USA > Connecticut > Litchfield County > Biographical review; this volume contains biographical sketches of the leading citizens of Litchfield County, Connecticut > Part 19
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Mrs. Baird has been a lifelong resident of this town. She is a daughter of Horace and Sally (Dutton) Rowley, respectively natives of Haddam and New Hartford. They were married in 1827, took up a farm in Winsted, and were among the well-to-do and enterpris- ing members of the agricultural community. They reared the four children born to them. These are: James, who lives in Winsted; Mary, now Mrs. Baird; Dewel Rowley, of . Winsted; and Caroline, wife of Marcus Baird, of Brooklyn, N. Y., who is a brother of the late Theophilus Baird.
ERUSHA (BASS) BUTLER, a bright and intelligent woman of fourscore years, notable for her sweet womanli- ness and beautiful personality, was born in the town of Colebrook, November 29, 1814, being a daughter of Henry Bass, also a native of this place. Mrs. Butler is descended from honored Revolutionary and pioneer stock. Her paternal grandfather, Nathan Bass, who was born, it is supposed, at East Windsor,
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Conn., located in Colebrook in 1766, being one of the original settlers of the town. He served in the Revolutionary War, and died in New York ere his term of enlistment had ex- pired. The maiden name of his wife, thus early left a widow, was Anna Rockwell, a native of East Windsor.
Henry Bass, the father of Mrs. Butler, carly evinced a taste for agricultural pursuits, and when a youth went to live with his brother- in-law, and there assisted on the farm. His first purchase of land was on Beach Hill, where he resided for a time before selling it. He subsequently bought a farm west of the centre of the town, and there engaged in mixed husbandry until his death, which oc- curred at the advance age of eighty years. He married Jerusha Holmes, who was born at Tor- rington, a daughter of Joseph and Lydia (Curtis) Holmes. They became the parents of eight children; namely, Sidney H., Belaria, Elvira, Lucia L., Jerusha (Mrs. Butler), Henry, Warren A., and Lucien O. The latter, who was a skilled machinist, fol- lowed the trade in Ohio for a number of years, and then returned to the old homestead, where his death occurred, August 8, 1894. He never married, and with the exception of the time he spent in Ohio was a lifelong resident of his native town. He served it with faith- fulness in various offices of trust, besides rep- resenting it in the State legislature.
Jerusha (Bass) Butler was reared to habits of industry by her good mother, who was pro- ficient in all the domestic arts, including carding, spinning, and weaving. She re- mained at home, assisting in the labors of the household until her marriage, at the age of twenty-five years, to Timothy Butler, a native of this county and a son of Jared and Eunice (Couch) Butler. He was the recipient of an excellent education, and when quite a young
man began his career as a teacher, a profes- sion in which he was engaged during the winters for a number of years. He also learned the carpenter's trade, for which he had a natural inclination, and worked at that for some time; but on his marriage he bought a farm in Pennsylvania, near Bethany, where he pursued farming for about two years. His health being very poor, he returned to Cole- brook, where his earthly life was closed, Jan- uary 4, 1842. Mrs. Butler has since been a resident of this pleasant village, making her home with her only daughter, Mary Eunice, the wife of A. Robbins Allen. Mr. Allen was born in Colebrook, and is of honored an- cestry, being a son of Lewis and Elizabeth (Robbins) Allen, and on the paternal side the grandson of Justus and Mabel Allen. On the maternal side of the house he is the grandson of Ammi and Salome Robbins and the great-grandson of the Rev. Ammi Ru- hamah Robbins, the first pastor of the First Congregational Church of Norfolk, Litchfield County. Mr. Allen is a leading member of the agricultural community, being now the owner of the ancestral acres on which he was born and bred. Three children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Allen: James W., Grace 1., and Lewis T. These are a comfort and a source of great pleasure to their grand- mother Butler, as well as to their fond parents.
EORGE ALLEN WHEATON, J successful husbandman of Cornwall Centre, was born July 30, 1821, on the place which he now occupies, and which has always been his home. He is a son of George and Lewey ( Allen) Wheaton and a grandson of Jonathan Wheaton. George Wheaton was a native of Wallingford, Conn. He studied law under the guidance of Judge
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L. W. Church, of Salisbury, Conn. ; and, after being admitted to the bar, he opened an office in Cornwall, where throughout the rest of his life he was successfully engaged in the practice of his profession. Whatever in his opinion would promote the welfare or enhance the beauty of his town always elicited his interest. He was looked upon by the people of that community as a man of reliable judg- ment. In addition to serving his town in official position, he was at one time a mem- ber of the State legislature. He lived to be seventy-five years of age. His wife was a daughter of Medad Allen. They reared three children : Nancy, who married William Bald- win; Cynthia, the wife of Elbert Shepard; and George Allen.
George Allen Wheaton obtained his educa- tion in the district schools of Cornwall. At an early age he became familiar with the duties of an agriculturist. Since he started in life for himself he has been successfully engaged in general farming on the old home- stead, of which he is now the owner. He was married in 1841 to Miss Artimecia Bald- win, a daughter of Henry Baldwin, of Corn- wall. They are the parents of four children, namely: George H., who married Miss Ger- trude Fitch, and died aged thirty years, leav- ing one daughter - Jessie; Mrs. Lewey A. Dean, a widow with two children - Edith and George S .; Hattie N. who married James A. Cochrane, and has a son and daugh- ter - George and Jessie; and Charles, who died in the twentieth year of his age.
In politics Mr. Wheaton is a Democrat. All through the war he was a Deputy Marshal at Bridgeport, Conn. He has since served as Deputy Sheriff for twelve years, and in 1855 he was a member of the State Senate. He is a member of St. Luke's Lodge, Kent, A. F. & A. M.
ELSON DRAKE FORD, one of the foremost business men of Winchester, Conn., having been a worthy repre- sentative of the agricultural and manufactur- ing interests of this town for upward of half a century, is a native of Litchfield County. He was born November 29, 1825, in the town of Torrington. His father, Harvey Ford, was born in Bethany, New Haven County, Febru- ary 1, 1802, being a son of Amos Ford, who was a native of the town of Cheshire in the same county, the date of his birth being April 29, 1767. From the most authentic sources attainable we find that the Fords are of English ancestry, the first to emigrate to America having made his home for a while in Plymouth, Conn. In 1639 he settled in what is now Woodbridge, New Haven County, where his descendants lived for several gener- ations, the great-grandfather of Nelson D. Ford removing thence to what is now Pros- pect, then a part of Cheshire, and known as the Columbia Society, there engaging in general farming.
Amos Ford was a son of Nathan Ford, Jr., and a grandson of Nathan Ford, Sr. John Ford, a brother of Amos, and by trade a car- penter and joiner, emigrated in his early life to Ohio, and accumulated a fortune of one hundred thousand dollars. One son, whom he educated at Yale College, became Governor of Ohio. His name as originally spelled was Sebra Ford, but he changed it to Seabury Ford. Amos Ford was born and reared in Cheshire, where, in addition to tilling the soil and im- proving a good farm, he raised flax, which he dressed and prepared for manufacturing pur- poses. He lived to a ripe old age, spending his last years with his children. The maiden name of his wife was Rachel M. Russell.
Harvey Ford, following in the footsteps of his ancestors, selected farming as his life oc-
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cupation, carrying it on for a while in Torring- ton, where he resided a few years after his marriage. In the spring of 1827 he came to Winchester, buying the farm where his son Nelson now lives, which is in one of the most fertile regions of the county. The land lies on both sides of the Naugatuck River; and in 1845 he took advantage of the water-power by building a dam and erecting a saw-mill and cheese-box factory, putting in a set of stones for grinding and all the other needed machin- ery. These mills he operated in addition to his agricultural labors until after his second marriage, when he sold out to his sons, and removed to Plymouth, going thence to Bristol, where he bought a farm, on which he resided until his death, at the age of fourscore years. He was first married to Mary Ann Drake, a native of Torrington, and a daughter of Noah and Polly (Fyler) Drake. She died at the age of sixty, leaving her two children: Nel- son D., of whom we write; and Reuben Fyler, now a resident of Stonington, Conn.
Nelson D. Ford was less than two years of age when his parents brought him to Win- chester, where he was educated, receiving all the advantages afforded by the town, includ- ing three terms in select schools. He began when but a boy to assist on the farm and in the mill and shop, residing with his parents, with the exception of three years, until after the death of his mother. In company with his brother he subsequently bought the home farm and the mill property, they operating them in partnership until 1875. when they divided, Nelson taking the mill property and a small part of the farm, including the house he now occupies. He has since been actively engaged in milling, and continues the manu- facture of cheese boxes, his being the oldest established cheese-box factory in this section of the State.
The ceremony uniting the destinies of Mr. Ford and Mary Ann Norton was solemnized September 25, 1853. Mrs. Ford was born in Goshen, being a daughter of Charles Lyman and Anna Maria (Bailey) Norton and on the paternal side a grand-daughter of Stephen and Hannah (Coy) Norton. Her maternal grand- parents were Philo and Samantha (Root) Bailey, early settlers in these parts. Mr. and Mrs. Ford have one son, Lyman Norton Ford. who was born October 29, 1872. He ac- quired his education in the district school and at the Winsted High School. and is at present associated with his father in business. being a very competent young man, full of energy and push. He is an efficient surveyor, and in 1894 was elected a Justice of the Peace. He married Nellie M. Jessup, a na- tive of Norfolk, born December 13, 1874. a daughter of Edwin and Josephine (Williams) Jessup. They have one son, Harvey Nelson Ford, born February 14, 1894.
Mr. Nelson D. Ford has held many local public offices, having been a member of the Board of Selectmen, Justice of the Peace a number of years, a chairman of the Board of Relief ; and in 1877 he was chosen to repre- sent his town in the legislature. He is an ac- tive Democrat, of the old Jeffersonian school, and is ever ready to do aught in his power to further the interests of his party. His faith- fulness to his trusts, his integrity, and his excellent sense in business, have won for him the respect and confidence of the community.
An excellent likeness of Mr. Ford will be found on another page of this volume.
EORGE GILBERT, a substantial and highly esteemed farmer, residing about three miles from Litchfield, on the Torrington road, was born in North-
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field, Conn., January 21, 1822, son of Linus and Maria (Tolles) Gilbert. Mr. Gilbert's grandfather, who was a resident of North Haven, moved to Northfield, where he spent the rest of his days engaged in farming. His son, Linus, who was but eighty years old at the time of the removal to Northfield, was trained to farm work, at which he toiled from an early age. He remained at home, and at his father's death came into posses- sion of the farm, which he conducted for the remainder of his life. His death occurred at the age of eighty-two years. His wife, who was a native of this county, reared two chil- dren, of whom George Gilbert, whose name appears at the head of this sketch, survives. She died on the old homestead at the ripe age of eighty-one.
George Gilbert resided at home with his parents until the age of twenty-one, acquir- ing the elements of a practical education as opportunity afforded. Soon after he pur- chased his present farm of one hundred acres, on which he has resided for over fifty con- secutive years, leading the tranquil, even life of a tiller of the soil. He makes a specialty of dairying, producing a fine grade of table butter. He has a large patronage among the best people of Litchfield. Mr. Gilbert was married in 1843 to Miss Emeline A. Curtis, daughter of Jason Curtis, a lifelong farmer of Northfield. Mrs. Gilbert is the mother of three children, namely: Emma Jane, who married C. Newbury; Joseph L., who resides at home, and is employed in the brass works at Torrington; and Cora B., who became the wife of Edwin Blakeslee, a farmer of Plym- outh, and is the mother of three boys - Benja- min O., Raymond A., and Charles Gilbert.
Mr. Gilbert is a Democrat in politics. He has served his town acceptably as a member of the Board of Relief and in other minor
offices. He has been a member of the local Grange for many years. Both he and his wife are communicants of the Episcopal church in Torrington, which Mr. Gilbert has long served as Warden. He was one of the original organizers of the church nearly fifty years ago, and took a prominent part in the erection of the building. He was also for many years superintendent of the Sunday- school, and has labored zealously in sundry ways to advance the interests of the parish. He and his wife have passed that rarely reached milestone on life's highway, the golden wedding day; and, still young in spirit, they journey on together in quiet con- tent, hoping to hear, when their journey's end is reached, the Master say, "Well done."
ILLIAM PENUEL LAWRENCE, who has been a resident of Cole- brook since the date of his birth, December 31, 1833, is a practical and progres- sive agriculturist and one of its most respected citizens. His father, Penuel Lawrence, was born, it is thought, in the town of Killingly, Windham County, in which his parents, James and Dorothy Lawrence, spent the major part, if not the whole, of their lives. He there learned the trade of a stone mason, but after coming to Colebrook engaged in farm- ing for several years, working by the day or month. Soon after his marriage he bought a small farm, which is included in the home- stead now owned and occupied by the subject of this article. He was very ambitious and frugal, toiling unceasingly in the care of his land; and, as his means increased, he added to his original acreage, rebuilt and added to the buildings, and bought a saw-mill near by, adding the manufacture of lumber to his other industries. He was considered one of the
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best farmers in the locality, and continued in these occupations until his death in 1864, when sixty-five years old. The maiden name of his wife, who was his faithful help- mate and counsellor through life, was Laura Barber, a native of Canton, Hartford County, and a daughter of Michael and Anna (Taylor) Barber. Four children were born of their union; namely, Luther A., William P., Martin H., and Laura A.
William P. Lawrence was educated in the public schools, becoming thoroughly familiar with the branches there taught. At the age of nineteen years he became a teacher, and met with such success that he continued in the profession for twelve consecutive winter terms. During this period he spent his free time working upon the farm or in the mill with his father. Remaining always on the parental homestead, Mr. Lawrence subse- quently became its owner, and has since managed it successfully. The land, being rich and fertile, yields excellent crops. He has invested from time to time in standing timber, which he has manufactured into lumber; and for the past fourteen years he has added a substantial ice business to his other industries, marketing his ice in Win- sted. His ability and wisdom as an agricult- urist and a business man arc unquestioned, the fine condition of his property being con- vincing testimony of his judicious manage- ment, industry, and thrift.
The marriage of Mr. Lawrence with Miss Sarah Eveline Hewitt was performed Novem- ber 21, 1860. She was born in Winsted, being a daughter of John Hewitt, who emi- grated from England to the United States before he was twenty-one years old. He lo- cated in the town of Winsted, where he learned the trade of a stone cutter, which was his occupation for many years, and remained
a resident of the place until his decease, at the age of seventy-two years. When a young man he married Eliza Leach, who was born in Salisbury, and died in Winsted, at the venerable age of eighty-six years. They reared three children ; namely, Marietta. Sarah E. (Mrs. Lawrence), and Charles L. Mr. and Mrs. Lawrence have but two sons living, Charles D. and Robert W., their youngest son, J. Russell, having lived but eight years and five months. They are worthy members of the Colebrook Congrega- tional Church. He is Deacon of the church, and was superintendent of the Sunday-school for upward of a quarter of a century. He fills all positions of trust with fidelity, and has served as Postmaster at Mill Brook since 1872.
RION J. HALLOCK, an extensive farmer and land-owner of Goshen and formerly a member of the Connecticut legislature, was born in that town, Septem- ber 9, 1831, son of Dudley F. and Anna M. (Bailey) Hallock. Mr. Hallock's grand- parents were Denis and Lydia (Ford) Hal- lock, respectively natives of Durham, N. Y., and Cornwall, Conn. Denis Hallock was a tailor by trade, and followed that occupa- tion until his death. His children were: Julia and Dudley F. Hallock.
Dudley F. Hallock, Mr. Hallock's father, was born in Durham, and accompanied his mother to Cornwall, Conn., when he was two years of age. He learned the trade of a shoc- maker, which he followed until reaching the age of thirty years: and then he acquired the trade of a carpenter. He resided in Goshen after his marriage, and died in i84o, aged thirty-three years. His wife, Anna M. (Bailey) Hallock, who was the daughter of Joseph and Reigne ( Hurd) Bailey, became the
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mother of five children, as follows: Orion J., the subject of this sketch; Orson, who died when eighteen months old; Orson, second, who died aged five years; Dudley F., who died in the army, twenty-six years old; and Asahel, who married Sarah Merwin, and has two children, respectively named George and Edward. The mother died in 1894, aged eighty-three.
Orion J. Hallock commenced to support himself at the age of eleven years. He re- ceived his education in the district schools, and in early manhood adopted agriculture as an occupation, which he has since followed with success. Being possessed of an unusual amount of energy and ability, he found the high-road to success at the very start, and has followed it with increasing fortune, until he gained a position in life seldom reached by those depending upon their own individual efforts. He has long made the stock busi- ness a specialty ; and he owns and conducts a valuable stock farm, which has a wide reputa- tion on account of the extra-fine cattle bred there. He owns over one thousand acres of land, and is one of the most extensive and successful farmers in Litchfield County. In politics he is a Democrat, and in 1876 he represented his town in the State legislat- ure. He has also served as Constable and Col- lector.
In March, 1859, Mr. Hallock was united in marriage to Caroline L. Austin, daughter of Nelson and Clerena (Apley) Austin, of Goshen. Mr. and Mrs. Hallock have three children, namely: Emma A., who is now the wife of Frank E. Cutler, and has one son, named Herbert H .; Tinnie E., who is the wife of William P. Lawrence, and has one son, named William; and Herbert Gay, who is at home. Mr. and Mrs. Hallock attend the Methodist Episcopal church.
ILLIAM H. DAYTON, master mechanic of the Excelsior Needle Company at Torrington, was born here, October 28, 1840. His grandfather, Jonah Dayton, a native of Watertown, Conn., was for many years a resident of this place, having removed when a young man to Dayton- ville, which was named in his honor. He bought land, and improved a good homestead, spending on it the remainder of his threescore years and ten.
Avrid Dayton, father of William H. Day- ton, was brought up on a farm, but early turned his attention to mechanical pursuits. He established a factory at Daytonville for the manufacture of melodeons, and was one of the leading business men of the place for many years. He attained the ripe old age of eighty years, enjoying to the utmost the con- fidence and esteem of his friends and fellow- townsmen. He was twice married. His first wife, Miss Bristol in her maidenhood, was a native of Litchfield County, born in Litch- field or Morris. She bore her husband two children: Emily, now deceased; and Will- iam H.
William H. Dayton spent his early years in the village of Daytonville, this town, being educated in the common schools. He began his career as a workman in his father's fac- tory. The year after the organization of the Excelsior Needle Company by A. F. Migon, Mr. Dayton entered the factory in a minor position. Since then he has worked his way upward, through various ranks, to his present responsible office of master mechanic of the firm. He is an expert in the use of tools, a thorough master of his trade, and has the rep- utation of being the finest and most skilful mechanic in the vicinity. He is also prom- inent in financial affairs and a stockholder in this company, which is the largest needle
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company in the world, carrying on a business unequalled by any similar establishment.
In 1867 Mr. Dayton was joined in the bonds of matrimony with Miss Clara Case, a daughter of Hosea T. Case, a well-known druggist of Torrington. Two children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Dayton, Kate and James. Kate, a highly accomplished lady, received her early education at St. Margaret's School in Waterbury, being afterward a pupil at The Elms, in Springfield, Mass. James M., who had equal educational advantages, completed his studies at Hackettstown, N.J. In his political views Mr. Dayton is a stanch Democrat, upholding the principles of his party at all times. He has been a Burgess since the formation of the borough, taking a prominent part in the management of town and county affairs. He attends and supports the Episcopal church, of which Mrs. Dayton is an esteemed member.
ILLIAM SPITTLE, a first-class ma- chinist in the employ of the Coe Brass Manufacturing Company of Torrington, was born in Dudley, England, December 7, 1835, son of Samuel and Ann (Tipton) Spittle. Samuel Spittle was also a native of Dudley, England, where he followed with success the trade of a blacksmith. His specialty was the manufacture of hand vices, in which he continued for many year in Eng- land. In September of the year 1848 he came to America, locating in New York City, where he secured a position as foreman in a vice manufactory. There he remained until 1865, when he removed to the home of his son, William Spittle, the subject of this sketch, in Chicopee, Mass. Thenceforward he lived with William, coming with him in 1870 to Torrington, where he died in 1872,
sixty-three years of age. His wife, Ann (Tip- ton) Spittle, was, like himself, a native of England; and their union was blessed by the birth of three sons. The two now living are William and John. Samuel, Jr., died when twenty-three years of age. The mother's death also occurred at the home of William Spittle, in her sixty-sixth year.
William Spittle lived with his parents dur- ing his youth, and received a good practical education in the public schools of England. He was thirteen years old when his parents brought him to America. At seventeen he began to learn the machinist's trade, serving an apprenticeship of three years in New Lon- don, Conn., after which he had charge of a department of the Wilson Manufacturing Con - pany up to 1862. The Civil War was then in progress, and he entered Company C of the Second Connecticut militia as First Lieuten- ant of a rifle company of three months' men, under the command of Colonel Terry. His term of enlistment lasted until the battle of Bull Run, when he re-enlisted as Captain of Company F of the Twenty-first Connecticut Regiment, and thereafter continued to serve until the close of the war. He was in many of the hard-fought engagements of the Army of the Potomac, among which were those of An- tietam and Fredericksburg, under General Burnside; the siege of Suffolk, under General Peck ; and the attack on Richmond, under General Dix. In 1864 he was promoted to the rank of Major, and was honorably dis charged in June, 1865. Hle first returned to New London, Conn., but soon after went to Chicopee Falls, Mass., where from 1865 to 1869 he was successfully engaged in the gro- cery business. The following year he lived in Chicopee, and was there employed by the Gay lord Manufacturing Company. In July, 1870, Mr. Spittle came to Torrington, Conn., and
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