USA > Connecticut > Litchfield County > Biographical review; this volume contains biographical sketches of the leading citizens of Litchfield County, Connecticut > Part 24
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Their son Francis ably assisted his parents in clearing and conducting their farm from the time he was old enough to wield axe or hoe, and with the exception of two or three years that he was employed in a shovel factory at Colebrook Centre lived in Norfolk, at the death of his father succeeding to the ownership of the homestead property. He was a nat- ural mechanic, and in addition to tilling the soil he owned and operated a saw-mill and turned out wooden dishes. He lived to the age of seventy-five. He married Judith Wal- ter, a native of Goshen, in this county; and she, too, spent her last days on the home farm, living to the age of seventy-six years.
Erastus Smith was a young man when he left his Sandisfield home to become a resident of Litchfield County, and was at first employed on the farm of Dr. Phelps at Colebrook Cen- tre. Two years after his union with Miss Benedict he bought a farm in Norfolk. Two children were born to them, namely : Mary C., who married Ileman Swift, and died Novem- ber 19, 1883; and Francis Benedict, of West Winsted. The father died in 1875, in his eighty-fifth year; and the mother died in her eighty-seventh year.
Francis received the rudiments of his educa- tion in the district school, and at the age of nineteen turned his attention to the study of medicine, taking a thorough course and receiv- ing a diploma from the New Haven Botanic Medical Society, and later one from the Thompsonian Medical Society of the State of Connecticut. Dr. Smith began the practice of his profession at New Britain, going thence to New York City to take charge of the infirm- ary located at 11912 Bowery. Returning to Norfolk after a few months' practice in the metropolis, he came into possession of a farm given him by his grandfather Benedict ; and he soon after married and began the pursuit of agriculture. In addition to general farming the Doctor continued his professional duties, and also manufactured essences and oils from the medicinal plants of the locality, reaping a good profit as well as pleasure from his labors. In 1877 he came to West Winsted : and, buying his present estate, which contains five acres of land, he erected the fine residence in which he has since lived in quiet retire- ment. In reviewing the work of his life Dr. Smith recalls with interest the fact that he assisted in teaming the marble pillars for Girard College from South Egremont, Mass .. to Hudson, N. Y., the huge blocks weighing about eleven tons, and being drawn by eleven horses hitched tandem.
Dr. Smith was first married October 20. 1840, to Sarah, daughter of General Josiah and Amelia (Cowles) Wolcott. She was born at Sandisfield, Mass., June 5, 1810, and departed this life December o, 18441, leaving no issue. He subsequently married Eliza W. Wolcott. a sister of his first wife ; and she passed to the higher life January 9, 1804. By this union he has one son, the Rev. Wolcott Francis Smith. who has been a Baptist minister for over twenty years. He was born September 2.4.
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1844, and on the twenty-third anniversary of his birth, September 24, 1867, was united in marriage to Mary E. Webster, of Sandisfield, a daughter of Deacon Abner S. and Mary M. (Alford) Webster. They also have one son; he bears the name of Francis Abner Smith, and is now attending Colgate College, Hamil- ton, N. Y., in the class of 1896.
Dr. Smith has always affiliated with the Democrats. His first Presidential vote was cast for Martin Van Buren in 1840. Always active and influential in local affairs, he served in various offices of trust and responsibility, as Selectman, Assessor, member of the Board of Relief, Justice of the Peace three terms, and juror at the Superior Court while in Norfolk, and in Winsted has been a member of the Board of Relief six years for the town and two years for the borough, and also of the Grand Jury. He is a conscientious member of the Methodist Episcopal church, with which his wife united shortly before her death, having in her earlier years been connected with the Congregational church in Sandisfield, Mass.
An excellent portrait of Dr. Smith is a pleasing accompaniment of this biography.
ANIEL YOUNGS, an experienced agriculturist and an extensive lum- ber manufacturer and dealer, is widely and favorably known as one of the leading business men of Barkhamsted. He was born on May 23, 1814, in the town of Farmington, which was also the place of nativity of his father, Constant Youngs, who was born March 20, 1790.
Joshua Youngs, father of Constant, was born August 17, 1750, on Long Island, and was a patriotic soldier of the Revolutionary War. He subsequently removed to this State, locat-
ing in Farmington, where he purchased a tract of land, on which he afterward carried on general farming. He died there April 17, 1821. His wife, whose name before marriage was Hannah Sanford, was born at Saybrook, Conn., January 1, 1751, and died on the Farmington homestead. She reared four of her children ; namely, Thomas, Constant, Seth, and Joshua.
Constant Youngs grew to manhood on the paternal homestead, a part of which he event- ually inherited; and he there continued with his brothers, engaged in agricultural labors, until his decease, in his thirty-seventh year, on October 29, 1826. He wooed and won as his life companion Miss Cynthia Higgins, who was born in Avon, Conn. Mrs. Cynthia Youngs survived her husband a few years, dying September 17, 1834, leaving five chil- dren, as follows: Daniel; Constant, Jr. ; Edward; Hannah ; and Emeline.
Daniel Youngs spent his early years at Farmington, and after leaving the district schools of that place he pursued his studies at the academies of New Britain and Hartford. . From the age of sixteen to twenty-one years he resided at the latter city, making his home ' with an uncle, and working at the carpenter's trade. In 1836 Mr. Youngs came to Bark- hamsted, accompanied by his brother, Con- stant, to look after their landed interests. Their grandfather had here purchased a large tract of wild land, located on both sides of the Farmington River. Their father had inherited a portion of the original tract, and the brothers had come into possession of their father's share. They at once erected a dwelling-house, and, after building a dam, put up a saw-mill and engaged in the manufacture of lumber, their first contract being to furnish chair stock to the contractors at the State prison. A few years later Constant sold his interest to his
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brother Edward, who has since been associated with their brother Daniel in his manufactur- ing, and likewise in his agricultural business, they being very prosperous in other branches.
On December 9, 1840, Mr. Daniel Youngs was united in marriage with Ann Amelia Whittlesey, who was born in Farmington, May 23, 1815. Her father, Harvey Whittlesey, was a native of this county, born in the town of Washington, of which his father, Joseph Whittlesey, and his grandfather, Martin Whit- tlesey, were both lifelong residents. Joseph was a farmer by occupation, and married Mary Camp. Their son Harvey was reared to man's estate in his native town; but when he left the parental roof he went to Farmington, where he married Ruth D. Whittlesey, a daughter of Abner and Ruth (Wadsworth) Whittlesey. He engaged in farming, and finally settled on the farm which his wife inherited, residing there until his decease, at the advanced age of seventy-seven years, outliving his wife, who died at the age of forty-seven years. Mr. and Mrs. Youngs have two children living, namely : Harriet W., who married Henry Bar- bour, and has one daughter, Anna Youngs; and Wilfred D., who married Lily Eggleston. Mr. Youngs is an ardent advocate of the prin- ciples of the Democratic party, and cast his first Presidential vote in 1836 for Martin Van Buren.
HARLES THOMAS LOVELL was born in Sharon, Conn., and here spent his entire life - an industrious and useful citizen, in his early manhood being engaged in mercantile business, and later giv- ing his attention to farming. At the time of his death, in 1876, he was fifty-seven years old. His great-grandfather, John Lovell, came to Sharon from South America in 1770. He had ten children : Sarah, Mary, Amy,
Jonah, Priscilla, Lois, Cynthia, John West. Aime, and John Williams, the last three of whom died in infancy. Jonah Lovell married Betsey Barlow, and settled on his father s farm. They had three children - Laurain, Almira, and John Barlow.
In 1818 John - Barlow Lovell married Cla- rissa Chaffee, who died in 1824; and in 1825 he married Catharine M. Gold. His children by his first wife were: Elizabeth, Charles Thomas, and John Chaffee; by the second, Alınira, Sarah H., Clara G., Henry R., Lucy E., Mary W., Frances M. C., Helen, and Laura G. John C. Lovell, who owns the old homestead, has one son, Edward Swan, living in Newtown, Fairfield County, Conn. Eight of the twelve children of John B. Lovell are living - one in Connecticut, one in Massachu- setts, four in Michigan, one in Idaho, and one in California.
Charles Thomas Lovell purchased a part of his father's farm, and built, at a short distance from the original home, the house in which his son, Rodney L., now resides. He married Miss Roana P. Woodward, a daughter of David WV. Woodward, of Sharon, Conn. She is now living, and is sixty-nine years of age. Four sons and a daughter were born of their union, as follows: Charles Henry, Susan E., John Bar- low, David Woodward, and Rodney Lincoln.
Charles Henry Lovell was born in 1844o, and, though now living in New York State, in the town of Northeast. Dutchess County, is less than six miles from his birthplace. In 1875 he married Mary Orind Couch, of Washing ton, Litchfield County. Their children are : Helena May, Herbert EImore, Charles Mithur. Irving Howard, Amy Orinda, and Lawrence.
Susan Eliza Lovell, born in 1851, was nlal- ried in 1877 to Charles F. Buckley. They live in Sharon, and have one son, Edward Mar shall Buckley.
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John Barlow Lovell, born in 1852, in early manhood spent a few years in Flint, Mich., engaged in repairing clocks and watches. Failing health and his father's death brought him back to Connecticut. In 1877 he married Elizabeth A. Reynolds, by whom he has six children : Roana Knibloe, David Henry, Mary Reynolds, Blanche Buckley, Helen Maria, and John Barlow. David Woodward Lovell, born in 1854, married in July, 1883, Sarah A. Woodward, and died in September of the same year in McPherson, Kan. His widow lives in Sharon.
Rodney Lincoln Lovell was born on his father's homestead in Sharon on April 6, 1860, and has always remained here with the excep- tion of a few years spent in the West. He is now engaged in carrying on the farm, which contains about one hundred and sixty acres. He was married in 1888 to Miss Anna Ells- worth, of Dover, N. Y. They have three chil- dren : Charles Thomas, Raymond Stevens, and Clara Louise.
ILLIAM E. BATTAM, a leading surgeon - dentist of New Milford, Litchfield County, Conn., was born in London, England. Dr. Battam's father, Septimus Battam, was born in London, March 25, 1822. He was successfully engaged as a contractor during the greater portion of his active life, but spent his last years in retire- ment. He died on September 6, 1886. He married Sarah Martin; and they reared six children, as follows: William E., the subject of this sketch, Sidney, Alice, Annie, Her- bert, and Alfred, all of whom are living. The mother still survives, and resides in England.
William E. Battam received his elementary education in England, where he also pursued his professional studies. When a young man,
he came to America; and, after spending a year in Toronto, Canada, he settled in New York City, where he engaged in the practice of dentistry. He conducted a very prosperous business for nine years, becoming well and favorably known in the metropolis as an ex- pert in his profession. In January, 1881, he moved to New Milford, and, opening pleasant and centrally located parlors on Bank Street, has created for himself an extensive practice. He has gained the reputation of being thoroughly reliable in all branches of dentis- try, and is considered particularly successful in filling and the production of artificial teeth. He is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, the Fire Department, the Young Men's Christian Association, and the B. P. O. Elks.
OHN J. CARROLL, a leading mason, builder, and contractor in Winsted, was born in Canaan, Conn., in 1851. His parents were John E. and Bridget (Sulli- van) Carroll, both natives of Ireland.
John E. Carroll was born in 1815, and spent nearly thirty years of his life in his na- tive land. In 1844, with his wife and one son, he took passage for America, and after a long and tiresome voyage landed safely, going al- most immediately to Stockbridge, Mass., where he found employment as a laborer, working for Judge Byington for several years. He was employed for some time by the Bar- num & Richards Furnace Company in Canaan, Conn., and removed with his family to this place. Here his son, John J., was born, as stated above.
In 1857 Mr. John E. Carroll joined the westward-flowing tide, going to California by way of the Isthmus of Panama. On his ar- rival he went to work in the mines, and
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labored there for four years, accumulating some money. He died in the winter of 1891 at his home in Connecticut. He was a very industrious man, and worked almost up to the time of his death. His widow survived nearly two years, reaching the age of eighty- one. The wedded life of Mr. and Mrs. John E. Carroll, covering fifty-two years, was marked by mutual respect and support, each doing un- complainingly the allotted task. Hale and strong to the last, they were a remarkable old couple. They reared five of their six chil- dren, namely : M. W. Carroll, a salaried em- ployee of a large packing-house in Kansas City; Ellen, who died in Winsted in 1862, when just budding into womanhood; Nora, wife of John H. Swift, a manufacturer at Union, N.Y .; Mary, wife of Paul McLough- lin, of Winsted, both now deceased; and John J., of Canaan. An elder son, John, died at the age of seven.
John J. Carroll left the district school at the age of thirteen, and hired himself out to a farmer for six dollars a month, staying with him two years. The last year his wages were raised to ten dollars. He then started to learn the blacksmith's trade, but changed his mind, and went to work in a hoe factory. At eighteen he became a mason's apprentice, in the employ of Burt & Hart, and served in that capacity three years for small pay. In 1874, having mastered the trade, he went into busi- ness with S. F. Rowe, the firm name being Carroll & Rowe. This partnership lasted five years, at the expiration of which time Mr. Rowe went to Torrington, Conn. ; and since then Mr. Carroll has carried on the business without a partner. A practical mason, he has built some of the best large structures in this vicinity, notably the handsome brick honse and barn of Engene Potter, the Paro- chial School, the convent of Notre Dame at
Waterbury, the Burr & Lee Block in Win- sted, the new high school, and the school building at the Gilbert Home, the two latter in 1894. He has also erected several factory buildings in Winsted.
On Thanksgiving Day, 1876, Mr. Carroll was married to Harriet, daughter of George and Sarah (Baker ) Dyson, the former a skilled mechanic in the employ of the Empire Knife Company for the past thirty years. Mrs. Dyson died in 1888, at the age of fifty-four, leaving three sons and three daughters. Mr. and Mrs. Carroll have seven children, as fol- lows: Matthew G., a young man, living with his parents, an able assistant to his father; Mary A., a school-girl; George, a boy of thirteen; John, Charles, Frank, and Fannie, whose ages range from eleven to three. Mr. Carroll belongs to the Roman Catholic church. His home at No. 4 Mountain Avenue, which he built in 1880, is very pleasantly situated.
E RA C. HOTCHKISS, an enterprising and successful business man of Water- town1, Conn., dealer in flour, feed. baled hay, and straw, was born in Watertown, August 19, 1861, son of Augustine and Clarinda (Catlin) Hotchkiss. Mr. Hotch- kiss's grandfather, Ira Hotchkiss. resided in Watertown for many years. He was a well- educated man, who in his younger days en- gaged in teaching school; and he also taught penmanship as a specialty. He finally adopted farming as an occupation, which he followed with gratifying success for the rest of his life. He died in Watertown at the age of over sixty years, having reared a family of eight children.
His son, Augustine Hotchkiss, who Was born in Hartland, Conn., grew to manhood on the home farm. Later he became widely
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known as the driver of the stage from Water- town to New Haven, making two round trips per week; and he was a resident of Water- town until his death, which took place when he was sixty-nine years old. His second wife, Clarinda Catlin, was a daughter of Deacon Cyrus and Emeline (Whetmore) Catlin, the former of whom was a native and highly esteemed resident of Litchfield, active in the Congregational church. He died in 1872, aged seventy-two. His wife, who lived to reach the age of seventy-nine, reared a family of seven children. Mrs. Augustine Hotchkiss became the mother of but one son, Ira C., the subject of this sketch. Both par- ents were members of the Congregational church.
Ira C. Hotchkiss acquired a common-school education in his boyhood and youth, and at the age of nineteen went to Oakville, where he learned the trade of a machinist in the shop of Joseph H. Baird, a pin manufacturer. After remaining there for three years, he en- tered the employ of the Oakville Pin Com- pany, later accepting a position as tool-maker for the Waterbury Buckle Company, with whom he remained four years. In 1893 he purchased the old established flour and feed business which is located near the depot in Watertown, and has since conducted a thriv- ing retail trade.
He is a Republican in politics, and has served upon the Town Committee for several years. He is a member and Secretary of Federal Lodge, A. F. & A. M., of Water- town, a member of Granite Chapter, Royal Arch Masons, of Thomaston, and is also con- nected with A. H. Terry Lodge, Order of American Mechanics, Columbia Lodge, Knights of Pythias, and is a member of the Watertown Fire Department. On October 16, 1885, Mr. Hotchkiss was united in mar-
riage with Mary J. Dunbar, of Harwinton, who was born in the State of Ohio. Mr. and Mrs. Hotchkiss have two sons: Arthur Ray- mond and Floyd Dunbar. Mr. Hotchkiss at- tends the Congregational church, of which his wife is a member.
ON. ISAAC B. BRISTOL, ex-pro- prietor of the New England House, the leading hotel of New Milford, Conn., and a man who during his long resi- dence in this town has been closely identified with many other business enterprises, was born in Brookfield, Fairfield County, Conn., on December 21, 1821, son of William B. and Eliza (Baldwin) Bristol. His father, who was also a native of Brookfield, was born in the first year of the present century. He owned a large farm and was one of the leading agri- culturists and most enterprising men of his day.
Isaac B. Bristol enjoyed not only the privi- leges of the district schools of Brookfield, but he also attended successively the Quaker School in Dutchess County, New York, and the Newtown (Conn. ) Academy. When he was fifteen years old he obtained a position as clerk in a store at Brookfield, Conn. ; and after staying there a year he returned to the farm for a short time. His next year's work was as a clerk in Bridgeport, Conn. Having by this time acquired practical knowledge of mer- cantile affairs, he now bought his employer's business and conducted it for himself during the succeeding twelve months, at the expira- tion of which he sold out and was subsequently engaged for a year as a clerk in New Milford. His next business venture was the purchase of a half-interest in the lime kiln of S. W. Stevens at Boardman Bridge. Following that Mr. Bristol began to deal in cattle and horses,
ISAAC B. BRISTOL.
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and made frequent trips to Canada in company with Eli F. Booth to purchase horses, of which he is an excellent judge. It is scarcely needful to remark that he still takes pride in keeping some fine horses for his own use and enjoyment. He continued to engage in that business at intervals for about thirty years, during which time he was employed as a clerk for a year, and likewise gave much attention to buying and selling farms and other real estate.
He first settled on the farm in New Milford, now owned by Mr. Halpine, and after carrying that on and making various improvements in the buildings and land, in 1867 he purchased the old Ezra Noble home, one of the first houses built in New Milford. It had previ- ously been remodelled and converted into a store and hotel by L. Lum; and from the time of his purchase up to October 1, 1895, Mr. Bristol continued to successfully conduct it as a hotel. Being a gentleman of pleasing address and courteous ways, and withal a thor- ough business man, he won not only the re- spect and esteem of his fellow-townsmen, but the favor of the travelling public, who re- garded him as an admirable host and gave him a liberal share of patronage. For a number of years he has been largely interested in the tobacco business in company with M. Staub, the firm being the largest packers in this town. He has sold his hotel property and retired from that business, but yet holds a goodly amount of real estate, comprising a two-thirds interest in the block at the corner of Church and Main Streets, his fine residence on Main Street, an excellent farm in New Milford, and three in the town of Brookfield. besides large cattle ranches in Texas and Mon- tana.
Mr. Bristol was married in 18.45 to Miss Annis Roberts, a daughter of Benjamin and
Hannah (Downs) Roberts. The Roberts fam- ily have been residents of New Milford since about 1750, when Eli Roberts settled on a farm a mile east of the village. Mrs. Bristol died in 1894, at seventy-three years of age, leaving no children.
Mr. Bristol has always been keenly inter- ested in whatever would conduce to the highest welfare and improvement of the town, being a man to be relied upon in the furtherance of any worthy enterprise. Politically, Isaac B. Bristol is a Democrat. He represented his district in the State Assembly six years and two years in the Senate, and was Selectman of New Milford thirteen years, besides filling many minor offices. He is a Director of the First National Bank of New Milford, also of the savings-bank, and Vice-President of the latter, Director of the New Milford Water Company, and Director of the Bridgeport Wood Finishing Company.
We are happy to give place on another page of the "Review " to an excellent portrait of this widely known, public-spirited, and influential citizen.
RS. LORETTA GEER, widow of Milo Geer, of Kent. Litchfield County, Conn., has for the most part of her life resided in New Milford vil- lage, where she was born on July 27, 1813. and is a daughter of Nathan and Margaret (Platt) Bishop and a grand-daughter of Eber and Betsey ( Wheeler) Bishop. Her grand- father Bishop, who was one of the carly settlers of New Milford, and followed the oc- cupation of a farmer, died in 1800, at sixty- four years of age.
Nathan Bishop was a native of New Mil- ford, and spent his whole life here success- fully, engaged in agriculture. He died in 1848, aged sixty-nine years. His wite sur-
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vived him five years, dying in 1853, at the age of seventy-four. Nine children were born of their union, namely: Wheeler, Charlotte, and another child, who died in early life; William P., who died in 1848, at thirty years of age; Susan, Betsey, and Harriet, all of whom reached an advanced age; Polly and Loretta, now Mrs. Geer, the two latter being the only survivors of their father's family.
Loretta Bishop received such educational advantages as her parents' circumstances per- mitted of, and acquired in early womanhood a thorough knowledge of the housekeeper's art. On March 29, 1837, she became the wife of Milo Geer, a son of Gardner and Hester (Titus) Geer. His parents owned a large farm in Kent, and were progressive and enterprising citizens of that place. After marriage Mr. and Mrs. Geer settled on a farm in Kent, where they spent twelve happy years together. On July 7, 1849, in an unsuccess- ful attempt to save his sister's boy from drowning, Mr. Geer lost his life. He left his widow with a son and daughter: Henry F. and Flora. The former married Miss Mary E. Stone, of Woodbury, Conn., and now lives in Turlock, Stanislaus County, Cal., where he is a large land-owner, and deals exten- sively in grain, and is well known throughout the State. He and his wife have four chil- dren, two sons and two daughters; namely, Julia A., Charles, Caroline L., and Frederick M. Henry F. Geer enlisted in the First New York Mounted Cavalry in 1861, and served four years, during which he was a special despatch carrier to General Benjamin Butler, and held many other offices of trust. He is a member of the Masonic order.
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