USA > Connecticut > Litchfield County > Biographical review; this volume contains biographical sketches of the leading citizens of Litchfield County, Connecticut > Part 21
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In politics Mr. Wood is a Republican, and has supported that party ever since its forma- tion. He was sent as a Representative from his town to the legislature of 1887, and has served as grand juror and in other offices. For several years he was a member of the School Committee. When elected to the leg- islature, he had a clear majority over three candidates, and during his term of office was appointed by the Speaker as one of the Com- mittee on Banks. He was one of the incorpo- rators of the Thomaston Savings Bank, and at the present time is the President of that institution. His wife is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, of which he is a liberal supporter. He was chairman of the
building committee, and has acted as Trustee for over thirty years.
A portrait of this useful, influential, and highly respected citizen appears on a neigh- boring page.
HARLES. A. SANFORD, M.D., a practising physician of Falls Vil- lage, was born in Cornwall, Janu- ary 1, 1868, son of Dr. Edward and Vilate C. (Gardner) Sanford. Dr. Sanford's grand- father, Amos Sanford, was a resident of Cornwall, where he followed the trade of a clock-maker. He died at the age of seventy- two years. His five children were: Alson, Edward, Buell, Nancy, and Caroline.
Edward Sanford, M.D., Dr. Sanford's father, was born in Cornwall. He attended the New York Medical College, and after completing his studies located in Cornwall, where he practised his profession for forty- two years. He was a well-known and highly esteemed physician. He became prominent in public affairs, serving in important town offices. He was a member of the Connecticut House of Representatives for two terms. Dr. Edward Sanford died in Cornwall at the age of sixty-four years. His wife, who was daughter of James M. Gardner, became the mother of four children, as follows: Henry E .; Josephine E., who is now Mrs. Smith ; Charles A., the subject of this sketch; and Jennie G., who is now Mrs. Preston. mother still survives.
Charles A. Sanford commenced his educa tion in the public schools of Cornwall. Atter pursuing a course at the Housatonic Valley Institute, he entered upon the study of medi cine, graduating from the Long Island Col- lege Hospital, March 21. 1894. On May 1. 1894, he commenced the practice of his pro- fession in Falls Village. Dr. Sanford is a
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member of the State and County Medical So- cieties and of the Alumni Association of the Long Island Hospital.
ARK S. NICKERSON, a promi- nent farmer of New Hartford, a member of the Board of Selectmen and a veteran of the Civil War, was born in Cornwall, Litchfield County, May 16, 1843, son of Smith and Mary A. (Davidson) Nicker- son. Mr. Nickerson's father was born in Sharon, Conn., in 1804; and his grandfather was an early settler in that town. Smith Nickerson was a farmer, and he followed that occupation through life. In 1842 he settled in Cornwall, where he was prominent among the agricultural community for some years. He finally purchased a farm in Torrington, and on it passed the last years of his life. He died there in 1852, aged forty-eight years. His first wife, Mary A. Davidson, who was a native of Cornwall, became the mother of eight children, five of whom are living, namely: Sarah, Uriah, Almira, Henry, and Mark S. Sarah is the widow of the late Sergeant Hall; Almira is the widow of the late Edwin Fitch; and Henry resides in Corn- wall. Four of her sons served in the army during the Civil War; and Edwin Nickerson, of the Thirteenth Regiment, Connecticut Volunteers, was killed at the battle of Irish Bend. The mother died in Cornwall, aged forty years. Mr. Nickerson's parents were members of the Methodist Episcopal church.
Mark S. Nickerson was left an orphan at the age of nine years. He resided with his step-mother for a time, and later went to live with an aunt, with whom he remained until her death. He received a common-school education, and worked upon a farm until he reached the age of nineteen, when he en-
listed as a private in Company A, Tenth Regiment, Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry. He served three years in the Civil War, in- cluding the most important period of the Re- bellion; and he was with the Army of the Potomac throughout the Peninsular campaign. At the expiration of his first term of enlist- ment he re-enlisted in the Thirteenth New York Cavalry, with which he served until mustered out at the close of the war. He participated in sixteen decisive battles, being a portion of the time attached to the Color Guard; and, although death often stared him in the face, and many of his comrades fell around him never to rise again, he escaped without an injury. He was promoted to the rank of Corporal in each regiment to which he belonged, and he received each of his dis- charges as such. After his final discharge he returned to Cornwall, and worked as a farmer for a time. He then went to his sister in Chicago, and attended a commercial college. Once more he returned to Cornwall, and for six years was engaged in teaching school in West Cornwall and Canaan, while residing in Cornwall village. In 1892 he settled upon his present farm in Nepaug. The property, which contains a fine brick res- idence, is pleasantly located, and comprises sixty-five acres of fertile land. Mr. Nicker- son devotes his time and energies to general farming, with the most satisfactory results, paying particular attention to the raising of poultry. In politics he is a Democrat; and, although his well-known intelligence and energy make him especially eligible to pub- lic office, he has declined nominations on va- rious occasions. He was for several years a member and Secretary of the School Board in Cornwall, and has acted as a Justice of the Peace for many years. He had been a resi- dent of New Hartford but one year when he
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was elected to the Board of Selectmen, in which position he has since served with ability.
On April 26, 1875, Mr. Nickerson was married to Hannah A. Higgins, daughter of Upton Higgins, of Wolcott, New Haven County, and has one daughter, May A. Mr. Nickerson has for several years been con- nected with church work. He was united with the Congregational church in Cornwall, and was superintendent of the Sunday-school there for some time. Since coming to New Hartford he has joined the Congregational church in Nepaug, and is superintendent of its Sunday-school. Mrs. Nickerson is a member of the same church, and both are in the Young People's Society for Christian Endeavor.
Many amiable qualities endear Mr. and Mrs. Nickerson to their numerous friends. They are interesting and hospitable, and so- cially are very popular.
EORGE H. CLARK, an enterpris- ing merchant of Salisbury, was born in that town, April 2, 1851, and is a son of George B. and Betsey A. (Hamlin) Clark. His paternal grandfather was Nche- miah Clark, who came to Salisbury from East- ern Connecticut, and followed the combined occupations of miller and farmer in this town. Hle was the father of six children : Della, Nathaniel, George B., Harry, Mary, and Sarah.
George B. Clark, who was born in Salis- bury, adopted agriculture as his life occupa- tion, and became a prosperous farmer. Hle died at the age of seventy-eight years. His wife, Betsey A. Hamlin, was a daughter of Benjamin Hamlin, of Sharon, Conn. She was the mother of two children: George H.,
whose name appears at the head of this sketch; and Ambrose R. She died in the full bloom of womanhood, aged twenty-nine years.
George H. Clark was educated in the schools of his native town, and resided at home until reaching the age of twenty-one. He then engaged in mercantile business in Salisbury in company with his brother, Am- brose R. At the end of one year he pur- chased his brother's interest in the store, and has since conducted it alone. Having gradu- ally secured a large and profitable trade in the grocery line, in 1890 he added a dry- goods department, in which he has been equally successful. He takes an interest in and has been closely identified with public affairs for many years. He has served as Town Clerk and Treasurer, and represented his town in the legislature during the years 1879, 1891, and 1893. Mr. Clark married Mary E. Ball, a daughter of R. H. Ball, a well-known citizen of Salisbury.
EORGE R. WOODWARD, a thrifty farmer and substantial citizen of Sharon, was born within the con- fines of that town, July 9, 1813, and is therefore one of the oldest and best-known residents of that community. He is a son of Abel, Jr., and Susan ( Woodruff) Woodward.
Abel Woodward, Sr., grandfather of George R., was a native of Lebanon, Conn. The major part of his life was, however, spent in Watertown, Conn., where he followed the occupation of farmer. He died December 31, 1820, eighty-five years of age. He mat- ried Miss Lucy Atwood, of Woodbury, Conn. The ages of both were about the same; but Mrs. Woodward outlived her husband until January 16, 1823, when she died, in the
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eighty-eighth year of her age. They were the parents of nine children ; namely, Reuben S., Eunice, Abel, James, David, Lucy, John, Je- rusha, and Russell. Abel Woodward, Jr., was born in Watertown, Mass., October 13, 1770. In the early part of his life he was en- gaged in mercantile business; but in 1797 he settled on a farm in Sharon, and spent the later years of his life in the occupation of an agriculturist. His wife was a daughter of David and Esther Woodruff, of Oxford, Conn. He died in 1849, seventy-nine years of age; and her death occurred three years later, when she was seventy-seven years old. They reared a family of eight children, of whom George R. is the sole survivor. The rest were: Laura, Nancy, David, Susan, Ruth E., Abel C., Louise L.
George R. Woodward, the youngest child, received his education in the district schools of Sharon and from the instruction of private teachers. At first he taught school, begin- ning at nine dollars per month; but, after following that occupation for four seasons, he purchased in 1844 the farm on which he now resides, having lived there since 1845. It is located a mile and a half south of Sharon vil- lage; and, increased by a later purchase of fifty acres, it now contains two hundred and ten acres.
In 1839 he was joined in marriage with Miss Sarah Boland, a daughter of Reuben and Abigail Boland, of Sharon. Four daugh- ters were the fruit of their union, as follows: Susan W., who married Nathan H. Jewett, and at her death left five children - Carrie, Sarah, Fannie, Abbie, and Mary; Abbie F., wifc of Samuel A. Skiff, who was the mother of eight children, all now deceased - namely, George, Sarah, Abbie, Lillie, Gertrude, Susan, Florence, and Warren; Emma M., wife of Luther Brown; and Harriet V., who
died aged seventeen months. The Repub- lican party has always counted Mr. Woodward among its most faithful adherents. During several terms he has served his town very ac- ceptably as Selectman. His wife is an hon- ored member of the Congregational church of Sharon.
UELL HEMINWAY, a silk manu- facturer of Watertown, Conn., son of General Merrit and Mary A. (Buell) Heminway, was born in this town, April 20, 1838. He acquired a good education in the common schools and Watertown Acad- emy, and at an early age went to work in his father's silk manufactory. Having become thor- oughly familiar with all branches of the busi- ness, he finally entered into partnership with his father, the business then being transacted under the firm name of M. Heminway & Sons.
When General Heminway died, Mr. Buell Heminway, together with his son Havens and Mr. Bartlett, the superintendent under the old firm, organized a stock company to carry on the business, which continues to be one of the largest industries in the county. Mr. Hemin- way is a Director of the Dime Savings Bank in Waterbury, a member of the building commit- tee of the new town hall, chairman of the executive committee of the library, and Treas- urer of the Centre School District. When the new library building was erected, he was a member of the committee in charge of it, and took an active interest in the completion of the edifice, which is one of the handsomest public buildings in the State. He has inher- ited many of his father's characteristics, is courteous, kindly, and public-spirited, ready to aid in all projects for the improvement of his native town and the good of the people in gen- eral, and responding readily to all demands upon his time and attention or his purse.
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In January, 1866, Mr. Heminway married Julia, only daughter of George F. Havens, a lawyer of New York City. Three children have blessed their union, namely: Buell Havens, who is in business with his father; and Mary J. and Helen L., who are living with their parents. The son is married and has two children.
In politics Mr. Heminway is a Democrat. He is a Vestryman of the Episcopal church, of which all his family are members. His wife and daughters are active in religious work, teaching in the Sunday-school and zealously forwarding the interests of the parish. The name of Heminway is identified with all char- itable enterprises; and the family is univer- sally esteemed, beloved by the poor, and re- spected by people of their own station in life.
An excellent portrait of Mr. Heminway, a fine steel engraving, will be seen on a neigh- boring page of this volume.
VANOE LYMAN, a leading citizen of Falls Village, Salisbury, was born in Bridgeport, Conn., May 13, 1856, son of Samuel and Sarah (Squires) Lyman. Sam- uel Lyman, who was born in Washington, Mass., was a locomotive engineer on the Housatonic Railroad. He died while a com- paratively young man, passing away at the age of thirty-eight. His wife was a daugh- ter of Sullivan Squires. Her life, too, was shorter than the average, embracing but fifty years. They reared three children: Ivanoe, Minott, and Florence. The latter died some time since.
Ivanoe Lyman received a fair education in the public schools. Leaving his books at the age of sixteen, he went to work in the car shops of Falls Village. There he remained several years, becoming thoroughly acquainted with
the work of locomotive building. He subse- quently spent three and a half years in Bridge- port. Eventually, he returned to the Falls Village shops, and since 1893 he has been general manager of the motive power estab- lishment. Mr. Lyman has natural mechani- cal ability. This, supplemented by business tact and good judgment, has made him a very efficient manager, the duties of which office he performs in a manner satisfactory to all concerned. In politics he is a Republican. He is advanced in Masonry, belonging to Montgomery Lodge, No. 13, A. F. & A. M., Lakeville Chapter. No. 43, and the Royal Arch.
LONZO B. GARFIELD, a general merchant of East Canaan, was born in Summerville, Pa., December 12, 1837, son of Abner P. and Emily (Bullard ) Garfield. Mr. Garfield's grandfather. Elisha Garfield, was a native of Massachusetts. Ile was prominent in his locality, and served his town faithfully in public office. He was Town Clerk for thirty years, and represented his district in the Massachusetts legislature for several terms. His children were : Abiram, Polly, Abner P., and Elisha.
Abner P. Garfield, father of Alonzo B., was born in Tyringham, Mass. He was trained to agriculture, and followed farming with prosperous results until his death, which oc- curred at the age of sixty-three years. His wife, Emily Bullard, was a daughter of Ben jamin Bullard, of Tyringham. She became the mother of five children; namely. Levi, Maria A., Elisha, Alonzo B., and Daniel. She died at the age of eighty-one years.
Alonzo B. Garfield commenced his educa- tion in the district schools, and after a conse at the Charlotteville Seminary completed his studies at the Cliverack Academy in New
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York. He taught school for seven winters, his summers being devoted to farming. Sub- sequently he entered mercantile business as a clerk in Monterey, Mass., where he remained for ten years. He then removed from Mon- terey to East Canaan, where he purchased a general store, and now enjoys a flourishing business. For the first four years he was as- sociated with a partner; but at the expiration of that time he bought his partner's interest, and has since continued in business alone. He carries a large and varied stock of general merchandise, and enjoys the esteem and con- fidence of his patrons. Mr. Garfield acted as Town Clerk in Monterey for some years, and for four years has been a member of the Board of Selectmen of Canaan.
In 1870 Mr. Garfield was united in mar- riage with Mrs. Ella Webster Jewell, widow of John Jewell and daughter of Eugene Web- ster, of Canaan. They have three children; namely, Hattie E., James A., and Irene E.
DWARD H. WELCH, M.D., one of the leading physicians and surgeons of Winsted, was born March 15, 1852, in the house, 386 Main Street, which is now his residence. He comes of a family of doctors, both sides being represented in medi- cine. His grandfather, Dr. Benjamin Welch, who was born in 1772, married Louisa, daugh- ter of Dr. Ephraim Guiteau; and they reared a family of five sons and three daughters. All the sons became physicians, and located as follows: Benjamin, Jr., at Lakeville; Asa in Lee, Mass .; James, father of the subject of this sketch, in Winsted; William W. at Nor- folk; John, successively in Litchfield, Nor- folk, and Hartford. Dr. Benjamin Welch was an eminent surgeon and the manufacturer of the Welch splints. Dr. Asa Welch was
State Senator. Dr. William Welch was ac- tive in politics, represented Norfolk in the State legislature and the district in Congress. He died in Norfolk in July, 1892.
Dr. James Welch, born in Norfolk, Conn., January 12, 1807, was in active practice for fifty-three years in Winsted, where he estab- lished his home, building the house in which his son, Dr. Edward H. Welch, now resides. He lived to be nearly eighty years old, dying in November, 1886. He was married in 1836 to Miss Lavinia Hubbard, who, born in Salis- bury, Conn., in July, 1806, died in January, 1882, at the age of seventy-six years. They reared a family of six children.
Dr. Edward H. Welch was a student at Winchester Institute, and studied medicine with his father, taking charge of his first case of obstetrics in March, 1870, before he was eighteen years old. He was out of college for two years on account of his father's ill health ; but he graduated from Yale in 1876, taking his degree of M.D. in the same year. For upward of twenty years Dr. Welch has been kept busy by the cares incident to the life of a physician, answering cheerfully the call for help from suffering humanity, whether it came in the day or the night. He has, however, found time to attend to social matters also, and to take an interest in poli- tics. He is a stalwart Republican, but as yet has held no office. He is Post Surgeon of Litchfield County, is President of the Yale Alumni Association, belongs to the Winsted Lodge of Red Men, and is a member of the A. F. & A. M.
Dr. Welch was married in September, 1876, to Nellie, daughter of Nathan and Jennie (Wing) Munger, of New York City. Miss Munger came to Winsted with her grandfather, John Wing, and was here edu- cated at Miss Phillips's School for young
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ladies. Dr. and Mrs. Welch have lost an in- fant son, and have one daughter, Louise, a bright little miss of fourteen, who attends school at Winsted.
A® UGUSTUS MESSENGER PER- KINS, a respected and prominent agriculturist, was born in Becket, Berkshire County, Mass., May 9, 1817, on the homestead of his father, Origen Augustus Perkins. Origen Augustus was born in the same house, March 31, 1785, a son of Ephraim Perkins, who was a native of Hanover Parish, Lisbon, Conn., born July 8, 1745. The Perkins family originated in England. Its first progenitor in this country was one John Perkins, born in Newent, Gloucestershire, England, in 1590, who on December 1, 1630, sailed for America, and landed at Nantasket, Mass., in the following February. The line of descent is continued through his son Jacob, the next in line being Joseph, then Matthew, whose son Ephraim was the paternal grand- father of the subject of this article. (A more detailed account of the family will be found in a work compiled by George A. Perkins, of Salem, Mass., published in 1889.)
In 1736 the legislature of Massachusetts sold to Matthew Perkins, of Lisbon, Conn., and thirty-four others a large tract of land, embracing several towns in the southern part of Berkshire County. Subsequently Matthew l'erkins gave to his son, Ephraim l'erkins, fourteen hundred acres of this land, located in the town of Becket. When twenty-three years of age, Ephraim visited that place, and erected a commodious frame house, which is to-day one of the finest in that vicinity, having withstood the ravages of time and weather for more than one hundred and twenty-five years. He went back to Connecti-
cut after doing this, married Mary Chaplin in November, 1771, and the following day, ac- companied by his fair bride, started on horse- back for their future home in Becket. Here they resided until called to join the silent majority; and their pleasant homestead, now known by the name "Bonny Rigg," is in the possession of their grandsons, William and Alfred Birney, of Springfield, Mass.
Origen Augustus Perkins completed a course of study at Lenox Academy after he left the district school. He inherited a por- tion of the home farm, and bought the interest of his brothers and sisters in the remainder. He lived on the homestead throughout his entire life, and died there in 1854. His wife, in maidenhood Sarah Messenger, like- wise spent her entire life in the town of Becket, living to the advanced age of seventy- seven years. She was the grand-daughter of Benoni Messenger, who married Lucy Wood, and afterward became one of the first settlers in Becket, where he kept a public house for many years. Her father, Hiram Messenger. in addition to carrying on general agriculture on his fine farm, about four miles north of Becket Centre, was also proprietor of a hotel. and operated a saw and grist mill. He mar- ried Lydia Shapleigh ; and in 1815 they re- moved to Western New York, going thence. some three years later, to Amherst, Lorain County, Ohio, to spend their remaining days. Origen A. Perkins and his wife reared three children; namely, Augustus M., Charles () .. and Sarah L. Charles O., who lived on the old home farm until 1874. went to Kansas tor a few years, returned to Becket for a while, and was at Thomasville, Ga., whither he had gone to escape the chilly winds of our North ern winters, when he died. Sarah I .. was the first wife of the late William Birney, of Springfield, Mass.
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Augustus M. Perkins received an academi- cal education at Lenox and Westfield. He selected agriculture as his occupation, and bought a farm adjoining the old homestead. In addition to cultivating the land he engaged in the lumber business on a rather extensive scale. For this business he bought large tracts of timber lands, of which on June I, 1863, he had as much as thirty-six hundred acres, one hundred and thirty acres being in Connecticut and the remainder in Berkshire County, Massachusetts. At one period he had three steam saw-mills in operation at the same time. In February, 1865, he settled on the estatc he now occupies, situated about a mile from the village of Winsted. Soon after coming herc he bought a large tract of forest land in Barkhamsted; and, taking advantage of the fine water-power thereon, he erected a large saw-mill, and manufactured lumber. He subsequently purchased the Greenwood Trotting Park, located in the heart of Win- sted; and, platting about three-fourths of it, he sold it by lots at a good profit. He has always been noted for his enterprise and su- perior business qualifications. He is also generously endowed with public spirit, being willing to aid every project conducive to the advancement and welfare of the community. He is a strong member of the Republican party, having joined its ranks at its start. He was Postmaster in Becket, and here he has been Assessor and Magistrate.
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Mr. Perkins wedded, November 8, 1838, Ruth S. Snow, who was born in Becket, No- vember 30, 1814, being a daughter of Timothy and Ruth (Wadsworth) Snow. The union of Mr. and Mrs. Perkins has been blessed by the birth of eight children ; namely, Ephraim A., Roger M., Timothy W., Benjamin C., Susan S., Sarah L., Bishop, and Mary. Mr. Per- kins is an extensive reader of the best litera-
ture of the period, and is well informed on all the current topics. He has one of the best-stocked libraries in the town, among his books being many valuable works, some of which are now out of print. In his house are many articles valuable for their antiquity and their associations. One is a watch made to order in England for his great-grandfather. Another is a chair formerly owned by his paternal grandmother, Mary Chaplin. The chair is of cherry wood; and the seat, which was upholstered by her, bears her name and the date, 1770, in embroidery. Mr. Perkins often gives expression to his thoughts in verse, and has won considerable reputation as a poet.
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