USA > Connecticut > Litchfield County > Biographical review; this volume contains biographical sketches of the leading citizens of Litchfield County, Connecticut > Part 52
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73
Elnathan Patterson. the grandfather of
480
BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW
Sherman Patterson, was a direct descendant of Roger Sherman, one of the signers of the De- claration of Independence, also of Andrew Patterson, the first Colonial Governor of Perth Amboy, N.J., who was of Scottish parentage. In carly manhood he removed from the south- ern part of Connecticut to Cornwall, where he engaged in farming, living to an advanced age. Silas Patterson, son of Elnathan, was born in Cornwall, and like his father engaged in agricultural pursuits, spending his life on the old homestead.
Sherman Patterson, a son of Silas Patterson and the father of the subject of this sketch, was reared to manhood on the old homestead, acquiring a good practical education in the common schools and assisting his father in the varied duties of the farm. On reaching his majority, he built a house near the parental home, and there spent his life. He took an active interest in all that concerned the pub- lic welfare. His wife, Polly Gilbert Patter- son, was a native of Warren, Conn., and a daughter of Samuel Gilbert. The latter in his younger days followed the vocation of a blacksmith and iron manufacturer, which he carried on with success; but his last years were spent on a farm in that town, where he died at over eighty years of age.
Mr. Gilbert had one son, Burton Gilbert, a well-known and prominent merchant of Warren, who, though he began his business career with the most meagre resources outside of the energy and ability nature had bestowed upon him, worked his way up step by step until he acquired a competence. It was his custom to go by night to Hartford with loads of goods and return the following day, and his dealings brought him many acquaintances and friends in that place also. His whole life was spent in Warren, where he died at eighty years of age. Mrs. Polly Gilbert Patterson
taught school for several years previous to her marriage. She bore her husband three sons, all of whom are still living: Silas G., Burton C., and Henry S. Her last years were spent at the home of her son Burton, where her death occurred at the age of seventy-six. Both parents were active members of the Con- gregational church.
Burton C. Patterson passed his early years on the farm of his father, receiving a good practical education in the common schools. After reaching his majority, he remained on the home farm with his brothers until he and Henry sold their interests to Silas, and in 1865 came to Torrington, and bought a por- tion of the farm where he now lives. Seven years later he purchased his brother's interest in the place, and since that time has carried on the farm alone. It contains two hundred and seventy-five acres of land, being the largest dairy farm in the town of Torrington, and its owner one of the best known agricult- urists in this section. Mr. Patterson keeps a dairy of sixty cows, from which he supplies a milk station in Torrington, that furnishes milk for the retail trade. In addition to his farming he does quite an extensive business in a mercantile way, being a wholesale and retail dcaler in grain, flour, and baled hay, agricult- ural implements, wagons, carriages, sleighs, fertilizers, and coal. He is also the purchas- ing agent of the State Grange.
In February of 1872 Mr. Patterson was joined in marriage with Miss Hattie M. Beach, one of four children of Amazi Beach, of Goshen, Conn., where her father is still living, having retired from active business. Mrs. Hattie M. Patterson died at thirty years of age, leaving one son, Silas B. Patterson, who graduated from Yale College, and is now a civil engineer in Torrington. The mother was a member of the Congregational church.
48 1
BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW
The union of Mr. Patterson with his present wife, Annie M. Merwin Patterson, daughter of Samuel T. Merwin, of New Milford, Conn., has been brightened by the birth of two sons: Burton M., residing at home; and Edson B.
In politics Mr. Patterson is a stanch Repub- lican, and his fellow-citizens have shown their appreciation of his sterling character and ability by electing him to various positions of trust and responsibility. He was for three years on the Board of Selectmen, on which he held the position of First Selectman one year ; · and in 1884 he served as a member of the State legislature. Ever since the establish- ment of the State Grange of the Patrons of Husbandry, eleven years ago, Mr. Patterson has been a prominent member of the Executive Committee, and here his influence has been especially felt; for, being a thoroughly prac- tical and successful farmer himself, the papers on agricultural topics which he has been called upon to prepare for various gatherings have attracted much attention. Mr. Patterson has also rendered most acceptable service as Director and Treasurer of the Patrons' Mutual Fire Insurance Company of Connecticut since the formation of that company. The other fraternal orders with which he is associated are the Ancient Order of United Workmen and the U. O. A. M., in which he has acted as Trustee, but has declined all other offices. Mr. and Mrs. Patterson are communicants of the Congregational church, in whose welfare they take a deep interest, and are active workers in the Sunday-school.
NDREW A. BRADLEY, an old resi- dent and a highly respected business man of Thomaston, engaged in the tin, stove, and general hardware business nem Thomaston depot, was born in Cheshire,
Conn., April 11, 1813, son of Andrew and Mary (Sherman) Bradley.
Andrew Bradley came from either Bradford or East Haven, Conn., and settled in Chesh- ire. He devoted his attention to agriculture, and before the War of 1812 had accumulated a goodly fortune; but the greater part of it was lost in the financial crisis caused by that con- flict. His death occurred in Cheshire in the forty-fifth year of his age. His brother Eli was in command at New Haven in the War of 1812, and another brother was killed at the time of Admiral Perry's victory on Lake Erie. His wife, Mary (Sherman) Bradley, was born in Stratford, Conn. She reared him five chil- dren, of whom Andrew A. Bradley, the young- est, is now the sole survivor. She died in Cheshire when but thirty-three years old. Mr. Bradley was a member of the Episcopal church, and his wife belonged to the Congre- gational church.
Andrew A. Bradley was only four years old at the time of his mother's death : and. as his father's death occurred six years later, he was but ten years old when he was left alone to battle with the world. The subsequent six years were spent on a farm, during which time he attended the district school. He then Went to New Haven, Conn., and spent two years and a half learning the tinman's trade. He then went to Meriden, and worked at that business for the same period. The following ten years were spent in Massachusetts, Indi- ana, and at Baltimore, Md. In 1846 he en- tered business for himself in Plymouth Hill. Four years later he came to Thomaston, and established himself in a small building, which he erected for the purpose, on the site of his present store. The steady growth of his busi ness caused him in 1862 to enlarge his ae commodations. He moved the old store to the rear, and built his present fine building.
482
BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW
which is thirty feet wide, sixty feet deep, and two stories in height. He still carries on a large and prosperous business, and enjoys the distinction of being the oldest merchant in Thomaston and one of the oldest in Litchfield County. With three exceptions he is the old- est citizen of the town, which he has seen grow from a small farming community to a prosperous village. He has been a resident long enough also to note that but three of the families that were in Thomaston and Plymouth when he came now keep house in these places.
He was married in 1845 to Miss Harriet Butler, daughter of Lemuel and Salina (Mer- riman) Butler, of Meriden, where her father was a farmer. Her parents reared five of their eight children, but the only one now liv- ing is George Butler. Her father died at seventy-eight years of age, and her mother at the age of fifty-six. Both were communicants of the Congregational church. Mr. and Mrs. Bradley had six children, of whom two are now living : Edwin A. and Ella. Edwin A. married Miss Nellie Scott, and is engaged in the carriage business in Waterbury, Conn. He was the builder of the horse-railroad in that place, and served as superintendent up to 1894. Ella married John Gross, an engin- eer in the employ of the Watch Company, and has three children: Dorothea, John A., and Edwin Bradley. Of the deceased children of Mr. and Mrs. Bradley three died in infancy, and one son, James, when thirty-two years of age. Their mother died in 1893, in her seventieth year. Mr. Bradley cast his vote with the Republican party. For over forty years he has served as Sealer of Weights and Measures. It is now sixty years since he first became a communicant of the Congregational church, of which his wife was also a member. Mr. Bradley resides in a fine residence erected by him in 1851.
AMES STUART HALPINE, a pros- perous tobacco dealer and general farmer of New Milford and a self-made man, was born in New Milford, December 26, 1854, son of Thomas and Anna (McCauley) Halpine. Mr. Halpine's father is a native of Ennis, County Clare, Ireland. His parents were Patrick Halpine and Catherine (Calanen) Halpine, who were married in May, 1819, and whose family consisted of seven sons and one daughter. Patrick Halpine's parents were Michael Halpine and Mary McSheedy Mc- Namara. His wife's parents were David Calanen and Mary Hennessey Calanen.
Thomas Halpine emigrated to the United States when a young man, landing in Boston. After engaging for a time in farming, he was employed at hat-making in Roxbury, and later went to Lanesville, where he married. He then purchased a farm in Bridgewater, which he improved to a considerable extent by drain- ing, cleaning off brush and timber, remodel- ling buildings, and erecting a new barn. After residing there for twenty years, he traded the property for the Sanford farm on Whisconier Hill, in the town of Brookfield, Conn., where he now lives. His farm, which consists of two hundred and thirty acres, finely located, he has improved by the construction of miles of tile and stone ditches, also erect- ing a handsome residence at a cost of five thousand dollars, with spacious barns and out- buildings to match. He is one of the most progressive farmers in his section, keeping a large dairy, which he conducts according to the latest improved methods. He is a Demo- crat in politics, and has ably filled several of the important town offices.
His wife, Anna McCauley, was born near Belfast, County Antrim, Ireland, daughter of John and Catherine (Bambridge) McCauley. John McCauley was a son of Francis and Jane
483
BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW
(MacQuelin) McCauley. Jane MacQuelin was a daughter of Frank and Sarah (Currie) Mac- Quelin, of Scotland (Highlands).
Catherine Bambridge, wife of John Mc- Cauley, was a descendant of the Bruces of Scotland. Her great-grandmother, Catherine Bruce, a cousin of Sir Harvey Bruce, married Alexander Stuart, of the Highlands of Scot- land, and bore him four daughters and one son. Their youngest daughter, Catherine Stuart, married Robert Bambridge, a brother of Commodore Bambridge, of England, and removed to Ireland. They also had four daughters and one son. Jane, the eldest daughter, married John Noble, and emigrated to Portland, Me., United States of America. Robert married Rachael Lynn, and settled in Brooklyn, N. Y., where he died. Nancy mar- ried John Campbell, of Scotland, who, after the death of her husband, removed to Oro- ville, Butte County, Cal., where she spent her remaining days with her sons, who are among the largest landed proprietors in the county. Sarah married William McCord, of Ireland, where both resided until their deaths.
Catherine and John McCauley were married May 13, 1820. They had nine children ; namely, Jane, Sarah, Charles, Anna, William, Francis, Catherine, Margarete, and John. In 1851 they emigrated with their children to New Milford, Conn., and afterwards removed to Danbury, Conn., where they lately died. John, their youngest son, a gallant soldier under Admiral Farragut, was killed on board the " Lackawana," Angust 5, 1864, in an en- gagement in Mobile Bay, and was buried at Fort Powell. Francis served in the Twenty- third Connecticut Volunteers, Company K. He died from effects of wounds received, and was buried in Danbury, Conn.
Anna, who married Thomas Halpine April 3, 1853, has had thirteen children, as follows :
John James, who died when an infant; James Stuart, the subject of this sketch; Catherine A., who married John Francis, now deceased, has one son John, and resides in Paris, France; . Mary J., who married Richard Meaney, and has three children - Vincent, Charles, and Anna - and resides in Danbury, Conn .; William, a druggist of New York City, who married Mary C. White, and has one daughter, named Agnes: Thomas Bam- bridge, an undertaker in Bridgeport, Conn .. who died November 6, 1890; Margarete, who died young; Sarah Elizabeth, who now re- sides at home; Charles F., a doctor of dental surgery, now of Brooklyn, N. Y .: John M., who resides at home; Margarete L., second. who is a teacher; Francis Arthur, who died at the age of four years; Anna, who died when an infant.
James Stuart Halpine was educated in the public schools of Bridgewater and at Newtown Academy, Newtown, Conn., and subsequently taught school for several winters in Newtown and Brookfield, his summers being occupied in farming. He was married in March, 1880, and went to live on a rented farm near Gay- lordsville, devoting his time during the sum- mer months to the growing of tobacco, being employed in a neighboring packing house dur- ing the winter. In isi he engaged in the tobacco buying and packing business for the old established firm of 11. Schubart & Co .. New York, packing about three hundred cases that year, and has since that time bought and packed all the Connectiont and Massachusetts tobacco handled by that firm, besides buying and packing several large packings for other New York houses.
In April, 1883. he purchased the Monroe Frost farm of one hundred acres, situated in the south eastern part of the town of New Milford, and, since taking up his residence
484
BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW
here, has added ninety acres more to his farm, besides remodelling and improving his house · and barns, building a new barn, wagon house, and other outbuildings. He has also built a new tobacco warehouse, sixty-five by thirty- six feet, and three stories high, one entire floor being used as a sorting and packing room. It is heated by steam, and is one of the best lighted and most convenient assort- ing rooms in the Housatonic valley. He raises large crops of potatoes and grain, also seven or eight acres of tobacco annually, packs about eight hundred cases per year, and has during the past year handled on commis- sion over twelve hundred cases of sweated tobacco. He also devotes considerable atten- tion to dairying, keeping twenty grade Jersey cows, besides fifteen head of valuable young stock, supplying milk to special customers in New Milford. His business necessitates the employment of forty hands during the packing season; and he retains several assistants the ycar round, who are required in various capac- ities about the farm and in operating a steam- threshing machine.
On March 30, 1880, Mr. Halpine was mar- ried to Miss Sarah J. Morrissey, of Gaylords- ville, Conn., by whom he had eight children, as follows: Sarah Agnes; Anna May; Ella Cecilia, who died August 26, 1885; Mary Cecilia; Genevieve; Stuart Francis; Thomas Joseph ; and Sarah Grace, who died August 21, 1894. Mrs. Halpine died April 14, 1894, aged thirty-three years.
Although specially eligible to public office, Mr. Halpine has always declined to accept political honors. He votes the Democratic ticket. His success in life is the result of his own exertions, as he embarked in business without capital; and, although he has been heavily burdened at times with obligations which would have discouraged most men, he
has at last arrived at a safe business position, and through persistent industry and good management has secured a comfortable share of this world's wealth. He attends the Roman Catholic church.
R ILEY W. SMITH, a popular express- man of Winsted, was born in Tolland, Mass., son of. Lauren and Polly (Tisinning) Smith and grandson of Theodore and Rhoda Smith. Grandfather Smith was a farmer in Colebrook, an upright man, a con- sistent member of the Orthodox Congrega- tional church, and lived to be eighty-two years old. His wife laid down the burdens of life about the year 1850, when well ad- vanced in the seventies, somc time previous to her husband's death. They are resting in the Riverton Cemetery, Barkhamsted. The- odore and Rhoda Smith had four sons and two daughters, who all grew up, married, had families, and are now deceased, Lauren, the father of Riley W. Smith, being the last to die.
Lauren Smith tilled a farm in Tolland, Mass., in his younger days, removing in 1836 to Barkhamsted, Conn., where he bought a farm. This he sold in 1874, purchasing with the proceeds a home in Riverton, where the rest of his life was spent. He accumulated a snug fortune, leaving at his death some eight thousand dollars. He was a prominent man, serving three terms in the legislature, and acting as Selectman of the town for several years. Mr. Smith was married in Tolland in 1831, and our subject was his only child.
Riley Smith attended the common schools in his boyhood, and helped his father about the farm until he was twenty-six years of age. He now does a large teaming business in Winsted, employing four double teams. He
485
BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW
also has near the town a farm of one hundred acres in a finc state of cultivation. Mr. Smith is a Republican, and is serving his fourth year as Selectman of Winsted. He is a. Master Mason, and belongs to the Congrega- tional church, which was the church of his father and grandfather, and to which his wife also belongs. Twenty-one years ago he bought the house at 29 Front Street, which has since been his home.
Mr. Smith's first wife was Anna (Cleve- land) Smith, to whom he was married when twenty-one years old. She lived but a short time; and in 1860 he was again married, his bride being Anna E., daughter of George G. and Belinda (Moore) Deming, the former a livery man, who died May 15, 1873, when about seventy-five years. Mrs. Deming lived to be eighty-one, passing away in 1880. The two are buried in Riverton. They had six children, of whom one is deceased, having at- tained the age of sixty years. Mr. and Mrs. Smith have two children, namely : Lauren, who is married, and is in business with his father; and Sabina, unmarried, also in busi- ness with his father.
EORGE P. ALLEN, a retired drug- gist of North Woodbury, was born in Bethlehem, Litchfield County, Janu- ary 13, 1826, son of James and Clarissa ( Way) Allen. The family is of English origin : and Mr. Allen is a direct descendant, in the eighth generation, of James Allen, a black smith of Kempston, County of Bedtord, Eng- land, whose son, Roger, emigrated to New England in 1638, and changed the spelling of his name to Alling. He is credited with being the ancestor of all in this country thus named.
Roger Alling was one of the first settlers of New Haven, of which place he was a leading
spirit, being the first Treasurer of that colony after its organization. An extensive land- holder, a man of more than ordinary intelli- gence and ability, he acted an important part in the early history of the colony. He was a Deacon of the first church, and was one of the signers of "A Fundamental Agreement," which was the first civil compact for the gov- ernment of the colony. He was a member of the court, was appointed "to gather the Col- ledge Corne, " was "Collector for Customs and Excise for Wine and Strong Liquors" for the port of New Haven, was often an appraiser of estates and damages, and was also a member of the first military company. His death oc- curred in 1674. His descendants have been generally intelligent, industrious, and law- abiding, most of them thriving and progres- sive farmers. They have mostly been Congre- gationalists in religion, though in recent times some of them have entered the Metho- dist and Episcopalian folds. Roger Alling and his wife, Mary Nash, were the parents of seven children: Mary, Samuel, John, Sarah, Eliza, Susannah, and James.
Samuel Alling, son of Roger, was born in New Haven, November, 1645; and he con- tinned to reside there until his death, which took place in 1707. By his first wife, Eliza- beth Winston, who died in 1082, he had sis children : Samuel : James; Roger: Roger, second; Theophilus; and Daniel. By his union with Sarah Chelsey, his second wife. he had four children : Sarah. Elizabeth. Caleb, and Esther. Roger Alling, second. who was born in July, 1677. settled upon a firm in West Haven, Conn. He married Susanna Holt : and his children were : Roger; Elizabeth ; Thomas; Samuel: John; Ehza- beth, second : and Hannah
Samuel Alling, forth child of Roger Alling, second, was Mr. Allen's great-grand-
486
BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW
father. He was born January 28, 1716, mar- ried Keziah - in 1737, and settled in the west part of New Haven, known as Wood- bridge, where they reared a family of eleven children, namely: Ruth; Roger; Samuel; Amos; Cornelius and Keziah, who were twins; Eleanor and Hannah, also twins; Gideon; John; and Eunice. Amos Alling, Mr. Allen's grandfather, was born in Wood- bridge, Conn., October 9, 1745, and with his brothers Samuel and Cornelius settled a few years before the Revolutionary War in that part of " ancient Woodbury" called the " North Purchase," afterward incorporated as the town of Bethlehem. These three brothers, as have all their descendants, changed the spelling of their name to agree with their first-known ancestor, James Allen, of Kemp- ston, England. Amos Allen became a pros- perous farmer and a large land-owner, and left each of his children a farm as a start in life. He died March 15, 1813, aged sixty-seven years. His first wife, whom he married in May, 1770, was Anna Rogers, who died in 1784, leaving two children, Keziah and Abner ; and he married for his second wife Susanna Thompson, who died September 18, 1802, leaving four children, named James, Noble, Gideon, and Chester.
James Allen, Mr. Allen's father, was born in Bethlehem in 1794. He inherited a farm, located upon Carman Hill, where he settled, and engaged in agricultural pursuits. By careful management he succeeded in increas- ing his estate, and at his death owned two hundred and eighty acres of valuable land, with a substantial set of farm buildings. He was' industrious, energetic, and progressive, making the best of every opportunity offered him for advancement ; and he became a promi- nent and useful citizen. He was a Democrat in politics, taking an active interest in public
affairs; and he not only rendered valuable ser- vice to the town upon the Board of Selectmen, but was twice elected to the legislature, being a member of that body for the years 1836 and 1852. He was a man noted for his integrity and good judgment, and was often called upon to settle estates. He was a sol- dicr in the War of 1812, and for his services his widow received a pension. He died July 28, 1858, aged sixty-four years. His wife, Clarissa Way, whom he married in 1817, was born in 1799, and died March 10, 1881. She was the mother of five children, namely : Abner; Amos; James; George P., the sub- ject of this sketch; and Jabez. Of these chil- dren Amos and Jabez died young. Abner still lives (1896) on his large farm, with his sons James H. and George G., at Union Mills, Ia. He is seventy-seven years. old, hale and hearty, a thorough farmer and a large-hearted, prominent, and honored citi- zen. James followed the father on the pa- ternal homestead, and was an energetic and successful farmer, a benevolent, influential, and beloved inhabitant of his native town. He died January 11, 1893, aged seventy years.
George P. Allen, our special subject, re- ceived a good education at the district and se- lect schools of his native town and other places ; and at the age of twenty-four he asso- ciated himself with T. M. Thompson for the purpose of entering into mercantile pursuits. They purchased the drug store in Woodbury, which was kept by William C. Bristol; but Mr. Allen bought his partner's interest one year later, and he carried on the business alone with profitable results for ten years, or until 1860, when he retired permanently from the business. He bought the Daniel Bacon homestead on North Main Street, which he re- modelled and improved in connection with a
4S7
BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW
small outlying farm that he owned until 1873, when he sold his house and lot, and removed to the Terrill homestead, where he still re- sides. This house was built about one hun- dred years ago, and is among the oldest and most desirable estates in town. There is a tree upon the premises which is said to have been planted one hundred and seventy-five years ago. The present owner has remod- clled the house and beautified the grounds, making the place one of the finest pieces of property in the locality.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.