USA > Connecticut > Litchfield County > Biographical review; this volume contains biographical sketches of the leading citizens of Litchfield County, Connecticut > Part 48
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" Before the fotol doy God grant it late When Ibon and I must bow our beads to fate Before our lost long sleep, ob, viekl it Heaven ' Some Time for contemplation may be given."
Ilis prayer was granted, his closing years being blessed by a long period of serenity and peace.
In 1835 Mr. Edgar S. Van Winkle married Miss Hannah Beach, daughter of Theron Beach, of Litchfield, who for some time was President of what is now the First National
Bank of Litchfield. The maiden name of Mr. Beach's wife, the maternal grandmother of Captain Van Winkle, was Hannah Starr. She was born in Goshen, being a daughter of Ephraim Starr and the lineal descendant of Dr. Comfort Starr, who emigrated from Ash- ford, County Kent, England, in 1636. At the time of her union with Mr. Beach she was the widow of Birdsey Norton, by whom she had three children, one of whom married a Mr. Goddard. Edgar S. and Hannah (Beach ) Van Winkle became the parents of four chil- dren, namely: Mary D .; Hannah L., who died at the early age of twenty years: Eliza- beth Starr; and Edgar Beach. The mother passed into the higher life at the advanced age of seventy-three years. She was an esteemed member of the Congregational church, while her husband, like his father and mother before him, was an attendant of the Dutch Reformed church.
Edgar Beach Van Winkle was educated in the University Grammar School of New York City and at Union College, where he re- ceived the degrees of A. B. and C.E. Among the members of his class, that of 1800, were Warner Miller, the late Douglas Campbell. the historian. Colonel Sprang, president of the Ten Cent Savings Institution of New York City, and Samuel Maclory, of the New York Tribune. The young engineer began the practice of his profession immediately after his graduation, working as a rodman on the Croton Water Works, under General George S. Green, now the oldest living grad- unte of West Point. In 1802 Young Van Winkle enlisted in the service of his country, joining the Seventh Regiment, N. G. S. N.Y .. as a private, and spending the three months of his enlistment in Baltimore. On his return to New York he became interested, as Acting Second Lieutenant, in the organization of a
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battalion of artillery. This undertaking not being completed, a number of the officers be- came supcrnumcraries in other organizations, Second Lieutenant Van Winkle being made a First Lieutenant in the One Hundred and Third New York Infantry, receiving his ap- pointment from Governor Morgan.
He served in that capacity until 1864, when he was promoted to a captaincy in the One Hundred and Third United States Volunteers, both regiments having belonged to the Tenth Army Corps in the Department of the South. By his courageous and faithful attention to duty he won the respect and confidence of the brave soldiers under his command and the es- teem of his superior officers. He took an ac- tive part at the battle of Honeyhill, S.C., where the Union forces lost eight hundred out of a command of five thousand men. Captain Van Winkle was with Sherman in his cam- paign in the Carolinas immediately succeed- ing the famous "March to the Sea," and was personally known to that distinguished leader. Among the most valued of the Captain's pos- sessions are some autograph letters which he received from General Sherman after the close of the war. Captain Van Winkle was detailed as staff officer at different times, serving on the staff of General John P. Hatch and of General Egbert L. Veele, both eminent com- manders, and on that of General Q. A. Gil- more, the prominent engineer officer.
On his return to his native city Captain Van Winkle was again in the employ of the Croton Aqueduct Department, being engaged in the Bureau of Sewers for two years. Re- signing this position, he spent the following year travelling in England and on the conti- nent of Europe, examining works of engineer- ing, interested particularly in those relating to sewerage. In London he actually traversed the great sewer from St. Paul's to Fish Lane
Monument, a distance of more than a mile. When he came home, he accepted a position with the Erie Railway Company, making pre- liminary surveys for a time and assisting in building the New York & Fort Lee Railway. Later he opened an office in New York City, and was subsequently appointed division en- gineer on the Shepaug Valley Railway, rull- ning from Litchfield to Hawleyville Very soon afterward Captain Van Wink became connected with the department con. olling the public parks of New York, and as surveyor and civil engineer has laid out one-half of that part of the city lying north of the Harlem River, platting the land and constructing streets, sewers, bridges, etc. - in brief, mak- ing a city out of farm lands. To him was also intrusted the preparation of the very perfect tax maps for this section and those connected with the condemning of property for the open- ing of new streets. Becoming chief of this department, he continued actively engaged until after the death of his father, when he was obliged to resign, having been appointed sole executor of the paternal estate. He has since confined his attention to looking after the property under his charge, acting in his profession simply as a consulting engineer. For about eight years Captain Van Winkle was connected with the National Guard of the State of New York as division engineer, with the rank of Colonel.
The marriage of Captain Edgar B. Van Winkle and Miss Elizabeth Mitchell, a daugh- ter of Judge William Mitchell, of the Supreme Court of New York, took place in 1876. Mrs. Van Winkle's mother descended from a well-known Huguenot family. Her father was son of the Rev. Edward Mitchell, an emi- nent divine, who emigrated to New York from Coleraine, County Ulster, Ireland, in 1791. Judge William Mitchell was one of
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HUDSON J. PULVER.
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the most esteemed jurists of his day, learned in legal lore, with a keen perception that at once grasped the salient points of the most abstruse questions, and made him a leader in his profession. He died while on a visit at Morristown, N. J., in 1886, being then eighty- six years of age. A very interesting memo- rial, culogizing his virtues, has been written. Five children were born to Captain and Mrs. Van Winkle, namely: Mary Starr; Elizabeth Mitchell; Edgar Beach, Jr .; Grace Louisa; and William Mitchell.
In 1889, accompanied by his wife and five children, Captain Van Winkle made another European trip, and, having visited many of the important cities, located at Tours, France, where they resided until 1891. With the ex- ception of the years spent abroad Captain Van Winkle has always passed his summers in Litchfield, his first memories thereof being of living in the old Sheldon house. Later the family occupied the house beside that, which had been built by his grandfather. In 1892 he began the excavation for his present resi- dence, covering about one hundred feet by fifty feet in dimensions and some three stories in height, one of the finest in architectural con- struction of any in the State, if not in New England. The sewerage system of his place is an entirely novel oue, having been invented by the owner, and is one of general interest to engineers.
On August 8, 1894, at the age of forty- eight years, Mrs. Van Winkle, the affectionate and devoted wife and loving mother, passed to the completer life beyond, leaving to her fam- ily and friends the sweet memory of a noble womanhood, the influence of her cheerful and gentle spirit still hovering over the home, like a peaceful benediction. She was a true Christian and a devout communicant of the Episcopalian church.
In politics the Captain is a Republican. Socially, he is a man of prominence and in- fluence, when in college belonging to the So- ciety of Kappa Alpha. He is one of the oldest members, being No. 441 out of a mem- bership of eighty-nine thousand, of the Mili- tary Order of the Loyal Legion, having been a Recorder of the New York Commandant for two years, under General Schofield. He is also a member of Lafayette Post, No. 140, of New York, Grand Army of the Republic, of the Sons of the Revolution, and is also one of the oldest members of the American Society of Civil Engineers, having served as a Direc- tor of that society. He is a charter member of the Holland Society of New York, and be- longs to the Century Club, the United Ser- vice Club, and the American Geographical Society. Religiously, Captain Van Winkle is connected with the Collegiate Dutch Re- formed Church, the oldest religious organiza- tion in New York City, the church with which his father and grandfather were long identi- ficd.
UDSON J. PULVER, the most prominent physician in Torrington, Conn., was born in this town. De- cember 24, 1859. son of Hiram and Jane ( Kimberly) Pulver. Hiram Pulver was born in Copake, Columbia County, N. Y., and was reared on a farm. When a young man, he went to Salisbury, where he learned the trade of carriage-maker. He worked in Torrington some years in the employ of the Alvord Cal- riage Company, and in 1850, at the time of the gold fever, went to California. Ilis stay in that State lasted only two yous; for, like many of the Eastern men who went to the gold region at that time, he keenly felt the lack of the comforts and conveniences of civil- ized life. In 1852 he returned to Torrington,
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and started in business, prospering as years passed until he was ranked as a leading car- riage manufacturer in the locality. He mar- ried Jane, daughter of David Kimberly, of Torrington; and five children were born of their union, four of whom are living, namely : Stanley, a carriage painter in New Haven; Albert H., in business with his father, of whom a more extended notice will be found elsewhere in this work; and Frank, now studying medicine in the New York Homœo- pathic College. Mr. and Mrs. Pulver are members of the First Congregational Church in Torrington. Hudson J. Pulver received his early education in the public schools of Torrington, and attended Claverack College, near Hudson, N. Y. He was graduated from the New York Homoeopathic College in 1883, and began to practise the same year. During the twelve years devoted by Dr. Pulver to healing the sick he has made a host of friends, and established a reputation for professional knowledge and skill, which is daily increas- ing his visiting list. He is versed in the latest and most approved theories of medical practice, and answers the demands upon him with unvarying promptness and courtesy. Besides attending to his regular duties, he has filled various official positions, serving on the Board of Health nine years, and being at pres- ent medical examiner for the Ancient Order of United Workmen, the New England Lodge of Protection, the North-western, the Masonic Mutual, and the Connecticut Indemnity Insur- ance Company.
Dr. Pulver was married in 1890 to Grace C. Coe, daughter of Nelson W. and Caroline (Workman) Coe. Her father, who was the founder of the Coe Furniture Company, died in Torrington in 1888. `His family consisted of two children, the only son being Frank E., manager of the Coe Furniture Company, of
whom a sketch will be found on another page of this volume. Mrs. Pulver is a graduate of Vassar, and since her marriage has studied medicine in Chicago, receiving her diploma in 1894. She entered immediately on medi- cal practice, and bids fair to rival her hus- band, evincing delicacy of perception and a savoir faire which come to some physicians only through years of experience.
In politics Dr. Hudson J. Pulver is a Re- publican. He is prominent in Masonic circles, belonging to Seneca Lodge of Tor- rington and Cyrus Chapter, and to Clark Commandery of Waterbury, and the Mystic Shrine of Bridgeport. He is also a member of the New England Order of United Work- men. In religious views he is liberal, while his wife is a communicant of the Episcopal church.
UDGE JEROME F. GIBBS, a promi- nent merchant of Kent, Town Clerk, and formerly a member of the Connec- ticut legislature, was born in Kent, May 19, 1836, son of Tillotson and Eunice (Cole) Gibbs. The founder of this family was Giles Gibbs, who with his brothers Francis and Joseph came from Devonshire, England. It is believed that Giles settled in Dorchester in 1633. He died in Windsor, Conn., in May, 1741. Jacob was a son of Giles, and either Samuel or Jacob was a son of Jacob; and this son had a son Benjamin, who married Abigal Marshall, September 16, 1708. They lived in Windsor and Litchfield, Conn., and had: Ben- jamin, born 1710; Zebulon, born 1711; Henry, in 1713; Abigal, in 1715 or 1714; Hannah, in 1716; William, in 1718 -all in Windsor, Conn. Then came Gersham, who was the first white male child born in Litch- field County, the event occurring July 28, 1721; Zadock, born 1722; Elizabeth, 1725;
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Sarah, 1727; Caleb, 1729; Justice, 1731; and Remembrance, the last, in 1734.
Mr. Gibbs's great-grandfather, Gersham Gibbs, his brother Benjamin, his sons Isaac and Moore, were enlisted in a company of volunteers organized in Litchfield, Conn., and served in the Revolution. Gersham died on board the convict ship "Grosvenor" in New York Harbor on December 29, 1776. Isaac, his son, died on same ship, January 15, 1777. Among the effects of Captain Beebe was found the receipt following : --
Account of Gersham Gibbs.
Received of Captain Beebe three dollars that belonged to my husband and son, which was part of the money sent to them whilst prisoners in New York.
TABITHA GIBBS.
Moore Gibbs, son of Gersham, went to South Britain, Conn., and there married Patience Skeel, June 29, 1786. Their children were: Amos A., born April 4, 1787, died Septem- ber 25, 1820, in Pennsylvania; Reuben Mar- shall, born March 14, 1794; Tillotson Howe, born May 2, 1796, died February 23, 1868; Birdsey, born February 16, 1798; Phebe, born May 18, 1803; Willis, born Angust 13. 180.4, died July 3, 1874: Rhoda, born March 17, 1807: Newton, April 20. 1809.
Tillotson Gibbs, Mr. Gibbs's father, whose birth occurred in Litchfield, Conn., was reared a farmer, and followed that occupation, at the same time keeping a hotel in his native town until he reached middle age. Then he moved to Kent, where he passed the remainder of his life, and died aged seventy-one. He was widely and favorably known as a genial and fair-minded man and a useful citizen. On January 11, 1818, at Weston, Conn., he married Eunice Cole, a daughter of Jonathan Cole: and she became the mother of six chil-
dren, as follows: Catherine L., January 8, 1819; Henrietta, October 16, 1822, died No- vember 8, 1895; Frederick Baldwin, born November 19, 1824; Willis, born May 24, 1828, died June 13, 1882; Mary Z .. August 16, 1832; Jerome F., May 9, 1836. Cath- erine's first husband, a Mr. Rigner, died; and she married for her second husband Daniel Trembley, by whom she had three children ; namely, Sarah, Isabella, and Daniel. Henri- etta became Mrs. Welch, and reared two chil- dren, Homer and Wallace. Willis married Margaret Nevins, and reared four children, namely: Mary, born March 28, 1851; George W., born December 10, 1852: Henrietta, born September 13, 1858: Frederick llowe. born October 24, 1860. Mary %. became Mrs. Ilenry Small. The mother lived to the age of ninety -one years. Jerome F. Gibbs received his education in the schools of Kent. After completing his studies, he learned the tinner's trade. This he followed as a jour- neyman for four years, when in Kent he started in the house furnishing business. which he has since conducted with success. He is an enterprising and progressive mer- chant, fair and obliging to his patrons, and has carned the long period of prosperity he has enjoyed. In politics he is a Democrat, and has for many years been closely identifial with public affairs. He has acted as Town Clerk for the past thirty years, has presided as Judge of the Probate Court for twenty-five years; and in 1886 be represented his town in the legislature. In the various positions of public trust he has filled he displayed a zeal and ability duly appreciated by his fellow townsmen, who are fond in their praises of him. He is a member of St. Luke's Lodge, A. F. & A. M., of Kent, and of Housatonic Chapter, Royal Arch. of New Milford. In ISMO Mr. Gibbs was united in mariage to
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Emma F. Hoag, daughter of David Hoag, of Dover. Mr. and Mrs. Gibbs attend the Epis- copal church, of which Mr. Gibbs is a Warden.
AUREN J. HATCH, a highly es- teemed resident of Bridgewater, who died at his home on May 3, 1873, was born upon the farm adjoining the one now owned by his widow, October 6, 1831, son of Charles C. and Anah C. (Judson) Hatch. Mr. Hatch's great-grandparents were Joshua and Phebe (Bonnctt) Hatch, the former of whom was a prosperous farmer of Newtown, Conn. Joshua died at about the age of eighty, and his wife lived to the advanced age of ninety-six years. Their children were: Sarah, Polly, Hannah, Phebe, and Mark T. Mark T., grandfather of Mr. Hatch, was born in Newtown, July 11, 1772. When a young man, he settled in Bridgewater, where he pur- chased a tract of land, containing three hun- dred acres, a part of which he sold, and the re- maining portion he cleared and improved into a good farm. He became a successful farmer, · and continued to reside in Bridgewater until his death, which took place when he was thirty-six years old. He married Hannah Camp; and his five children were: Currence, Harmon, Phebc, Charles C., and Mark T. His wife died at the age of forty-eight years.
Charles C. Hatch, Mr. Hatch's father, re- sided at home until he reached his majority, when he went to Pennsylvania, wherc hc learned the manufacturing of woollen goods. Hc returned to his native State; and, hiring a building in Roxbury, hc and his brother, Mark T., engaged in the manufacture of woollen goods, which they conducted for three years. Charles C. Hatch then purchased his father's farm, and in 1849 he erected the house which now stands upon the property
adjoining the new residence. He was a pro- gressive and successful farmer, and stood high in the estimation of his fellow-townsmen. He was a Democrat in politics, ably serving in some of the town offices. He died April 27, 1879. His wife, Anah C. Judson, who was born in 1812, became the mother of eight children; namely, Lauren J., Esther A., Phebe M., Charles C., Charles E., Mark T., Currence J., and Henry H. Esther A. Hatch married Edward Cowles, resided in Woodbury, had three children, Julius, Imogene, and Carrie, and died aged nineteen. Phebe M. Hatch married Oliver Cowles, resides in Woodbury, and has no children. Charles E. Hatch married Helen Knowles, resides in New Milford, and has four children: J. San- ford, G. Winnifred, Lillie G., and Frederick D. Currence J. Hatch married Daniel Knowles, resides in Washington, and had four children: Edith, who died aged twenty-four years; Minnie; Daniel, who died young; and Wilbur. Henry H. married Annie Clark, and had one child, Frank W. Henry, who died aged thirty-four. The mothcr lived to the age of seventy-four years.
Lauren J. Hatch attended the schools of his native town. At the age of sixteen he com- menced to learn the carpenter's trade. After working as a journeyman for some time, he es- tablishcd himself in business as a contractor and builder; and during his long and success- ful carcer he erected many handsome and sub- stantial residences in New Milford and Bridgewater. His work was always of the most reliable character, and his word alone was generally considered as a sufficient guar- antee in his business transactions. A high opinion of his judgment in business affairs was entertained, and his advice was in fre- quent request by his acquaintances. He was a Democrat in his political views, and for many
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years was a worshipper at St. John's Episcopal Church. He died May 3, 1873; and his memory is still fresh in the hearts of many who knew and appreciated his true worth.
On December 20, 1845, Mr. Hatch was united in marriage to Nancy B. Tuttle, daugh- ter of Newton and Eliza (Wilcox) Tuttle. The parents of Mrs. Hatch were prosperous farming people of Southbury, Conn., and passed their declining years with their daugh- ter. Newton Tuttle diced aged eighty-two, and his wife at seventy-four years. Their chil- dren were: Charlotte, Mary, and Nancy B. Mrs. Hlatch is the mother of one son, Charles Newton, who was born November 20, 1863. He is now engaged in the general merchandise and produce business in Bridgewater, as a member of the firm of Hatch & Mallett. On December 25, 1888, he was united in mar- riage to Mary E. Mallett.
In 1880 Mrs. Hatch carried out the inten- tion of her deccased husband to build a new residence upon his farm. It is a large and handsome house of two stories. She made other improvements besides this, and contin- ned to conduct the farm until 1895, when she rented the property, and purchased a cottage in the village, in order to be near her son, residing there. She has the friendship and esteem of the majority of the leading resi- dents of Bridgewater, and attends St. John's Church. Mark T. Hatch, Mr. Hatch's brother, was born at the homestead in Bridge- water, December 1, 1841. He inherited part of his father's farm, and carries on general farming with energy and success. He mar- ried for his first wife Emily Beers, who died at the age of thirty, leaving two children, namely: Edna S., who is now a teacher; and Bertha E. He married for his second wife Sarah Botsford: and by this union he has had six children, namely : Arthur V. ; Clarence
T .; Sarah E .; Mary E., deceased; Mary J. ; and Howard M.
SAPH HALL, who is widely known in scientific circles as an astronomer of more than ordinary attainments, was born in Goshen, Conn., October 15, 1829. His parents were Asaph and Hannah C. (Palmer) Hall. His grandfather, Asaph Hall, first, who was born in Wallingford, Conn., in 1735, was a farmer and a large land- owner. During the Revolutionary War he served in the Continental army, being present at the capture of Fort Ticonderoga and con- tinuing in active service as Lieutenant and Captain until the surrender of Burgoyne. Ile was a member of the Connecticut legislature twenty-four sessions, and a member of the State Convention which adopted the Federal Constitution on Jannary 9, 1788. Hle and his wife, Esther McNair Ilall, had one child, Asaph Hall, second. Asaph Hall, first, died in 1800. Ilis widow, who afterward married Seth Baldwin, died at the age of seventy-five.
Asaph Hall, second, father of the subject of this sketch, was born in Goshen, Conn. Ile married Hannah C. Palmer, a daughter of Robert Palmer, of Goshen ; and they had six children, all of whom came to maturity : Asaph ; Hannah Fox; Adelaide and Adeline, twins; Lyman; and Mary C. While in the South, looking after his business interests. Mr. Hall, the father, died in 18442. The fol- lowing account of his son Asaph, whose name appears at the head of this article, is taken from the Popular Science Monthly, Vol. XLV:
Up to the time of his father's death Asaph's life was that of a well-to-do country boy. Hle had worked on the farm, and he had gone to the village school. His father was far better educated than most of the men of the place.
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so that many good books fell into the boy's hands. Often his rainy days were spent in the garret, fighting the battles on the plains of Troy or following Ulysses in his wanderings.
When his father died, everything was changed. Almost all the property was mort- gaged. In a family council it was decided to remain on one of the farms, and try to pay off the mortgage. So Asaph and his mother set to work, and for three years toiled with might and main, carrying on the work of a large farm almost entirely by themselves. Asaph's mother was a tireless worker, and he helped her as best he could; but, when the three years were past, they found they had been able to pay the interest on the mortgage, and nothing more. Sticking to the farm did not seem to pay, so Asaph decided to leave, and go and learn the carpenter's trade. He per- suaded his mother to move to a little place she owned free from debt, and he apprenticed himself to a local carpenter. He worked for three years for sixty dollars a year. At the end of that time he became a journeyman, and worked for himself. He stayed in Litchfield County, helping to build houses and barns that are standing on the old farms to-day.
For six years he stuck to carpenter work, but all that time he was full of ambition. He saw that the men he worked with were a poorly educated set. They knew how to make a right angle by the three, four, five rule; but they had no idea at all of the reason for it. He was not satisfied to work in this blind rule- of-thumb fashion. He wanted to know the reasons of things. So he kept picking up some knowledge of mathematics to help him understand his business. In the summer he was busy with carpenter work, but in the winter he generally went home. He did the chores on the farm in the early morning and at night, and went to school besides. As he
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