber 17, 1773, and, after his marriage with Miss Pinney, settled on a farm about a mile south of Colebrook Centre, where he afterward lived. He was a son of Ebenezer and Jerusha (Cowles) North, pioneer settlers of Colebrook, who located on a tract of unimproved land about a quarter of a mile south of the central part of the town, and a descendant, in the fourth generation, of John North, the emigrant ancestor of the North family.
Horace North has been constantly engaged in agriculture, thereby acquiring an experi- ence that has placed him among the leading farmers of his native town. Succeeding his father in the ownership of the ancestral acres, he has carried on general farming with success. Hle has also an extensive dairy business, keep ing a herd of fine grade Jerseys. On October 23, 1855, Mr. North was united in matrimony
with Frances Cooper, who was born in Win- sted, May 12, 1837. Her father, Samuel Alfred Cooper, who was a native of this State, went to California in search of gold in 1849, and never returned. His wife, whose maiden name was Julia Bills, was a native of Harwin- ton, Conn., born- February 27, 1818, daughter of Seth Bills, a prosperous farmer. She is now living at Winsted, and is the mother of five children, namely : Frances (Mrs. North) : William S. ; Samuel A. ; Charles W. ; and Minerva, who died in childhood. The three children born of the union of Mr. and Mrs. North were : Frederick J., Martin, and Helen. Frederick J. and Martin died in childhood ; while Helen was married in 1883 to Frederick Chester, of Bloomfield. He died September 5, 1892, and Mrs. Chester now lives with her parents. Both Mr. and Mrs. North are mem- bers of the Colebrook Grange, No. 82, as is also their daughter, Mrs. Chester.
G EORGE L. FOSKETT, an enterpris- ing and prosperous farmer of Win- sted, was born in West Stockbridge, Berkshire County, Mass., September 24, 1845. son of George G. and Hannah E. (Brownell) Foskett. His father, who was also a native of West Stockbridge, born in 1822, was a son of Nathaniel Foskett, of New Marlboro, Mass .. who was born February 14, 1796. The latter died in December, 1868, at the home of his daughter Lydia, wife of Gideon Hall, Judge of the Superior Court at Winsted. Nathaniel Foskett married Clarissa Ward, of old Berk shire County, Massachusetts; and they had two children, the son and daughter already mentioned. Mrs. Nathaniel Foskett died in Winsted in 1865, at the age of sixty-tour years.
George G. Foskett learned the trade of wagon and carriage maker, in which he became
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an adept. He conducted a successful business on his own account for many years, besides engaging to some extent in agriculture. At his death he left a good property, including the Spring Hill farm, now in possession of his son, George L. Foskett. This land, which adjoins the borough of Winsted, is now being taken up for residence property, a part of it being occupied by the Winsted Hotel. The cemetery of eighteen acres was a part of the farm. The marriage of George G. Foskett to Hannah E. Brownell took place in 1844, and they became the parents of four children, namely: George L., whose name appears above; Charles F., who went to Olney, Ill., in 1868, where he is engaged in the drug busi- ness ; Mary L., who resides at the old family home in Winsted; and Gideon Hall, who died in 1867, at the early age of five years. The father died October 9, 1894, the mother hav- ing previously passed away in January, 1884, at the age of sixty-one. Both parents were inembers of the Congregational church.
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