USA > Connecticut > Litchfield County > Biographical review; this volume contains biographical sketches of the leading citizens of Litchfield County, Connecticut > Part 57
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On February 22, 1854. Mr. Kirtland was united in marriage with Elizabeth A Stiles. daughter of Roderick and Cleora S. (Curtis) Stiles. He is a Republican in politics, and Is a member of the Congregational church
Mr. Kirtland's portrait is here given.
CLARK, a prosperous Litchfield County fumer, was born on Much 25. 1817, in New Milton, where he con tinnes to make his home His grandfather. Thomas Clink, came from Milton, New Haven County, to New Milford, and settled in
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the Chestnut Land district, where he became a successful farmer and a large land-owner. Both he and his wife lived to reach an ad- vanced age. They reared a large family of children, among whom were: James, who sct- tled in Vermont; Phineas, Mr. Eli Clark's father ; and Marcia.
Phineas Clark inherited the homestead, and lived thereon until 1837, when he sold it, and went to a farm situated on Long Mountain, there devoting himself to agricultural labors until his retirement from active pursuits. He died at the age of seventy years. He and his wife Eunice, who was the daughter of Joseph Titus, a soldier of the Revolutionary War, were the parents of seven children - Irene, Horace, Diantha, Rebecca, Eli, Harmon, and Eliza. The mother died at the age of eighty- six. She was a member of the Methodist Episcopal church.
Eli Clark, when seven years old, went to live with Calvin Calhoun. He acquired his educa- tion in the district school, and at the age of seventeen learned the carpenter's trade, which was his principal occupation until 1856. In that year he purchased the L. Northrop farm, where he now resides. The property origi- nally contained sixty acres; but by the addi- tion of an adjoining farm, which he bought later, he now owns one hundred and sixty acres of well-located land. The old Northrop dwell- ing-house, which was built one hundred and forty years ago, and is now occupied by his son, has been thoroughly repaired by Mr. Clark, who has also erccted a new barn and otherwise improved the property. He has given much attention to dairying interests, keeping some fine specimens of Devonshire and . Holstein stock, which have been very carefully bred. His farm, which commands a fine view of Mount Tom and the Berkshire Hills, has long been a favorite resort for sum-
mer boarders, many of whom have taken the occasion to speak highly of Mr. Clark's home and the hospitality which they received at his hands.
Mr. Eli Clark and Louise M. Geer, daughter of Welcome and Sylvia (Bishop) Geer, were united in marriage on. February 27, 1843. Mrs. Clark was born February 27, 1824. Her father, who was a prosperous farmer of Kent, was a Whig in politics, and was very promi- nently identified with public affairs and also with the State militia. He died in 1833, aged thirty-five. His wife died at the age of sixty-one. She was a daughter of Deacon Bishop. They had seven children, as follows : Nathaniel, Davis, Evelyn, Mary, Louise M., Charlotte, and Sylvia.
Mr. and Mrs. Clark have had three children, namely : George, who was born in 1860, and died in infancy; Sidney, who died at the age of four years and six months; and Phineas E., born October 23, 1865. Mr. Clark is a Re- publican in politics, and both he and his wife are members of the Congregational church.
Phineas E. Clark occupies a part of his father's farm. He has paid particular atten- tion to fruit culture, and, besides planting a large peach orchard, has set out apple and pear trees and grape-vines. He is the Connecticut agent for the Jones Lock Wire Fence, of which he has sold thousands of miles. He married Anna Welton, daughter of Granville Welton, of Bridgewater, and has two children, namely : Sidney, who was born September 11, 1892 ; and Irving W., born July 13, 1895.
9 DWARD P. CHENEY, a retired printer and prominent resident of Litchfield, was born on October 31, 1815, in the house which he now occupies. His father, Silas E. Cheney, a native of Manchester,
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Conn., was one of a family of five children. He learned the trade of a cabinet-maker, and settled in Litchfield, where he followed that occupation, being for many years the only mechanic in that line of work in the county. In 1798 he bought the homestead where his son, Edward P. Cheney, now resides, and was here domiciled for the remainder of his life. He conducted a successful business, becoming well and favorably known both as a reliable business man and a useful citizen; and he always displayed a deep interest in the general welfare of the community. When business affairs called him to New York, as was often the case, he was in the habit of going to New Haven by team, and from there to the metrop- olis by sailing sloop. Contracting a severe cold upon one of these trips, he died of typhus fever, September 6, 1820, aged forty-four years. His wife, Polly Youngs, was the only daughter of Thomas Youngs.
Hler father, who was a native of Sterling, Scotland, came to America when a young man, and served as a soldier on the British side dur- ing the Revolutionary War. While on a for- aging expedition in Bethlehem, Conn., he was taken prisoner by Captain Strong, who caught him stealing potatoes in his garden. eventually married Captain Strong's daughter. His wife, dying after the birth of one child. Mr. Youngs went to Waterbury, New Haven County, and married Hepsibah Porter, by whom he had one daughter, Polly, above named. When she was six years old, he started for Scotland, word having come to him that his father was dead ; and his family here never heard from him after. Mr. and Mrs. Silas E. Cheney reared four children, as tol- lows: Charlotte M., who lived to reach the advanced age of seventy four ; Mary, who he came the wife of Horace Greeley, the famous editor and proprietor of the New York Tab-
une; Edward P., the subject of this sketch ; and Silas E., Jr., a broker of Litchfield, who died July 9, 1894. The mother's life was one of those examples of longevity which occasion- ally, though not often, occur. She lived to reach the remarkably advanced age of one hun- dred years. Mr. Cheney's parents were Pres- byterians in their religious faith, and were members of Dr. Lyman Beecher's church.
Edward P. Cheney attended the district school of his native town, where he pursued the elementary branches; and he continued his studies at a private school in Litchfield and in Orange County. New York. After completing his education, he began to learn the printer's trade in Litchfield, where he worked for some time, going thence to New York City, where he was employed as a jour- neyman in different offices for about twelve years. He was then employed for a while by his brother-in-law, and later went South, and followed his trade in various cities, including Milledgeville, Ga., New Orleans, La., Natchez. Miss .. Columbus, Miss., Macon, Ga., where he held the position of foreman for two years, and Mobile, Ala., whence he returned to Litch- field. After a short sojourn at home he went to New York City, and seemed a position as clerk in a dry goods store at the corner of Broadway and Grand Street. He later en- Kaged in various business enterprises, among which was the New England agency for patent medicines, He nest entered the office of the register of deeds in Freehold, N.J. as It corder, in which capacity he remained for one year ; and then, purchasing a patent surgical appliance, he travelled through the United States for the purpose of introducing it to public notice. In the years immediately tol lowing he was variously engaged, first as man- ger of Horace Greeley's tum in Climes. N. Y., then as agent for Horace Circeley's
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work entitled "The American Conflict," and subsequently in running a stationary engine in New Haven and in farming upon a piece of property which he owned in Madison, Conn. He finally settled at the old family homestead in Litchfield, and has since resided here. He is a Republican in politics, and served as Con- stable in Litchfield for several years. He was formerly a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and was also connected with the "Know Nothings" and the Lone Star.
In 1862 Mr. Cheney married Jennie Black- man, of Woodbury, daughter of Charles and Lorinda (Jaynes) Blackman, the former of whom was a shoemaker by trade and a lifelong resident of that town. Mrs. Cheney's paternal grandfather was Beecher Blackman, a native of Newtown, Conn., who settled in Woodbury. He lived to the age of eighty years; and his wife, Mary Cogshaw, lived to the age of eighty-one. She was a daughter of Daniel Cogshaw, of Litchfield, who was of English descent, was an early settler in Litchfield, and became a prominent farmer and an extensive real estate holder. Charles Blackman's wife, Lorinda Jaynes, who was born in Wallingford, Conn., and died at the home of Mr. Cheney, aged eighty-one years, was the mother of eight children, six of whom are still living, namely : Mary, wife of Jacob Tanner ; George Beecher ; Jennie, now Mrs. Cheney; Charles; Bella, who married John Blake; Flora, now Mrs. Horton ; Lucy, now Mrs. Kelsey ; and Hattie, Mrs. Clarke. Mr. and Mrs. Cheney have one daughter, Inez E. J. Cheney. The family attend the Episcopal church.
Mr. Cheney has had a long and varied busi- ness career, during which he has filled many responsible positions. He has been energetic and industrious; and, aside from his private occupation, he has rendered valuable services
in a public capacity. He was engaged in tak- ing the United States Census of 1850, and was appointed to convey the electoral vote of the State of Connecticut to Washington, D.C., after the re-election of Abraham Lincoln. He is now enjoying a well-earned rest, spending a part of his time at the Cheney homestead in Litchfield and the remainder at his resi- dence in Asbury Park. The Cheney family is an old and highly respected one, and the late Mrs. Horace Greeley was widely known and loved for her many estimable traits of character.
LUMB BROWN, an extensive farmer of Norfolk and an ex-member of the Connecticut House of Representa- tives, was born in this town on October 1I, 1822. His father, Edmund Brown, was born in Manchester, Hartford County, Conn., and was a son of Benjamin Brown. Edmund Brown came to Norfolk when twelve years of age, and resided with his uncle Edmund, whose farm of seventy-five acres he inherited. He became a prosperous farmer, and by pur- chasing more land increased his farm to four hundred acres. Energetic and enterprising, he erected a new residence, brought a great part of his farm to a good state of cultivation, and also built a saw-mill, which he operated in connection with farming. Edmund Brown died aged eighty-seven years. His wife, Mabel H. Norton, was a daughter of Ebenezer Norton, of Norfolk; and they became the par- ents of five children - Sarah, Ralph, Plumb, Abigail, and Harriet. The mother died at the age of fifty-four years.
Plumb Brown, who was the second son, was reared to agricultural pursuits, and, having grown to manhood, continued to reside at the homestead, assisting in carrying on the farm. After the death of his father the property
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PLUMB BROWN
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passed into his hands, and he has since con- ducted general farming with good results. Mr. Brown is a Republican in politics, and has always been active in public affairs. He was a member of the Board of Selectmen for several years, and has served as an Assessor and as a member of the Board of Relief. In 1857, and again in 1883, he represented the Norfolk District in the State legislature. On September 11, 1861, Mr. Brown was united in marriage to Olive Crissey, daughter of Benja- min Crissey, of Norfolk. Mrs. Brown died at the age of forty-nine, having been the mother of five children, namely : Edmund; Benjamin ; Sarah, now Mrs. Scoville; Plumb, Jr. ; and Mabel Eunice.
Edmund Brown is a civil engineer by pro- fession, and is at the present time engaged in constructing the water-works in Norfolk. also runs a lumber yard in the town, and is engaged in the coal trade. He married Mabel Shaw, and has one son, Edmund Brown, Jr. Benjamin is engaged in farming at the home- stead. Hle married Harriet Comstock, and has two children Crissey and Olive. Sarah, Mrs. Scoville, has one son, named Harold. Plumb Brown, Jr., married Rebecca Bassett, and is a practising physician in Springfield, Mass. Mrs. Brown belonged to the Congre- gational church, of which Mr. Brown is also a member.
A good likeness of this worthy and influen tial citizen will be seen on another page of the "REVIEW. "
RANK E. COM, manager and secretary of the Cor Furniture Company of Tor rington, Conn., was born in this town February 1, 1872. Ile is a grandson of Hemy Coe, who was a pioneer furniture man- nfacturer here about seventy five years ago.
Nelson W. Coe, son ot Henry and father of
Frank E., was born on the old Coe homestead. was brought up to the furniture trade, and became a well-known dealer and manufacturer. Hle designed and put upon the market the famous Coe table, which gained speedy popu- larity and met with a wide sale. For many years he kept the only furniture store in Tor- rington, and was one of the leading merchants of the town. He was a man of good business qualifications, and served acceptably as Select- man for three years. He died in Torrington at the age of fifty-one, and is survived by his wife, whose maiden name was Caroline Work- man, and who is one of the six children of Samuel Workman, four of whom are still liv- ing, the others being Ann, George, and John. Mrs. Nelson W. Coe is an Episcopalian in religion, as was her husband.
Their son, Frank E. Coe, acquired his pre- paratory education in the public and high schools of his native town, and at the age of eighteen went West, and for a year pursued more advanced studies in the Doone College at Grete, Neb. Ile then returned home, and took a permanent position with the Coc Furni. tire Company, for which he had previously worked at intervals after the age of sixteen. By attention to business and faithtul and intel ligent service, he rose quickly from a sub- ordinate position to that of manager and secretary. The firm has been very successful. Starting in a small way, they gradually in- creased their trade until its volume necessi tated new and more commodious quarters, and in 1894 they bank their present the store, which is three stories in height, seventy five feet front, and one hundred and ninety eight teet deep. This building was erected under the personal supervision of Mr. Coe, and is one of the finest of its kind in the State, being well lighted throughout by electricity and heated by steam. Its location in the central
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business part of the town on the main street is all that could be desired. They carry a full line of household and office furniture of the latest style and most original designs, both the store and stock being the largest and most complete in that line of business in the county. The prosperity of the firm is largely due to Mr. Coe's admirable business qualities, so conspicuously manifested since he entered the employ of the company.
On April 3, 1895, Mr. Coe was married to Miss Jennie Ford, of Thomaston. He and his wife are among the bright and intelligent young people of Torrington, and stand high in social circles.
BEL S. BEECHER, an extensive farmer and large land-owner of New Milford, Conn., son of Stephen G. and Ella E. (Whitmore) Beecher, occupies the homestead where he was born on July 26, 1861. Mr. Beecher is a descendant of Deacon Eleazar Beecher, who came from Milford, Conn., to New Milford in 1726, bought a tract of five hundred acres, and built a house which stood within sight of the present residence. He became a prosperous farmer, and was for many years a Deacon of the Congregational church. He died in 1797, aged ninety years.
His wife, Frances Oviatt, whom he married October 30, 1729, became the mother of six children; and of these Eleazar, Jr., was the second son. He was born September 17, 1732, inherited the homestead, and resided here during his entire life. He married Eliza Bristol, by whom he had a family of eight children. Among them were Eleazar and John, twins, born August 8, 1773, who re- sembled each other both in appearance and disposition, and, having grown to manhood, carried on business together. They married sisters, and were familiarly known about town
as the Twin Beechers. Eleazar Beecher, third, who was known as Elder Beecher, married Mary Barbour ; and his only child was Stephen, who was born September 8, 1796. Stephen Beecher inherited his father's estate, and suc- cessfully followed farming. He likewise en- gaged in the manufacturing of brick upon his own premises, and erected the present brick dwelling. He married Diantlia Barbour, whose birth occurred upon the same day and year as his own, and their children were: Mary Ann; and Stephen G., Mr. Beecher's father.
Stephen G. Beecher was born at the home- stead in New Milford, December 9, 1832. He pursued his studies at the Housatonic In- stitute and Suffield College, with the intention of fitting himself for the Baptist ministry ; but, failing health causing him to relinquish that design, he returned to the homestead, where he engaged in agricultural pursuits. He gave considerable attention to dairying, keeping an average of twenty choice cows, and likewise continued the manufacturing of brick, besides conducting a profitable business as a general insurance agent. He exhibited a great deal of energy in his various business vent- ures, but did not permit outside matters to prevent him from properly attending to the cultivation of his farm, in which he took a special pride, and which he greatly improved by completely remodelling the buildings. His death occurred July 2, 1894. His wife, Ellen E. Wetmore, was a daughter of A. S. Wetmore. The following is a brief mention of their four children : Henry W. married Liz- zie Loomis, who died leaving two children - George L. and Helen; Mary A. died young ; Abel S. is the subject of this sketch; Bertha L. married J. M. Bennett.
Abel S. Beecher acquired his education in the schools of his native town and at the
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Upton Seminary. When he became old enough to make himself useful, he helped his father in attending to both the farming and business operations; and at length he suc- ceeded to the possession of the homestead. His farm consists of one hundred and ninety acres of well-improved land, and is devoted to general husbandry and dairying, a herd of twenty-five choice cattle being kept. Mr. Beecher is active and progressive, and occupies prominent position among the leading farmers of New Milford.
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Mr. Beecher married Elbie A. Batchelder, daughter of Cyrus Batchelder, and has had two children, namely : Charles H., who died aged one year; and Clarence H., who was born November 29, 1892. Mr. Beecher is a mem- ber of the Royal Arcanum and the Knights of Honor, and politically is a Republican. Mr. and Mrs. Beecher attend the Congregational church.
RANCIS S. SKIFF, M.D., a practis- ing physician of Falls Village, Conn., was born in Sharon, in this county, October 5, 1866, and is the younger son of Giles and Lucy (Skiff) Skiff. Dr. Skiff's grandfather, Luther Skiff, was a native of New York State, but passed a greater portion of his life in Kent, where he was engaged in agri- culture. Ile died at the age of sixty-five years. Ilis family consisted of eleven chil- dren, as follows: Paul C., Elijah, Peter, Sam- uel, Edward, Giles, Margaret, Ann, Hannah, Helen, and Mary.
Giles Skiff, who was born in Kent, settled in Sharon, Conn., where he now owns and conducts a farm of three hundred acres, and is an intelligent, energetic, and prosperous citi- zen. His wife, Lucy Skiff, is the only daugh- ter of Gibbs and Abigail (St. John) Skiff. Gibbs Skiff died in November, 1894, at the
age of eighty-four. His wife died about ten years before, at the age of seventy three. Mr. and Mrs. Giles Skiff have two children, namely: Clarke E., a successful farmer; and Francis S., the subject of this sketch.
Francis S. Skiff received his early educa- tion in the schools of Sharon, after which he attended Amenia Seminary, at Amenia, N. Y., and the Wesleyan Academy at Wilbrahanı, Mass. He first began the study of medicine with the late Dr. Charles H. Shears, of Sharon, Conn .; and in 1885 he entered the New York University Medical College, from which he was graduated with the class of 1887, He served in the hospital in New York for a short time; and late in 1887 he located his office for practice in West Cornwall, Litchfield County, Conn. In 1889 he pursued a post- graduate course at the New York Polyclinic Institute; and, after spending six months in studying abroad, he established his residence in Falls Village, where he has since devoted himself assiduously to the duties of his profes- sion, answering calls from near and from far.
In 1891 Dr. Francis S. Skiff was united in marriage to Jennie Brewer, daughter of Lewis Brewer, of Ulster County, New York. Dr. Skiff is highly esteemed, both profession- ally and otherwise. He is the medical ex- aminer and health officer for the town in which he resides. He has held the office as one of the Board of Pension Examining Sur- geons appointed by Commissioner Lochren, of Washington, D.C. In this locality he is the medical examiner for the New York Life In- surance Company, the Mutual Life of New York, Berkshire Life of Pittsfield, and the Ilartford Life and Annuity of Hartford. As a citizen, Dr. Skiff is actively interested in all important political issues. Ile served as rep- resentative to the legislature from the Corn- wall District in 1891.
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ESSRS. FLYNN & DOYLE, the well-known and successful carriage manufacturers of Litchfield, are the founders of one of the most important in- dustries in that town. They came to Litchfield as young men ; and after working as journey- men for a time, during which they carefully saved their earnings, they united their capital in 1878, and purchased the business which they have since conducted. With the enter- prise that has since characterized their business career, the new firm immediately took the nec- essary steps to enlarge their facilities, with a view of developing the industry. It became distinctly apparent to them that there was still a field for the introduction of strictly first- class hand-made carriages. Acting upon this conviction, they commenced, as a specialty, the manufacture of that particular work which has since acquired for them a reputation extending far beyond the limits of the State.
Flynn & Doyle manufacture vehicles of every description, both for fashionable driving and for road use; and every carriage that leaves their factory is guaranteed. The material for their work is selected with care, none but the choicest being used; and, as both members of the firm are expert workmen, the best of work is assured. Their patterns, many of which are unique, are made from their own patented designs. They are extensive dealers in heavy farm wagons, which they buy from the best manufacturers of that class of work, and also conduct a harness-making and a horseshoeing department. The factory is located in the vil- lage of Bantam ; and the buildings, which have all been erected by the present firm, are of the following dimensions : office and trimming department, fifty by twenty feet, and two stories high; wood-working and painting de- partment, eighty by fifty feet, and three sto- ries high, with basement used as a blacksmith
shop; and the repository building is one hun- dred and thirty by eighty feet. The firm employ a permanent force of twenty - five workmen.
Charles F. Flynn was born in the town of Morris, Conn., and received his education in the common schools. He was reared to agri- culture, but in early manhood learned the trade of a carriage-maker in his native town. After perfecting himself in this trade, he came to Litchfield, and worked as a journeyman until 1878, when, in company with Mr. Doyle, he embarked in his present business, as already described. Mr. Flynn is superintendent of the mechanical department, and has a general oversight of every department, so that, when a carriage reaches the repository, he is sure of its completeness in every particular.
William H. Doyle was educated in the pub- lic schools of the town of Litchfield. His youth was also passed upon a farm; but, pre- ferring a different occupation, he acquired the carriage-maker's trade. After working as a journeyman in Litchfield, he formed a partner- ship with Mr. Flynn, as before stated. He attends to the business department of the con- cern, for which he is especially well adapted. He is a successful salesman.
The firm, which has added much to the in- dustrial importance of Bantam, fully merits the long period of business prosperity it has enjoyed.
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