USA > Connecticut > Litchfield County > Biographical review; this volume contains biographical sketches of the leading citizens of Litchfield County, Connecticut > Part 34
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Speaking of the Benedicts of Connecticut, Hinman says, "This was early a highly re- spected family of the colony." We are happy here to present in connection with the life sketch of Mr. Sherman Benedict a portrait of this worthy scion of ancient stock.
ON. FREDERICK A. JEWELL, a well-known lawyer and a prominent resident of New Hartford, Conn .. ex-Judge of Probate of Litchfield County, was born in Salisbury, Conn., September 14. 1858, son of Oliver and Mary E. (Walton) Jewell. The Jewell family is of English origin, and some of its ancestors emigrated to the New England colony early in the seventeenth cen tury. Mr. Jewell's great-grandfather resided in Salisbury, and the farm upon which be lived has been in the possession of the family since the year 1745. His son. Andrew Jew- ell, was born upon the farm in Salisbury, and there successfully followed agriculture, living to be seventy years old. He raised a family of eight children.
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Oliver Jewell, son of Andrew, was reared to farm life and labor, and succeeded to the pos- session of the homestead. He was thrifty and energetic and became a prosperous farmer. He died in Salisbury, aged seventy-one. Oli- ver Jewell was a member of the Congregational church, with which he long held official rela- tions, being Deacon for more than forty years and for many years superintendent of the Sun- day-school. He was highly esteemed for his Christian character and principles. His wife, Mary E. Walton, was a daughter of Dr. Ward Walton, of Salisbury, where she was born. Her great-grandfather was the first Congrega- tional minister to settle in Salisbury ; and she is a lineal descendant, in the seventh genera- tion, of Governor Bradford of the Plymouth Colony. Dr. Ward Walton spent his last years in New York State. The children of Mr. and Mrs. Oliver Jewell were: Eliza Everest, who married Moses L. Graham, of Salisbury ; Moore C., a merchant of Salis- bury, who died at the age of twenty-nine; and Frederick A., the subject of this sketch. Mrs. Mary E. Jewell, who still survives, re- sides with her daughter in Salisbury.
Frederick A. Jewell acquired his elementary education in the common-schools of his na- tive town. He assisted his father upon the farm and also was employed in his brother's store until reaching the age of seventeen, at which time he began to prepare for college under the instruction of a private tutor. He later abandoned the intention of pursuing a collegiate course and entered upon the study of law instead. He completed a thorough course of legal study and was admitted to the bar on December 7, 1881. He began the practice of his profession in New Hartford, where he has since continued to reside, and has a large and profitable general law business. He has been a Justice of the Peace for thirteen years, and
was Judge of Probate for eight years, having been at the date of his appointment the young- est man who had held that office. He has also been Commissioner of the Superior Court. Mr. Jewell is a Republican in politics, is Past Master of Lodge No. 121, A. F. & A. M., of New Hartford, and is a member of the Knights of Pythias, in some of whose offices he has served. He is well-known as a gentleman possessing many estimable traits of character.
In 1886 Mr. Jewell married Amy S. Sey- mour, who was born in New Hartford, daugh- ter of Carlton Seymour, a merchant of that town. Carlton Seymour was formerly an officer in the United States Army. He retired from service, becoming a contractor, and finally settled in New Hartford, where he engaged in mercantile pursuits. Mrs. Amy S. Seymour Jewell was a lady possessing superior intellect- ual powers. She became a proficient law stu- dent, and was the first lady to be appointed Commissioner of Courts in the State of Con- necticut. Formerly an Episcopalian, she later united with the Congregational church. She died at the age of twenty-four, leaving one child, named Oliver Seymour. Mr. Jewell married for his second wife Mrs. Ada S. Gates, née Smith, widow of Walter B. Gates, and daughter of Rufus Smith, of Massachu- . setts. Mr. Jewell is a member of the Congre- gational church, of which he was organist for ten years.
B ENJAMIN F. PAGE, a well-known farmer of Harwinton, Conn., and a veteran of the Civil War, was born in Warren, another Litchfield County town, on October 24, 1837, son of Daniel and Ursula (Smith) Page. Mr. Page's grandfather, Dan- iel Page, Sr., a native of Branford, New Haven County, moved from that town to War- ren, where he purchased a farm, upon which
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he resided for the remainder of his life. He reared a large family of children.
His son and namesake, Daniel Page, was born in Warren and was brought up on the home farm. Ile left the paternal roof at the age of twenty-one, but eventually returned and took charge of the farm during the declining years of his parents. He succeeded to the ownership of the homestead, and followed farm- ing successfully for many years. After retiring from active labor he resided with a daughter in Goshen, where he died in 1881, at the age of eighty-eight years. His wife, Ursula Smith, was born in Litchfield, Conn. Of their eight children five are still living, namely : Lydia A., wife of J. B. Corbin ; Samuel D. ; Mary, wife of George Crandall; Julia, wife of Henry L. Coe; and Benjamin F., the subject of this sketch. The deceased are: Caroline, the wife of Erastus Bates; Sarah, who was unmarried; and George W., who married M. J. Smith, of Waterbury, Conn. The mother died at the old homestead in Warren in 1861, aged sixty- six years.
Benjamin F. Page was educated in the com- mon schools of his native town and resided with his parents until reaching the age of eighteen, when he began life for himself. He was for a time employed as a farmer and later as a teamster, working in various towns until 1861. Enlisting in that year as a private in Company E, Eighth Regiment, Connecticut Volunteer Infantry, he served four years in the Civil War, participating in several hotly contested battles, including the engagement at Cold llarbor and the siege of Petersburg. At Fort Harrison by the explosion of a shell he received a wound which confined him to the hospital for several months. During his ser- vice he was promoted to the rank of Corporal and later to that of Sergeant, and was dis- charged as such at the close of the war. After
leaving the service he returned to Warren, and a short time later he purchased a farm in East Granville, Mass., where he made his home for six years. In 1872 he sold his property in East Granville and bought his present farm in Har- winton, consisting of seventy-five acres of well- improved land, which he devotes to general farming and dairying. By his untiring energy and good judgment in the management of his affairs he has reached a position of prosperity.
In 1865 Mr. Page was married to Frances M. Smith. She was born in Cornwall, only daughter of Eli B. and Emeline (Corbin) Smith, late of Harwinton. Her father was a wagon-maker by trade, and followed that occu- pation in Cornwall and later in New Britain. Hle finally settled in Harwinton, where he died in 1871, at the age of fifty-five years. He was a man of intelligence, a Republican in politics, and earlier in life favored the antislay- ery, or Free Soil, party, then so called. Mr. and Mrs. Page have two children, namely : Alena E., who was educated in the public schools of Harwinton and the High School of Plainville, Conn., and has taught school for several years; and Charles A., who has re- ceived a common-school and academic educa tion. The family attend the Congregational church, of which Mrs. Page and daughter are members; and they are actively interested in church work.
Mr. Page is a Republican in politics; and during his residence in East Granville, Muss., he was Tax Collector for one year. He has served as Constable for many years in Harwin- ton, and at present is a Justice of the Peace. He was a member of the House of Represent atives of the State legislature in 1805. Hle has been a member of St. Paul's Lodge, A T. & A. M., of Litchfield. He is a conmade of Steele Post, Grand Army of the Republic, of Torrington.
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TUDSON M. SEYMOUR, a success- ful dairyman of New Hartford, was born August 6, 1842, upon the farm where he now resides, son of Sedgwick and Mary A. (Case) Seymour. Mr. Seymour is a descendant of John Seymour, who came to New Hartford at an early date and settled upon a large tract of land situated on West Hill, where he passed the remainder of his life. His son Uriah was born in New Hart- ford and resided upon this estate. He served as Major in the American army during the Revolutionary War. Mr. Seymour has in his possession two deeds which were executed in the name of Uriah Seymour, one in 1757 and the other in 1758. Chauncey Seymour, son of Uriah, was born in New Hartford, December 14, 1762, and inherited the estate that is now owned and occupied by his grandson, the sub- ject of the present sketch. Chauncey Sey- mour followed farming with ability and good success, erecting the present residence in or near the year 1800, and otherwise improving the property. He was a prominent man in the place, serving as a Justice of the Peace for many years, being also active in church affairs ; and he was a Representative in the State leg- islature several terms. He died July 12, 1839, aged seventy-seven years. Mr. Chaun- cey Seymour was twice married, and reared a family of eleven children, of whom Sedg- wick, Hudson M. Seymour's father, was the youngest.
Sedgwick Seymour was born at the old homestead, September 20, 1808. He was reared to an agricultural life, and after the death of his father he succeeded to the own- ership of the estate. He conducted general farming successfully until his death, which occurred November 30, 1859. He was com- missioned Captain of an artillery company in the State militia and served several years.
He also held other positions of trust and confi- dence in the administration of public affairs. His wife, Mary A. Case, whom he married September 6, 1831, was born in Canton, No- vember 27, 1812, daughter of Dudley and Lina (Barbour) Case. Dudley Case, who was the father of a large family, moved from Can- ton to Barkhamsted, and later went to Texas, where he passed the remainder of his life with his sons. Mr. and Mrs. Sedgwick Seymour were the parents of five children, four of whom reached maturity, and two are now living; namely, Mary and Hudson M. Mary is now the widow of H. H. Stone, who was formerly a prominent resident of New Hartford, and served as a Selectman, Sheriff, and Represent- ative to the legislature. The mother passed her declining years with her children, and died February 4, 1895, aged eighty-two years. Both parents were formerly Congre- gationalists.
Hudson M. Seymour commenced at an early age to assist in conducting the farm. His elementary education was obtained in the dis- trict schools of his native town. After the death of his father, which occurred when young Seymour was in his eighteenth year, he worked out by the month, and thus obtained means to pursue more advanced studies at the . Connecticut Literary Institute three terms, and to take a course at Eastman's Business College in Poughkeepsie, N. Y. He then re- turned to the old homestead, which he hired till February 4, 1895, and has since been engaged in agricultural labors. His farm, which consists of one hundred and fifty acres, is devoted principally to dairying interests. He keeps an average of twenty cows, and for the past twenty years has furnished some of the local dealers in the village of New Hart- ford with milk. He is a Republican in poli- tics, and represented his town in the legis-
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lature in 1895. In the Masonic fraternity he is a member of Amos Beecher Lodge, A. F. & A. M., of New Hartford; the Chapter and Council of Winsted; and Washington Com- mandery, No. I, of Hartford.
In July, 1878, Mr. Seymour married Anna Dew, a daughter of George Dew. Her father, who is a native of England, came to America and settled in Litchfield County, where he engaged in farming, but is now residing in Maryland. Mr. and Mrs. Seymour have two children, Martha and Julius. Mr. Seymour is a member of the Episcopal church in Pine Meadow, of which he is a Vestryman, and takes a profound interest in all its affairs. He is a thrifty and energetic farmer, an intel- ligent and useful citizen, and a worthy repre- sentative of an old and highly reputable family.
EORGE B. ALFRED, a farmer of Harwinton, in the eastern part of Litchfield County, was born in this town, March 27, 1823. His parents were Ju- lius and Candace (Thrall) Alfred. Mr. Al- fred's great-grandfather, Job Alfred, who was a soldier of the Revolutionary War, became an carly settler in Harwinton, and was here en- gaged in agricultural labors until his death. His son, Job Alfred, Jr., Mr. Alfred's grand- father, was born in Harwinton and learned the trade of a cooper, an occupation which he fol- lowed in connection with farming. He passed his entire life in Harwinton, and died at the age of seventy-three years.
Julius Alfred, son of the younger Job, was also a native of Harwinton. He learned the trade of carpenter and joiner, and was engaged as a master builder in Harwinton and the sur- rounding towns. He followed his vocation with prosperous results, becoming a well- known and reliable workman, and a highly es-
teemed citizen. Julius Alfred died at the age of fifty-five years. His wife, Candace Thrall, was a daughter of Eli Thrall, a pipe layer, who resided in Harwinton. She was born in Ege- mont, N. Y., and came to Harwinton with her parents when young. Mr. and Mrs. Julius Alfred reared but one son, George B., the sub- ject of this sketch. The mother died at his home in Harwinton at the age of seventy-five. Mrs. Candace T. Alfred was a member of the Congregational church.
George B. Alfred was educated in the public schools of his native town, and at an early age adopted agriculture as an occupation. He also engaged in lumbering to some extent, and after the death of his father he succeeded to the ownership of the homestead. In 1867 he purchased his present farm, which consists of one hundred and fifteen acres; and this, to- gether with other tracts of land, gives him a total of four hundred acres. He has in the past devoted considerable attention to dairy- ing, but at the present time is engaged princi- pally in general farming, still keeping about twenty-five cows, mostly Jerseys and Hol- steins. Mr. Alfred is a Republican in poli- tics, and has been prominent in public affairs. He was a member of the Board of Selectmen, and in 1876 represented his town with marked ability in the legislature.
In 1852 Mr. Alfred married Mary A. Bots ford, daughter of Cyrus and Jeannette (Beebe) Botsford. Mrs. Alfred's great - grandfather was an early settler in Derby, Conn., where her grandfather, Ezra Botsford, was a farmer and a lifelong resident. Cyrus Botsford was born in Derby and learned the trade of a stone mason, which he followed during the active portion of his life. His declining years were passed with his daughter in Harwinton, where he died at the age of eighty one. He was , member of the Episcopal church. His wife,
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Jeannette Beebe, a daughter of Martin Beebe, died in Oxford at the early age of thirty-six years. They were the parents of nine chil- dren, two of whom are still living, namely : Elizabeth, who married William Thayer; and Mary A.
Mr. and Mrs. Alfred have had seven chil- dren, six of whom are still living, namely : Warren J., who married Emma Lloyd, and is a hotel-keeper in the Adirondack region in New York State; Edwin B., who married Linda Perry, and has two children - Wini- fred J. and Edna M. ; Robert A., who married Agnes Maynard, and has one child, named Mabel Bernice; Julius B., a policeman in Providence, who married Nellie Brown, and has two children, named Grace A. and Hazel J .; Jessie, wife of Fred K. Perry, a job printer in Naugatuck, having one child, Harold R. ; and Marion B., who is still at home. Mr. Alfred's sons, who have been liberally educated, are now well advanced in business prosperity. Edwin B. is in the phos- phate business in Florida, and Robert A. is engaged in the setting up and adjusting of machinery for phosphate works. Mr. and Mrs. George B. Alfred are among the most highly esteemed and respected residents of Harwinton. Mrs. Alfred is a member of the Congregational church.
ON. DANIEL CURTISS, formerly a member of the Connecticut Senate, who was for many years closely identified with the industrial growth and development of Woodbury, was born in that town, September 18, 1801, son of David S. and Sybil (Huntington) Curtiss. Mr. Curtiss, who was of English origin, traced his descent through eight generations to William Curtiss, who emigrated from England and settled in
Stratford, Conn., at an early date in the col- ony's history. The family was continued by John, son of William, Israel, and Ensign John Curtiss to David, who was Mr. Curtiss's great- grandfather. His grandparents were David (second) and Sarah (Miner) Curtiss. His parents were residents of Woodbury.
Daniel Curtiss received a good education in the schools of Woodbury. After completing his studies he was engaged in teaching school for several terins. When a young man he bought a farm in Woodbury, which he carried on for a few years. He then went to the State of New Jersey, where he engaged in peddling for a short time. Finding this employment not to his liking, he returned to his native town and established himself in mercantile busi- ness at the south end of Main Street. He later purchased the house and store of Jabez Bacon, located near the village, and there suc- cessfully conducted a large general business for a number of years. The house, which was built in 1760, is still standing, and in its present improved condition is one of the sub- stantial homesteads of the town. While en- gaged in conducting a profitable business Mr. Curtiss kept a lookout for some good invest- ment for his surplus capital. This he found in the manufacture of silverware, which proved a most successful venture. He was the first to introduce German silver spoons, thimbles, etc., and employed a force of seventy-five skilled workmen in that industry. The fac- tory, which was located opposite to his store, was subsequently destroyed by fire; but the business was continued in quarters located upon the other side of the river. He after- ward retired from the enterprise, and, purchas- ing the old woollen factory built by Jesse Burton, he renovated and otherwise improved it, and revived its former business with vigor. His three sons eventually became partners
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with him; but he continued at the head of the concern until his death, which took place March 16, 1878. He was a member of the Congregational society. In politics he was a Whig, and joined the Republican party at its formation, supporting its principles with zeal. His well-known ability made him of especial value to the community in public affairs, and he rendered distinguished services in both the House of Representatives and the Senate. He was deeply interested in the welfare of his native town, whose industrial resources he was so largely instrumental in developing. His knowledge in relation to financial affairs was always in demand, and he was for some time President of the Woodbury Bank.
On January 27, 1835, Mr. Curtiss was united in marriage to Julia F. Strong, daugh- ter of John, Jr., and Flora (Preston) Strong. Mrs. Curtiss's grandparents were Lieutenant John and Sarah (Walker) Strong, the former of whom was a prosperous farmer of his day and an officer in the Revolutionary War. John Strong, Jr., was a graduate of Yale Col- lege in the class of 1806, and, locating in Woodbury, became one of the leading lawyers of Litchfield County. He was a Representa- tive to the legislature in 1813, 1825, and 1826, and was Judge of Probate for the years 1816, 1817, and 1834. He died at the age of forty-eight, and his wife lived to reach the advanced age of ninety years. Their children were: Julia F., Charles, Horace, John W., Emily, and William. William, Horace, and John are now deceased. Mrs. Curtiss has had eight children, as follows: Walter, born April 18, 1836; Emily A., born October 30, 1837, and married to Homer Tomlinson; Ellen C., born November 8, 1839, and married to Perry Averill; Horace D., born July 24, 1841; Cordelia, born March 13, 1843, who married G. C. White and is now deceased; Edward,
born January 24, 1845 ; Frances J., born July 7, 1848, now residing with her mother; and Elizabeth S., born September 7, 1850, who married E. F. Cole, and died January 11, 1883. Mrs. Curtiss still resides at the old homestead.
Horace D. Curtiss, a partner in the woollen manufacturing business founded by his father, is one of Woodbury's most enterprising and successful business men of to-day. He be- came identified with the business at an early age. In 1861 the plant was enlarged by erect- ing a three-story brick building, and a spe- cialty has been made of gentlemen's wool- len goods of a superior quality. Horace Cur- tiss bought the Daniel Martin homestead, which he converted into a beautiful as well as a comfortable residence. Ile has invested in some very valuable property in Woodbury. He formerly owned the Glepe place. He pur- chased the Judge N. B. Smith place on Main Street, where he now resides, and upon which he has erected a new and handsome residence with other buildings. He has also been an ex- tensive dealer in cattle. He was married on October 6, 1868, to Harriet F. Atwater, a daughter of Ira Atwater, of New Haven, and has two children, namely : Charles, a chemist, born May 24, 1875, and a graduate of Vale; and Olivia IL., born March 30, 1878. Mr. Horace Curtiss is a Republican in politics. He has served as a Selectman and in other town offices. He represented the town in the legislature in 1868 and 1884, and was a mem ber of the State Senate for the years 1885 and 1886. Hle is a member of the Congregational society.
J JOHN H. VAN KEUREN, of Winsted, Conn., editor of the Winsted Fromng Citizen, was born in Kingston, N. Y . November 20, 1843. His first paternal an cestor of whom we find record in this country
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was an immigrant from Holland, who settled in New York State in 1636. Mr. Van Keu- ren's grandmother was a child of nine years when the British captured and burned Kings- ton; and when the women and children fled for their lives she was swept with the tide of refugees to the town of Hurley, adjacent to Kingston.
Mr. Van Keuren's mother, whose maiden name was Ruima Hamilton, is a descendant of one of the old families of New York who set- tled in that State prior to 1700. She was born in 1810, and is still living, a widow, in Kingston. She has been a faithful member of the Dutch Reformed church for seventy years. Through her Mr. Van Keuren claims relation- ship to Alexander Hamilton.
John H. Van Keuren was educated at the public schools and at Kingston Academy. He filled the editorial chair of the Kingston Press, and conducted the paper when the Hon. D. C. McMillan was owner. Later Mr. Van Keuren was editor of the Kingston Daily News and the Wethersfield Farmer, and for the past seven years has been editor of the Winsted Evening Citizen. He has been for many years a contributor to the metropolitan press and to other publications.
Mr. Van Keuren was married in Kingston in February, 1868, to Sarah Elliott. The two daughters born of this union, Grace and Amy Van Keuren, are teachers in Winsted, and reside with their parents. Mr. Van Keuren is a stanch Republican, devoted to the inter- ests of his party, and, while a church attendant at public worship, is not a member of any church.
ILLIAM J. PLATT, a descendant of one of the oldest families in Bridgewater, Conn., and a success- ful farmer, who died at the Platt homestead,
February 18, 1887, was born here on Decem- ber 12, 1809. He was a son of Jeremiah and Irene (Barrett) Platt, and a great-grandson of Jeremiah and Hannah Platt, of Milford, whose son, Jeremiah, the next in line, was born on December 12, 1747.
Grandfather Platt settled in that part of New Milford which later became the town of Bridgewater, where he cleared and improved a large farm, and built in 1798 the substantial residence which is now occupied by his grand- son's widow and is still in a good state of preservation. The materials for its construc- tion were obtained upon the farm, and it con- tains large open fireplaces, brick ovens, and other reminders of a century past. It was a favorite resting-place for travellers, who came in numbers at the time of the spring training of the State militia, and were sure of comfort- able quarters and pleasant entertainment. Jeremiah Platt, second, was a prominent man in Bridgewater until his death in 1805. He was an early member of St. Peter's Lodge, A. F. & A. M. He married Mary Merwin, who was born December 18, 1753; and they reared three children: Jeremiah, Hannah, and Newton. Mrs. Mary M. Platt died in 1825.
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