USA > Connecticut > Litchfield County > Biographical review; this volume contains biographical sketches of the leading citizens of Litchfield County, Connecticut > Part 54
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Thomas Canfield became a very large land- owner and a prominent man in the community, and was a Representative to the General Court in the years 1674 and 1676. He reared a family of eight children, one of whom, named Jeremiah, settled in New Milford in 1727 , and purchased three land rights. Jere- miah Canfield died on March 18, 1739-40, his wife, Alice, having died in January the same year. Samuel, one of their ten children, who was born in 1701, came to New Milford pre- vious to his father's settlement here, and pur- chased land, upon which he resided for the remainder of his life. He was a very success- ful farmer, and bought a large tract of land, which he divided among his children, a part
of that property being the farm now owned by his great-grandson, Mr. Lawrence Canfield. Samuel Canfield was a Representative for several terms, served as a Justice of the Peace for many years, and was a Deacon of the Con- gregational church. He was one of the most active men in the village, and few residents of his day were held in higher regard. He died in 1754, survived by his wife, Abigail Peck Canfield, who died in 1764 at sixty-four years of age. They had eight children; and of these Heth Canfield, Sr., Mr. Canfield's grandfather, who was born on January 7, 1742-43, was the youngest. He was a farmer by occupation and a lifelong resident of New Milford. His son, Heth, Jr., Mr. Canfield's father, was the latest born of eight children. He succeeded to the possession of the home- stead, and was successfully engaged in farm- ing until his death, which occurred in 1832. His wife, whose maiden name was Jerusha Odell, had borne him eleven children, as fol- lows: Sarah M .; Alanson; Cornelia; Sally; Nelson; Harry; Clara, Diana, twins; Bruce; Lawrence, the subject of this sketch; and Laura L. The mother died in June 6, 1862, aged seventy-five; and it was said of her that she had "as many children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren as she was years old."
Lawrence Canfield was a mere child when his father died. He attended the schools of his native town, and at an early age began to assist in carrying on the farm. Having grown to manhood, he acquired possession of the homestead by purchasing the interests of the other heirs, and assiduously continued the cul- tivation of the soil and the improvement of the property. His untiring energy being well di- rected, his labors have been rewarded with success; and he has added to his estate till he now owns upward of six hundred acres of finely located land. He has several acres
LAWRENCE CANFIELD.
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covered with the choicest kinds of fruit trees, and he is the largest apple-grower in New Milford. He occupies a handsome residence, which he built in 1869, situated opposite the old farm dwelling in which he was born, his grounds being tastefully laid out and shaded with evergreens. He has also built large and convenient barns, and availed himself of every modern appliance to facilitate his agricultural operations. He keeps a herd of sixty fine cows, the same number of sheep, and eleven horses, and has made farming a financial suc- cess.
Mr. Canfield and Sarah A. Marsh, daughter of Chauncy Marsh, were united in marriage in April, 1848, and have three children : Mary L., Urania, and Heth. Mary L. resides in Colorado with her husband, I. Phillips, and their two children, named Edgar C. and Leon J. Urania married Allen F. Hill. They re- side in New Milford, and have five children : Mamie; Joseph M. ; Mabel C. ; and Clara and Carrie, twins. Heth married Louise Smith, lives in Florida, and has six children : Thomas, Lawrence, Leroy, Sarah A., Beth, and Anna.
Mr. Canfield attends the Congregational church, of which he is a liberal supporter. He is a Republican in politics, and has served with ability in various town offices. He or- copies a position of prominence among the in- telligent and progressive farmers of New Mil- ford; and, as his success in life is the result of his own persevering industry, it is all the more merited and noteworthy.
A portrait of Mr. Canfield appears on an- other page.
RANK P. MARBLE, & druggist and apotheany of New Hartford, and Post master of that town, was born in West Warren, Mass,, January 14, 1854, son of
Leonard and Eliza (Barton) Marble. Mr. Marble's grandfather was a farmer and a life- long resident of Millbury, Mass., where he died at the age of seventy-nine. He raised a family of eight children.
Leonard Marble, Mr. Marble's father, who was born in Millbury, received his education in the schools of his native town. After re- siding with his parents until he reached the age of twenty, he went to West Warren, where he was employed in the scythe factory. Sev- eral years after he moved to West Winsted, and was there employed in another scythe fac- tory for the remainder of his life, and died at the age of seventy eight. He was an Episco. palian in his religious views, and was a Vestry man of that church for some years. His wife. who was a native of Millbury, became the mother of eight children, four of whom are still living, namely : Fidelia, married to Cal. vin Aldrich, Assistant Postmaster of New Hartford; John W., a resident of Besser Falls, Pa. ; Emma, who married Plitner Sweet ; and Frank I., the subject of this sketch. The mother resides with her son in New Hartford.
Frank P. Marble passed his early boyhood in Winsted, and at the age of eleven came with his parents to New Hartford. He is ceived a common school and academic edue tion. At the age of sixteen he commenced work in the sexthe factory, where he remained for tom years. In 1873 he entered his pres ent business, which he has since conducted with success. He was for many years the only druggist in New Hartford, and is at the pics ent time the oldest business man in town He carries a full stack of drugs, chemicals. patent medicines, drugaist's sundries, and toilet sarticles, stationery, and school books He makes a specialty of school books, Temp the only dealer in town who handles them
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Mr. Marble is a Democrat in politics, and was appointed Postmaster August 12, 1894. He has been an Assessor and Tax Collector for several years, Deputy Sheriff eight years, and Town Auditor for twenty years. He has been Chairman of the Democratic Town Committee for many years; and, although his party is in the minority, he is a popular man with all classes, irrespective of politics.
He is a member of Amos Beecher Lodge, A. F. & A. M., of New Hartford, of Clifton Lodge of Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and of the Unity Lodge of Knights of Pythias. He is also a member of Waramaug Tribe of the Order of Red Men of Winsted. In Janu- ary, 1894, Mr. Marble was united in marriage to Olive P. Ferriss, of Winsted, daughter of Nathan Barden Ferriss. Mr. Ferriss, for- merly a farmer of Winsted, now resides in West Torrington, and is the father of five chil- dren, all of whom are still living. Mr. Mar- ble attends the Congregational church, and Mrs. Marble is a member of the Methodist church.
ILLIAM GEDNEY WALL- BRIDGE, a prominent citizen of Litchfield, a civil engineer by pro- fession, was born on April 16, 1856, at Sara- toga Springs, N. Y., son of Henry Thomas and Esther Margaret (Knickerbacker) Wallbridge. His ancestry on both sides includes many dis- tinguished names, his kinsmen in different generations having taken an active part in military and governmental affairs. His first paternal ancestor in this country was Henry Wallbridge, an Englishman, one of the Duke of Monmouth's men in the uprising of 1685, and in 1702 an accepted inhabitant of Nor- wich, Conn., where he died July 25, 1729. He was married December 25, 1688, at Pres- ton, Conn., to Anna Ames, by whom he had
five sons - William, Henry, Ames, Thomas, and Ebenezer.
Ebenezer Wallbridge, son of Henry, was born in Norwich, Conn., May 15, 1705. He was twice married; and by his first wife, Mary Durkee, of Norwich, to whom he was united December 2, 1730, had seven children, two of whom were sons - Ebenezer and Henry. His second wife was Mrs. Elizabeth Hyde.
Ebenezer, son of Ebenezer and Mary (Dur- kee) Wallbridge, was born in Norwich, De- cember 20, 1738. He was one of the early settlers of Northfield, Mass., and of Benning- ton, Vt., and took an active part in current affairs of historic moment. He assisted at the capture of Crown Point and Ticonderoga, was Lieutenant and Adjutant at the storming of Quebec, and for his conduct at that time was promoted to the rank of First Lieutenant by Congress; and at the battle of Bennington, August 16, 1777, where his brother Henry was killed, he was in action as an officer. He was eventually made Brigadier-general, command- ing the First Brigade. In the political affairs of the time he was also prominent as a mem- ber of the general conventions, a member of the First and Second General Assemblies, State Auditor, Censor of the State Constitu- tion, and Councillor of State for ten years. He died in Bennington, October 3, 1819. He was married in 1760 to Elizabeth, daugh- ter of Joseph and Mary Stebbins, of North- field, Mass., and had ten children, six of whom were sons. Of these, Ebenezer Will- iam, the youngest, comes next in the line now being traced.
Ebenezer William Wallbridge was born in Bennington, Vt., October 28, 1779. He was graduated from Williams College in 1800, was admitted to the bar in 1804, and was for many years in active professional work in Lansing- burg, N. Y., where he was one of the leading
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men, being President of the Lansingburg Bank, village Trustee, Town Clerk for nine years, School Commissioner ten years, and a member of the New York legislature in 1819. Hle died in Lansingburg, March 23, 1856. He was twice married, his first wife, Sally Morgan, to whom he was united January 12, 1805, being the grandmother of Mr. William G. Wallbridge. She was a daughter of En- sign Jonas and Sarah (Mott) Morgan, and grand-daughter of Major Edward Mott, who was Chairman of the Connecticut Committee sent to Bennington April 28, 1775, with plans and funds for the capture of Ticonderoga and Crown Point, it being by his order that, when their design was accomplished, Colonel Ethan Allen was officially placed in command of Ticonderoga. Four children were born to Ebenezer W. and Sally (Morgan) Wallbridge - Ann, Henry Thomas, William Morgan, and John.
Henry Thomas Wallbridge was born in Lansingburg, N. Y., August 25, 1819. He was for many years in the real estate and in- surance business, and spent the greater part of his life at Saratoga Springs, N. Y., where he died November 12, 1885. He was married May 29, 1845, to Esther Margaret, daughter of John and Caroline (Chester) Knickerbacker, of Schaghticoke and Waterford, N. Y. She was a direct descendant through her grandpar- ents, Thomas and Esther Margaret ( Bull) Chester, of Wethersfield and Hartford, Conn., of Leonard Chester, armiger, of Blaby, Eng lind, and was a great-grand-daughter of John Knickerbacker, Colonel of the Hoosick and Schaghticoke regiment from 1775 to 1778, which was active in the defeat of Burgoyne. Mrs. Wallbridge was the mother of siv chil dren: John Henry ; Thomas Chester ; Caroline C .; William Gedney, the subject of this sketch ; Lonisa Chester ; and Louie C.
William Gedney Wallbridge graduated in 1877 at the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute of Troy, N. Y., and for some years was em- ployed on United States geographical surveys in the South-west, in making river surveys on the Hudson and Missouri, and at Philadelphia. Since 1890 he has been a resident of Litchfield.
October 11, 1881, he was united in marriage with Esther, daughter of William -Lehman and Mary Warren (Dorr) Schäffer, of Germantown, Pa. Mrs. Esther S. Wallbridge died in 1885, leaving one son, William Knickerbacker Wall- bridge, born in Germantown, August 11, 1882. Mr. Wallbridge was again married on September 11, 1890, the ceremony taking place at Litchfield, and the bride being Mar- garet Ewing, daughter of William Alexander and Mary (Creed) Ritchie, and great grand daughter of William Telfair, who in 1783 was Governor of Exuma, a West Indian Island, and whose brother, Edward Telfair, was Governor of Georgia in 1786 and from 1780 to 1703. In politics Mr. Wallbridge is a Republican, in religion an Episcopalian.
UMPHREY HI. WILSON, a prosper ous farmer of Harwinton, was born in that town, September 1, 1837. son of William and Amoret (Humphrey) Wil SON.
Mr. Wilson's grandfather, Stephen Wil son, was an early settler in Harwinton. Ile was a blacksmith by trade, which he followed for a living as well as farming. He died at the age of forty eight years, having mised family of six children.
William Wilson, Mr. Wilson's father, was born in Harwinton, and attended the schools of his native town. He became familiar with farm work at an early age After the death of his father he succeeded to the ownership of
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the farm, which was a part of the estate origi- nally owned by Stephen Wilson. He con- ducted it successfully during his long life, and died at the age of eighty-six years. He was an active member of the Congregational church, and served upon the Parish Committee for many years. His wife was a daughter of Dudley Humphrey, of Simsbury. Dudley Humphrey was brought up a farmer, but pre- ferred to sell clocks through the South. He finally settled in Ohio, where he passed the remainder of his life. Mrs. William Wilson became the mother of three children, as fol- lows : Humphrey H., the subject of this sketch; Caroline, who died at the age of twenty-four; and William S., who was a sol- dier in the Civil War, and died in Alexandria, Va., at the age of nineteen years. The mother was sixty-two years when she died.
Humphrey H. Wilson received his educa- tion in the district schools and at the Harwin- ton Academy. He resided with his parents, assisting his father on the farm until his mar- riage, at which time he purchased an adjoining farm, where he resided for three years. He then returned to the homestead, which he in- herited at his father's death, and has since resided there. He has a fertile and well- improved farm of ninety acres, which is sit- uated about three-quarters of a mile from the village. He is engaged in general farming, which his industry and carefulness have made a success. Mr. Wilson is well known and highly respected. He possesses a fund of gen- eral information, and is well posted upon the important issues of the day. He is a Repub- lican in politics, and has served with ability as an Assessor.
In 1863 Mr. Wilson was united in marriage to Antoinette Brown, of Harwinton. She is a daughter of Samuel and Melinda (Church- ill) Brown. Mrs. Wilson's father was an
early settler in Harwinton, and died in that town, aged sixty-six. His wife, Melinda Churchill, was a native of Massachusetts, daughter of Asa Churchill, who was a black- smith, and resided the greater part of his life in Bristol, where he died in 1834, aged fifty- four years. Mrs. Wilson's parents reared five children, as follows: Ellen M., Antoinette, Edgar J., Belden S., and Juliet. Ellen M. married John Lewis, and is now deceased; and Juliet married Dewitt Hull, of Seymour. The mother died in Seymour, April 21, 1888, aged seventy-six. Mr. and Mrs. Wilson have two children; namely, Marion and William H. William H. Wilson, who resides at home and assists his father in managing the farm, commenced his education in the public schools of Harwinton, and completed his studies at the Wesleyan Academy in Wilbraham, Mass. He is a young man of intelligence, possessing an energetic and progressive nature, and has a promising future before him. Mr. and Mrs. Wilson attend the Congregational church, of which Mrs. Wilson is a member.
ESSE B. BURTON, a prominent resi- dent of North Woodbury, and one of the most active and successful business men of the county, was born in the town of Bethlehem, March 5, 1825, son of Daniel B. and Zeruah (Hayes) Burton. Mr. Burton's grandparents were Nathan and Sarah (Beards- ley) Burton, the former of whom was a soldier in the Continental army during the Revolu- tionary War, and resided in Bethlehem.
Daniel B. Burton, Mr. Burton's father, was born in Bethlehem; and in young manhood he engaged in milling at Garnseytown, where he was located for a number of years. He then bought a farm, upon which he settled and fol- lowed agriculture successfully in addition to
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tanning deerskins for manufacturers of gloves, mittens, and other articles. He was quite extensively engaged in the latter occupation, and for several years he conducted a profitable business. He resided in Bethlehem until 1845, when he sold his farm, moved to Wood- bury, and lived there until his death, which took place in 1848, at the age of sixty-one years. He was an industrious and energetic man and a highly esteemed citizen. In poli- tics he was a Whig, and a Congregationalist in his religious views. His wife, who was a daughter of Jesse Hayes, a veteran of the Revolutionary War, became the mother of seven children; namely, Clem B., Jesse B., Hester E., Mary %., Lyman, Henrietta S., and Nathan B. The mother lived to the age of seventy-four years.
Jesse B. Burton was educated in the schools of Bethlehem. When a young man, he en- gaged in any suitable employment that pre- sented itself. He carefully husbanded his carnings, and at the age of twenty-three he rented the William 11. Bacon farm. He cul- tivated the property industriously, with a view of getting a start in life. By practising the most rigid economy, he eventually paid in full for the farm. He then associated himself with his brother, Nathan B. Burton ; and they bought the old Downs mill property in Minor. town, which was sold at a bargain on account of its bad condition. They repaired it, and set the mill to work. After doing custom busi- ness in sawing and grinding for a time, they erected new mills, and began to handle grain by the carload upon their own account. Later they became quite extensive dealers in grain, flom, lumber, and coal. They then built . store in Watertown, which was run as il branch, and subsequently purchased land, and built two feed and grain stores in North Woodbury, all of which turned out profitable
ventures. The firm continued in the grain and lumber business for twenty-five years, at the end of which time they sold their stores and mill property, and turned their attention to timber. They invested heavily in Western timber lands, speculating in the States of Michigan, Ohio, and Pennsylvania, where they bought large tracts. These they cleared, and shipped the timber to New York and other Eastern markets, making a specialty of sup- plying railroads. They have handled over thirty thousand acres of timber land, by which they have amassed a handsome fortune; and they own valuable property, consisting of real estate in Buffalo, Danbury, Woodbury, and contiguous towns. Although Mr. Burton is now well advanced in years, he is to all appearances in perfect physical condition, and is still actively engaged in business pursuits. Some years ago he bought the Horace Curtis homestead, one of the finest estates in North Woodbury; and he has since resided there. In politics he supports the Republican party, but his extensive business has prevented him from taking any active part in public affairs.
On March 15, 18448, Mr. Burton was united in marriage to Sarah J. Fox, daughter of Philo and Asenath (Hine) Fox, prosperous farming people of Woodbury. Mrs. Burton was brought up by William H. Bacon, of whom Mr. Burton purchased his first piece of real estate. Philo Fox died at the age of seventy years. He raised a family of eight children ; namely, Sarah J., Mary A., Lewis, Emily. Russell, Nancy, John, and Lucy. His wife lived to the age of eighty-four years. Mr. and Mrs. Burton have two sons, as follows; Will- iam B, a leading fumer of Watertown, born November 30, 15.49. matried to Harriet M Atwood, and the father of four children - Jen nie M., Mary, Edna, and William J. : and Daniel B., a successful farmer of Woodbury.
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born March 14, 1851, married to Fanny .T. Kimball, and mother of five children - Flor- ence, Arthur B., Jesse B., Clayton, and Nathan B. Mr. Burton possesses a business record of which he may well be proud. He has been a tireless worker; and he is a self- made man in every particular, his prospersity being the result of his own efforts. Both he and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
ARNEST L. PRATT, a successful jew- elry merchant of Litchfield, was born in Irondale, Dutchess County, N. Y., March 8, 1859, son of William L. and Martha J. (Potter) Pratt. Mr. Pratt's father was a native of Connecticut. In early manhood he settled in Irondale, N. Y., where he followed the occupation of a miller for the remainder of his life, and died at the age of forty-eight years. His wife was a native of Connecticut. Her parents raised a family of six children ; namely, Homer, Oscar, Eugene, Alfred, Abbie, and Martha J. Homer is a physician in Des Moines, Ia. ; and Abbie married George Ryan. Mrs. William L. Pratt became the mother of five children, four of whom are still living, namely : Loda, who married C. M. Gannung, of Litchfield; Eva, wife of E. K. Loomis; Earnest L., the subject of this sketch; and Etta, who married Dr. William Simons, of Brooklyn, N. Y. She died in Litchfield, aged forty-eight years. Both par- ents attended the Methodist church.
Earnest L. Pratt passed his youth in Iron- dale. He received his education in the com- mon schools, and assisted his father in the mill until he reached the age of nineteen, at which time he came to Litchfield, and took a position in the drug store of Buell & Wheeler. He remained about nine months in this em-
ployment, and was next engaged as a clerk in the grocery store of Gannung & Elmore for a year. After this he worked in a grist-mill for the same length of time, in Wessell & Gates's drug store for six months, and operated a steam-mill for another year. At the expira- tion of that time he sold the mill, and returned to the store of Wessell & Gates, where he worked for another six months. He then entered the jewelry store of F. A. Shepard for the purpose of learning that business. After working for three years and a half, dur- ing which time he became skilled in the trade, he purchased the establishment of his em- ployer, and, in company with his brother-in- law, Mr. Gannung, conducted the store for four years. At the end of that time he bought his partner's interest, and continued alone. On January 4, 1895, the block in which his store was located, including his large stock of goods, consisting of watches, jewelry, and dia- monds, toys and Japanese wares, was destroyed by fire. Although his loss footed up to twelve thousand dollars, he was able to recover; and upon the completion of the new block in the following May he reopened his establish- ment. He carries a large and varied stock, and enjoys a liberal patronage. He makes a specialty of repairing, and in this particular branch he is very successful. Mr. Pratt is a Republican in politics. He is a member of St. Paul's Lodge, A. F. & A. M., and of the local fire company.
On February 26, 1895, Mr. Pratt was united in marriage to Isabella A. Beach. She is a daughter of the late Dr. Beach, who was for- merly a well-known and highly esteemed phy- sician of Litchfield, where he had a large practice for many years. Dr. Beach died in Litchfield, November 5, 1892, aged forty- eight years. His wife, who before her mar- riage was Emma J. Strickler, is still living
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in Litchfield. She is the mother of three children, two. of whom are still living, namely : Willis A., a jeweller of New Mil- ford; and Isabella A., who is now Mrs. Pratt. Mr. Pratt attends the Episcopal church, of which Mrs. Pratt is a member.
ARVEY BARNES, a retired manu- facturer and mechanic of Torrington, where he is well known and equally respected, was born in Cornwall Hollow, Litchfield County, Conn., February 18, 1838, son of Edward and Rebecca (Bonney) Barnes. Edward Barnes was a native of Canaan, Litch- field County, and was the son of Thomas Barnes, who was born in Southington, Hart- ford County, Conn.
The great-grandfather, Aaron Barnes, came from Southington to Norfolk about the close of the eighteenth century, and spent his last years in the latter town. His son Thomas, grandfather of Harvey Barnes, was an anchor- smith by trade, and was known as a skilled and reliable workman. He died in Canaan at the age of sixty-two years.
Edward Barnes carly in life acquired a knowledge of farming, which occupation he followed for some time in Cornwall Hollow, being also engaged in other business pursuits on his own account until 1836, when he re tired from active business life, but still con tinued to follow agriculture to some extent until his death, which occurred in 1854. at the age of fifty years. His wife, Rebecca Bonney, daughter of Joshua Bonney, was born in Corn wall, Conn., and was one of a family of eight children. Her grandfather took a patriot's part in the Revolutionary War, being engaged in active service with the Continental army from the commencement to the close of that great struggle. Mrs. Edward Barnes became
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