USA > Connecticut > Litchfield County > Biographical review; this volume contains biographical sketches of the leading citizens of Litchfield County, Connecticut > Part 31
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William W. Bull received his education in the common schools, and was trained to agri- cultural duties. Beginning at an early age to assist on the farm, he was intrusted with its management during his father's declining years, and its possession fell to him by inheri- tance at his father's death. It comprises two hundred acres, and it is desirably located and well improved. Mr. Bull devoted his atten- tion to general farming and dairying. He was particularly successful in the latter vent- ure, and made a high reputation as a breeder of fine Jersey cattle. He continued farming until 1876, when he rented the property, and retired to the village, where he now occupies a very comfortable and attractive residence, situated opposite to the common. In politics he was originally an abolitionist, and is now a supporter of the Republican party. He has served with ability in some of the town offices, was a grand juror for several years and also Highway Surveyor.
In 1846 Mr. Bull was united in marriage to Sophia P. Buell, his first wife. She was born in Simsbury, daughter of Lester Buell; and she died in 1874. His second marriage was with Mrs. Sarah M. Fenton, daughter of Isaac Beach, who was a prosperous farmer of the locality known as Northfield, in the town
of Litchfield. Isaac Beach was born in Wal- lingford, Conn., son of John Beach. He passed his boyhood and youth in Watertown, where he was brought up to farming; and in 1822 he settled in Northfield. Here he resided for the rest of his life, and died at the age of eighty years. He married Maria Beecher, daughter of Burr Beecher, of Wood- bridge. He and his wife reared eleven chil- dren, seven of whom are still living, Mrs. Bull being the eldest. The others are: George, a resident of Terryville; Edward, who resides in Stamford; Albert, a commer- cial traveller; Isaac, who resides in Bristol; Nancy, who married Amaziah Clark, a me- chanic of Terryville; and Elizabeth, who married Albert Morse, Deputy Sheriff of Bristol. The mother died in Terryville, aged eighty years. Sarah M. Beach resided in Northfield until she married Elijah Fenton, a carriage-maker of Plymouth, who died in 1871, aged sixty-four years. Mr. and Mrs. Bull are members of the Congregational church, and have been teachers in the Sunday- school. Mr. Bull has acted as a Deacon for several years, and displays a deep interest in church work. He has led a useful and suc- cessful life, winning the high esteem of his fellow-townsmen.
9 NOS BENHAM, a native of Middle- bury, New Haven County, Conn., whose portrait accompanies this sketch, was born September 3, 1819. He was a son of Albe and Sally (Bronson) Ben- ham, highly respected citizens of Middlebury, and was reared on a farm. Not content to pass his life in his native town, when a young man he left home for the West, journeying as far as the extreme outposts of civilization at that time. Like many other Western travel-
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lers, however, he decided that the East afforded better opportunities, and, returning, was employed for some time as a clerk in Springfield, Mass. He then decided to settle in Woodbury, Conn., and in 1843 established himself in business in this town. He was successful as a merchant, and continued in business to the time of his decease, November 1, 1890.
A man of strict integrity, respected by all with whom he came in contact, while unobtru- sive in manner, he yet possessed a force of character that commanded success. He united with the First Congregational Church in 1850, and was ever a consistent member and a liberal supporter of religious enterprises. On September 9, 1851, he was united in mar- riage with Miss Emily J. Minor, daughter of the Hon. Matthew and Lorena ( Bacon) Minor, of Woodbury, Conn.
The Hon. Matthew Minor was born Octo- ber 26, 1780. He was a graduate of Yale College in the class of 1801, studied law under the direction of the Hon. Noah B. Benedict, and became one of the leading lawyers of Litchfield County. He began prac- tice in his native town, and continued in his profession until his death, December 17, 1839. He was a member of the House of Representatives in the State legislature in 1830, 1832, and 1833, and a member of the Senate in 1837. He also filled many offices of trust in his native town.
OWARD M. INICKCOX, Judge of Probate at Watertown, was born in that town, September 19, 1860, son of Edward S. and Charlotte ( Percy ) Hick- Cox. The Hickcox family was one of the first to settle in Watertown; and the great-grand- father of Howard M., Caleb Hickcox, who was
born October 18, 1766, was a large land-owner there when the district was sparsely in- habited. Caleb died March 9, 1813, at the age of forty-seven; and his wife, whose maiden name was Ruth Scoville, born in Watertown, March 8, 1773, and died there Jan- uary 8, 1859, in her eighty-seventh year. In religious belief they were Episcopalians. Their son Edward, who was born in Water- town, May 11, 1794, is the grandfather of Howard M. He was a progressive farmer, ac- quiring his first knowledge of agriculture on his father's farm, which was on the east side of the town. About 1823 he purchased a large farm on the west side of the town, and was for years extensively engaged in breeding merino sheep and Devon cattle. He was well known throughout the locality, and was par- ticularly active in religious matters. He died October 16, 1881, in his eighty-eighth year. He was twice married. The first time was on March 4, 1819, when he was united to Anna Merriman, of Watertown. She was the grandmother of Howard M. In his second marriage he was wedded to Anna Beecher.
Edward S. Hickcox, the father of Howard M., was born in Watertown, June 21, 1832. Reared on a farm, he adopted agriculture is his life occupation : and, when he reached his majority, he purchased a farm adjoining his father's. He was prominent in town attairs, and served in various official capacities during his short life, which ended when he was thirty-three years of age. His wife was . 1.1- tive of Woodbury, daughter of Thaddeus and Emeline Percy. Her father, who was a farmer, lived to be eighty years of age. Mis. Hickcox has now attained her sixtieth you. and is living on the homestead. She is member of the Methodist church, in which her husband took an active interest. Four sons were born to Mr. and Mrs. Hicken, all
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of whom are now living. They are: F. Percy, Howard M., Truman S., and Frank H.
Howard M. Hickcox was but five years of age when his father died. He helped about the farm when a boy, and as he grew older worked at whatever presented itself. In this period he hired by the month to do farm work some three or four years. He drove team for Cheney Brothers, of Manchester, one summer; and he taught school for a year. In 1881 he purchased a farm in Watertown, and has since resided in Watertown Centre, actively en- gaged in general farming. An enterprising and energetic man, he has also engaged in other business. He entered the ice trade in 1 886, and after five years disposed of his inter- est in it at an advantage. He has also been a licensed undertaker since 1886. He is ac- tively interested in agricultural matters, and is a charter member of the Grange, of which he was Overseer for two years; and he has been Treasurer of the Watertown Agricultural Association for seven years. A Republican in politics, he has been Selectman one- year, Tax Collector four years, a member of the Board of Relief four years, Clerk of the School Board a long time, and Judge of Pro- bate since 1890. He is Secretary and Treas- urer of the Evergreen Cemetery Association, has been superintendent of the cemetery six years, and is financial agent for the Water- town Library Association.
In 1881 Mr. Hickcox was married to Amelia M. Atwood, only daughter of Eben J. Atwood, of Watertown, and grand-daughter of Stephen Atwood, a noted merino sheep raiser of Woodbury, where Mrs. Hickcox was born. Her father died when he was forty-two years of age, but her mother is still living. Mr. and Mrs. Atwood were esteemed members of the Congregational church of Watertown. The home of Mr. and Mrs. Hickcox has been
brightened by four children: Arthur Percy, Frank Bronson, Mabelle Merriman, and Florence Strong.
Mr. and Mrs. Hickcox are members of the Methodist church, and he for many years has been Recording Steward of the society and for ten years Treasurer of the Sunday-school. He is a man of culture as well as unusual business ability, and he takes a deep interest in history and biography.
SAAC W. BROOKS, of the firm of Brooks Brothers, bankers of Torrington, a native of this county, was born in Goshen, November 8, 1838, this town being also the place of nativity of his father, Watts H. Brooks, and of his grandfather, Harvey Brooks, who was born in 1779. Joseph Brooks, the great-grandfather of Isaac W., was a native of Durham, Middlesex County, and one of the pioneer settlers of Goshen. He purchased a tract of wild land, and from it cleared and improved a homestead, living there until he attained an advanced age. Harvey Brooks was reared on the old home farm, which he had assisted in reclaiming from the wilderness. After his marriage he purchased a farm near by; and there, engaged in agricultural labors, he lived until 1873, when he departed this life at the venerable age of ninety-three years. He reared but two children, the father of Isaac W. being the youngest child.
Watts H. Brooks while a youth acquired a practical knowledge of farming; and, on ar- riving at man's estate, he became the owner of a valuable farm in Goshen, and was engaged in tilling it for many years. A man of un- usual intelligence and force of character, he was prominent in political and religious circles. Besides serving acceptably in vari-
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ous minor offices of the town, he was a member of the State legislature three terms. In him the Republican party had one of its most faithful adherents. He married Mary Wad- hams, the daughter of John Wadhams, a Goshen farmer, she being one of a family of five children. Four children were born of their union, three of whom are still living, namely: John W., in partnership with Isaac W. Brooks; Isaac W .; and Amanda. The mother passed to the next world when but sixty-four years of age, and the father at the ripe old age of seventy-eight years.
Isaac W. Brooks in his youth was an apt and diligent pupil. After graduating from the high school, he entered Goshen Acad- emy, where he was fitted for college, subse- quently completing his studies at Brown Uni- versity. He began life as a merchant, enter- ing into business with his brother in a store of general merchandise. The brothers had con- ducted the store successfully for eleven years, when in 1872 they came to Torrington, and established their present banking business, which they have continued uninterruptedly since. This banking firm is one of the oldest established in the vicinity. The Messrs. Brooks are very skilful financiers. They are keen and quick in business affairs, and are highly appreciated throughout the community. John W., the brother of the subject of this sketch, was for three years Insurance Com- missioner for the State. In local matters no citizen of Torrington takes a more genuine interest than Mr. Brooks. He encourages and supports all enterprises tending to the moral, intellectual, or financial advancement of the town or county. Soon after coming here, twenty-three years ago, he was elected Town Treasurer, and has since been an in- cumbent of that office. For four years he was Judge of the Probate Court, and for twenty
years he has been Treasurer of the Torrington Savings Bank. In 1878 Mr. Brooks was one of three citizens appointed to look into the feasibility of introducing water into the town. and since the. organization of the company has been its President. He is also connected with other business enterprises in an official capacity, and has been a Director of the Phoenix Mutual Life Insurance Company of Hartford. In 1886 he was appointed one of the receivers of the Charter Oak Insurance Company of Hartford, a position which took up much of his time. Mr. Brooks was elected to represent his district in the State legisla- ture in 1884 and in 1893, serving as Speaker of the House on the last occasion. He has travelled extensively, both in this country and on the other side of the Atlantic. His European trips were made in 1880 and 1893. An excellent sketch of Mr. Brooks appears in the volume entitled " Representative Men of the State of Connecticut, " published in 1894. He was one of the four men selected by the author to represent Litchfield County.
A UGUSTUS E. BLAKESLEE, the genial and accommodating Postmaster of Thomaston, was born in that town, then known as Plymouth, on July 22, 1842, son of Stephen B. and Sarah (Will- iams) Blakeslee. He is a descendant of one of three brothers who came to this country some time in the seventeenth century, and settled at North Haven, Conn.
Micha Blakeslee, great-grandfather of Augustus E., was born in North Haven: but in his manhood be removed to Plymouth, of which place he was one of the pioneer set- tlers. Like the majority of the people among whom he lived, he followed the occupation of a farmer. He also served in the Connecticut
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State militia; and his commissions of Lieu- tenant, Colonel, and Major are still in the possession of his great-grandson. His son, Marvin Blakeslee, was born in Plymouth. At first he engaged in agricultural pursuits, but later on he entered the clock-making busi- ness. He lived to be eighty-eight years of age. His wife, in maidenhood Ruth Graves, was born in Harwinton, Conn., daughter of one of the early settlers of that place. She reared him two sons: Henry B., deceased; and Stephen B. At the time of her death, which occurred on the same day of the month as that of her husband, she had attained the age of ninety-two years. Both spent their last years with their grandson.
Stephen B. Blakeslee passed his boyhood upon a farm. He then went into the hotel business, purchasing a hotel in Thomaston. After six or eight years spent in this occupa- tion he went to California with the early gold hunters in 1849, and is still a resident of that State, being now seventy-five years of age. His wife, Sarah (Williams) Blakeslee, was the only child of John and Hannah Will- iams, of Plymouth. Her father was a cab- inet-maker in Plymouth, but during the latter part of his life he conducted a hotel in Thomaston. He died at the age of forty-eight. Mrs. Blakeslee lived only to the age of twenty-two years, leaving one child, Augustus E. Blakeslee. Both parents were members of the Episcopal church.
Augustus E. Blakeslee, who was but fifteen months old at the time of his mother's death, lived during his early years with his grand- mother. When he was but six years old, his father removed to California. He received a good practical education in the common schools of Thomaston and at the Episcopal Academy of Cheshire, Conn. He then went to work with the Seth Thomas Clock Com-
pany ; and, beginning as a boy, he worked his way up to the position of foreman and con- tractor. With the exception of three years spent in joiner work he remained with the clock company until 1886. In that year he received an appointment from President Cleveland as Postmaster, and served in that position for four years. He then entered the employ of the Plume & Atwood Manufactur- ing Company in their carpenter department, remaining there until 1894, when he was again appointed Postmaster. This is a third- class office, requiring two clerks and doing a large business, having besides its mail depart- ment an international money order department.
In 1867 he was joined in marriage with Miss Mary J. Hart; and their union has been blessed by the birth of two daughters, namely : Ruth Anna, Assistant Postmistress in Unionville, Conn .; and Frances Emeline, Assistant Postmistress in Thomaston. In politics Mr. Blakeslee is a Democrat. He
has served as Town Collector for three terms, and has also filled the office of Constable. He is affiliated with Union Lodge, No. 96, of Thomaston, in which he is Past Master; with Granite Chapter, No. 36, Royal Arch Masons, of Thomaston, of which he is Past High Priest; with the Grand Chapter of Connecti- cut, in which he is Past Grand High Priest ; with Waterbury Council, No. 21; with Clark Commandery, No. 7, Knights Templars, of Waterbury; with Thomaston Ancient Order of United Workmen, No. 4; with Court Friendship of the Order of Foresters; and with the Knights of Pythias, in which he has held the office of Chancellor and Commander. Mr. Blakeslee and his family are influential members of the Episcopal church, in which he has served as organist and Vestryman; and his daughters are active workers in the Sunday-school.
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REDERIC E. STARR, First Select- man of the town of New Milford, where he is successfully engaged in general farming and has a good milk route, was born in the house in which he now resides, Novem- ber 27, 1832, son of Colonel William J. and Sarah (Northrop) Starr. The genealogical record of the Starr family in this country dates back to Dr. Comfort Starr, who emi- grated from England in the year 1660.
Colonel Josiah Starr, the great-grandfather of Frederic E., was born in Danbury, Conn., about 1740. At the age of twenty-one years he came to New Milford, and purchased the Paul Welch place, consisting of five acres of land, now occupied by the subject of this biography. For eighteen sessions prior to 1802 he was a representative in the General Assembly. In 1776 he was appointed Cap- tain in the American army, and was afterward promoted to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. He died in 1813, seventy-three years of age. He married Miss Sarah Mygatt, and of the union there were born two sons and two daughters; namely, Hannah, Eli, Betsey, and Daniel. Their mother died in 1805, sixty- five years of age. Eli Starr, who was born on March 10, 1763, became the owner of the old homestead at his parents' decease. He also bought additional land, and engaged in farm- ing with good results. Matters pertaining to the public welfare always awakened his inter- est, and he was in close sympathy with church and other religious work. He died on De- cember 5, 1835. His wife, Susanna ( Hig- gins) Starr, who bore him a son and daughter, Eliza and William J., died in 1851.
William J. Starr, whose birth occurred on the old homestead, January 15, 1806, acquired his education in the public schools of Dan- bury and at Sharon Academy. He inherited the old homestead, which has been in the fam-
ily for over one hundred and thirty years. The present house was erected in 1838, upon the site of the old one, which it was found necessary to demolish. He has rebuilt all the other structures connected with the farm. and has put up some buildings in the village, where he now owns four tenement-houses. In early life he engaged in farming, and has fol- lowed that avocation since. In company with his son he now owns two hundred acres of land near the village. He takes a lively interest in the progress of New Milford village, and is a liberal contributor to the support of church work. Although nearly ninety years of age, he is still able to read without the assistance of glasses, and is out each day attending to his business. His marriage with Miss Sarah Northrop, a daughter of Cyrus Northrop, took place April 15, 1830. She was born Novem- ber 9, 1807, and died on February 24, 1883. They were the parents of four children. as follows: Eliza J., who died in infancy: Fred- eric E. ; William E., deceased : and Catherine S., the wife of Joseph Bostwick.
Frederic E. Starr obtained a good practical education in the district school and at New Milford Academy, after which he went to New Haven, and took a course in engineering and surveying. For fifteen years afterward he was successfully engaged in the business of a civil engineer. Hle is also engaged in farm- ing with his father. He has a choice dairy farm near the village, where he carries on general farming, and keeps a dairy of twenty Devonshire cows, which supply the milk for the route he has established. Since his mother's death, as his father is now advanced in years, he sold his surveying business. On May 27, 1857, he was joined in marriage with Miss Hannah Wanzer, a daughter of William Wanzer, a prosperous farmer of this section. Three sons and a daughter live to bless their
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union, namely: William E., of the firm of Treat & Starr, who was married on May 25, 1888, to Miss Carrie C. Johnson, and has one child, S. Helen, born March 18, 1889; Charles W., who married Ruth Wells, Octo- ber 16, 1890, and owns and conducts a bakery in New Milford; Adelaide, who married C. S. Perry, of New York, and has one child, Eleanor M .; and Frederic E., Jr., the Secre- tary of the Young Men's Christian Associa- tion of New Milford. In politics Mr. Starr is a Republican. For the ten consecutive years previous to 1889 he served his town very acceptably as Selectman, and in 1894 he was elected First Selectman. He and his family are influential members of the Congre- gational church.
LI D. WEEKS, Treasurer of the Na- tional Life Underwriters' Association, is a well-known life insurance man, residing in the village of Bantam, for many years an agent of the Phoenix Mutual Insur- ance Company of Hartford. He was born in Washington, Litchfield County, Conn., No- vember 7, 1830, son of Hiram and Lucy (Tucker) Weeks.
Mr. Weeks's father settled on a farm in Washington when a young man, and is still residing at his homestead. He has been en- ergetic and successful; and, although he has now reached the advanced age of ninety-four, he is still vigorous for one of his years. His wife, Lucy Tucker, who died at seventy-five years of age, was a native of Washington, daughter of Eli Tucker, a well-to-do farmer of that town, who was also interested in a marble quarry there. Her father died at the age of forty, having reared a family of five children, two of whom are still living, namely: Levi; and Chloe, now a widow, who
married for her first husband a Mr. Parsons Wheeler and for her second Orsen Taylor. Of the children of Mr. and Mrs. Hiram Weeks three still survive, namely: Eli D., the subject of this sketch; Esther, who mar- ried Lewis Hart; and Emma, who married Oliver Evits.
Eli D. Weeks acquired his education in the district schools and at the Gunnery in his native town. He learned the trade of a car- riage-maker, and subsequently continued that occupation with Smith & Hatch in New Preston, later working in Milton. Returning to New Preston, he started in the carriage- making business with a partner, under the firm name of Weeks & Burnham; and, after relinquishing that enterprise, he came to Ban- tam, and was employed as a journeyman by Frederick Morse. The factory being pur- chased by a Mr. Smedley, Mr. Weeks took charge of the business for a year; and, when Mr. Smedley sold out, Mr. Weeks organized the Litchfield Carriage Company, of which he was secretary and general manager for five years. In 1878 he retired from that concern, and connected himself with the Phoenix Mutual Life Insurance Company of Hartford. As a general agent of that well-known com- pany he has won an enviable reputation as an able and successful business man. He was President of the Connecticut Life Under- writers' Association in 1894, and Vice-Presi- dent of the National Association, and a mem- ber of the Special Committee upon Finance in 1894-95, and is now, December, 1895, Treas- urer of the National Life Underwriters' Asso- ciation.
Mr. Weeks is a Democrat in politics, and is a prominent party leader in his section. He served as a member of the School Board for several years, and has held other impor- tant town offices. He represented his town
ELI D. WEEKS.
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in the legislature in 1867 and 1877, in the latter year being on the Insurance Committee. He was for some years on the local Demo- cratic Committee, and is at the present time a member of the State Central Committee from the Twentieth Senatorial District of Connecti- cut. He has advanced in Masonry to the Royal Arch degree, and is a member of St. Paul's Lodge, of which he was Master two years, and also of Darius Chapter.
In 1856 Mr. Weeks married Maria T. Brad- ley, daughter of Augustus Bradley, a former resident of Litchfield. Mrs. Weeks's great- grandfather, Aaron Bradley, was a tavern- keeper of Bradleyville, which is now Bantam. He was a leading business man and a promi- nent citizen in his day, and highly respected for his many worthy traits of character. He married Lorin Abernathy, a relative of Judge Abernathy, of Bridgeport, Conn. Mrs. Weeks's grandfather, Horace Bradley, owned a farm in Bradleyville, which was situated di- rectly opposite his father's tavern. He later moved to Chenango County, New York, where he passed the remainder of his life, and died at the age of eighty years. He occupied a prominent position in the community, and was an esteemed and useful citizen. He mar- ried Hannah Twitchell, who lived to an ad- vanced age, having reared nine children, four of whom are still living.
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