USA > Connecticut > Litchfield County > Biographical review; this volume contains biographical sketches of the leading citizens of Litchfield County, Connecticut > Part 58
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ILLIAM BRYANT, of Harwinton, who before the extension of rail- roads in Connecticut was a popular stage-coach driver, and is now engaged in farming and dairying, was born in Trenton, Oneida County, N.Y., August 29, 1821, shortly after the death of his father. His par- ents were both natives of New York State, where their lives were spent, his father being
CARSTEN D. JANSSEN.
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a farmer. He and his wife, Amy Hicks, had but two children: Amy, who died in New York State; and William, the subject of this sketch.
William Bryant attended the common schools of his native town, receiving a fair ed- ucation. In 1836 he went to work for monthly wages on a farm in New Britain, Conn. He was engaged in farming and driving team for four years, then worked for a short time at the Retreat for the Insane at Hartford, and finally obtained employment as a stage-driver, his route for three years being the Albany turn- pike from Hartford. He subsequently drove the stage-coach between Wolcottville, now Torrington, which was then a small village, and Hartford, a distance of twenty-six miles. Mr. Bryant was driver for twenty years on this route, and his regular appearance was looked for as an important event in the life of the lo- cality. He made the journey three times a week, another stage-driver alternating with him. After the extension of the railroads he carried the mail from Torrington to Harwin- ton, and later to Burlington, Unionville, and Plainville, to meet the trains for Hartford - a twenty-mile trip, the journey being made thrice each week. The mail route, which he owned, he sold in 1867, purchasing the farm where he now makes his home. This is a fine property of fifty acres, and is devoted by Mr. Bryant to general farming and dairying, yield- ing a comfortable income.
In January, 1854, Mr. Bryant was united in marriage with Ann Seymour, daughter of H. Seymour, a carpenter and joiner of Hartford. They have one child living, Amy B., who married L. A. Burt, of New Britain, and has one son.
In politics Mr. Bryant is a Republican. He is not an office-seeker, but has filled ac- ceptably the position of Postmaster three years
and Selectman two years. He attends the Congregational church of Harwinton, of which his wife is a member. A resident of Harwin- ton for nearly thirty years, Mr. Bryant has won a host of friends by his fine social quali- ties, and is esteemed by all for his sterling character.
ARSTEN D. JANSSEN, architect and builder, also dealer in lumber and building materials, with a yard and mill located at Torrington, is an impor- tant factor in the manufacturing and building interests of Litchfield County. He is of honored German ancestry, and was born, De- cember 31, 1849, in Lche, near the seaport of Bremerhafen. That town was also the birth-place of his father, Carsten Bernhardt Janssen. His paternal grandfather was Deid- rich Janssen, the son of a large land-holder in Waldenburg. Deidrich grew to manhood in that town, but after his marriage removed to Lche, where he bought a large flour mill, and for many years was engaged in milling.
Carsten Bernhardt Janssen was one of four children born to his parents, with whom he resided until attaining man's estate. He was educated in architecture at Breslau, and later was a superintendent of buildings at Copen- hagen and in different cities in Germany. . \t the age of thirty years he returned to the pa- rental roof, and after his marriage established himself in business as an architect, contrac- tor, and builder. He was shortly elected Mayor of the city, a position which he heldl until his death, seven years later, faithfully performing his duties to the corporation, be- sides attending to his large private interests. His early death was hastened by undue ev- posure and overwork at the time of a great fire at Siwern, a small village about fifteen miles from Lche. He exerted himself in transport -
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ing hose, men, and engines to assist in extin- guishing the flames, and afterward furnished lumber to erect temporary homes for the dis- tressed people, working heroically and un- ceasingly for three days. The physical and mental strain proved too much for him, bring- ing on a severe illness, which caused his death four years later, his life being sacrificed for humanity's sake.
His wife, whose maiden name was Metah Timmerman, was born in Lehe, being the daughter of a large land-owner and the de- scendant of an old and well-known family. While yet young, she was suddenly left a widow, with four little ones to care for, Carsten D., then nine years of age, being the eldest. The others were Bernhardt, Andrew, an employee in the brass foundry at Torring- ton, and Lewis, who died at Bakersville from an accident received while visiting a friend. He was an exceptionally fine young man, measuring six feet in height, and was but twenty years of age when summoned to the life beyond. The mother devoted herself to edu- cating and rearing her children, spending her days on the old homestead in Germany, where she departed this life at the age of forty-nine years. Both she and her husband were con- scientious members of the German Lutheran Church. The father stood very high in the order of Free Masons, and was buried with Masonic honors - an especial mark of distinc- tion at that time in that country.
Carsten D. Janssen received his preliminary education in the schools of his native town, afterward studying architecture at Nuremberg and Hanover in private and polytechnic schools. He subsequently served in the French and German war, acting as Second Corporal for one year, and shortly after emi- grated to America, locating in New York City. For a year he worked as a carpenter in
Brooklyn, being engaged as a builder in the summer and as a draughtsman in the winter season. The following year Mr. Janssen travelled throughout the United States, study- ing the various styles of architecture and the customs and business methods of the people. Returning to New York, Mr. Janssen built a fine floating bath-house for the East River Bathing Company, working for that and other firms some six years. Then, being ambitious to enlarge the horizon of his architectural knowledge, he returned to Germany, and pur- sued his favorite study in Hanover for a year. He next located in Torrington, intending to establish a manufactory in Burrville, where he bought property and erected some build- ings. Obliged to abandon that project, Mr. Janssen settled in this village, accepting a position with E. C. Hotchkiss, of whom a biographical sketch may be found on another page of this work, and engaged in carpenter- ing under him, remaining with him several years, and becoming foreman of his carpenter work. Mr. Janssen's superior skill becoming well known, he had several flattering offers from architects and contractors, but finally de- cided to start in business on his own account. In 1890, forming a partnership with a Mr. Beckley, of Thomaston, he established his present stand. At the end of their first year's work the partners found themselves several thousands of dollars in debt. Noth- ing daunted, however, they continued their labors, and through sheer persistency and judicious management met with success during the next year. The partnership having been dissolved in 1892, Mr. Janssen has since con- ducted the business alone, and is now rated as one of the most prosperous and substantial business men of the place. Many of the finest buildings of the locality have been erected under his supervision, and are standing monu-
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ments to his skill and taste, among them being the handsome church of the German Lutherans, of which he was also the designer. He has a finely equipped mill, and manufact- ures most of his own building material, in this industry likewise conducting an extensive business.
In 1879 Mr. Janssen was married to Doro- thy Ellerhorst, a native of Lehe and the de- scendant of a prominent family. Her father was a large cattle dealer, and in his earlier years shipped cattle to the London markets. Afterward forming partnership with a friend, he shipped produce and beef to the same city. He is now living retired from active business, making his home with a daughter. Mr. and Mrs. Janssen have a fine family of boys, four in number: Bernhardt, Deidrich, August, and Edward. Both he and his good wife are es- teemed members of the Congregational church. Politically, Mr. Janssen is a sound Republi- can. Socially, he belongs to the Knights of Honor and to the Sons of Hermon.
A fine portrait of Mr. Janssen, taken at the age of thirty years, is placed opposite the be- ginning of the above sketch of his successful career.
EORGE B. ACKLEY, a prominent farmer of New Milford and second Selectman of the town, was born there, August 12, 1836, son of Leman and Rinda (Benedict ) Hubbell Ackley. Mr. Ack- ley's grandparents were Hezekiah and Jemima (Whittlesey) Ackley, residents of Washing- ton, the former of whom was a prosperous farmer of that town. His children were: Abbie, Sally, Eliza, Mary, Dolly, Chester, Leman, Fanny, John, and three others who died young.
Leman Ackley, Mr. Ackley's father, was born in Washington, and at an early age en-
tered mercantile pursuits. He was in busi- ness with Deacon Patterson, and for a time was engaged in peddling clocks. Later he purchased a farm of two hundred and thirty acres, situated in Kent Hollow, in New Mil- ford, which he cultivated with success. He erected new buildings, and otherwise im- proved his property, and resided there for the remainder of his life. They were the parents of the following children: Mary E., wife of Edwin Beeman, who is now dead; John C., who died February 16, 1888, aged fifty-eight years ; and George B., our subject.
George B. Ackley commenced his education in the district schools of his native town, and continued his studies at the Cooperstown (N.Y.) Institute. After leaving school he turned his attention to mercantile pursuits, and for two years was a clerk in a store in Farmington, Conn., after which he finished his education. He then went to Omaha, Neb., where he secured a position as clerk, and resided there for two years. His next move was still further West to Colorado. In 1860 he bought teams, which he loaded with merchandise, and once more started West, with Pike's Peak as his point of destination. He stopped near Julesburg, Col., and estab- lished a trading post, where a post-office was soon located: and he was appointed the first Postmaster in that locality. He conducted a good business until 1863, when he went to Virginia City, and later to Montana, where he followed mining for a time. Later he engaged in raising sheep there, owning as many as three thousand five hundred at one time. In 1871 he returned to his native State, and two years later settled upon the old Sperry farm of one hundred and sixty acres, where he now resides. He has greatly improved the prop- erty, and has since conducted it with gratify- ing results, being at the present time one of
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the leading farmers in his locality. He is a Republican in politics, and is now serving as second Selectman, a position which he fills with marked ability, his long and varied business experience making him of special value to the town as a public official.
On March 18, 1873, Mr. Ackley was united in marriage to Caroline Averill Sperry, daugh- ter of Deacon Horatio G. and Eliza (Tomlin- son) Sperry, and has one son: John D., born November 24, 1879, who is attending the Hopkins Grammar School at New Haven, Conn .; Mr. and Mrs. Ackley are members of the Congregational church.
Deacon Horatio G. Sperry was born in New Milford, September 6, 1806, son of Wilmot and Dolly (Averill) Sperry. His great-grand- parents were Gilead and Mercy (Boardman) Sperry, the former of whom emigrated from Wales, first settling in New Haven, Conn., in 1748. In 1750 he moved to New Milford, where he continued to follow the carpenter's trade as an occupation during the remainder of his life. His children were: Jared, Es- ther, Penelope, Mercy, and Mabel. Jared, Deacon Sperry's grandfather, was born in New Milford, December 25, 1750; and, when a young man, he settled in the upper Merryall District, where he became a prosperous farmer, and resided until his death. He mar- ried for his first wife Mrs. Amy Wheaton, who died, leaving one son, named Wilmot. His second wife was Esther (Camp) Sperry. Wilmot Sperry was born in New Milford, and was educated for the ministry in the Episcopal fold. He preferred the Congregationalist doc- trine, however, and settled at the old home- stead, where he became a successful farmer. He also entered mercantile pursuits, and in partnership with Elijah Bennett conducted a store in the Merryall District for some years. His first wife, Dolly Averill, was a daughter
of Colonel Perry Averill, of Washington, Conn .; and she died, leaving four children, as follows: Horatio G .; Amy, who married John Angevine; Flora, who married Harvey P. Terrell; and Dolly M., who married Har- vey Whittlesey. Wilmot Sperry married for his second wife Anna, daughter of Captain Joseph Whittlesey; and his children by this union were: Jared, Orlo, Walter D., George, and Harriet.
Deacon Horatio G. Sperry received a good education, and in early manhood he was en- gaged as a teacher in Connecticut and New Jersey. He later entered into mercantile pursuits in Marble Dale, where he carried on a prosperous trade, and also conducted the old home farm, upon which he resided until lately. He is a well-known and highly re- spected citizen and a deservedly prominent man in the community. In politics he is a Republican. He is a Deacon of the Congre- gational church of New Preston Hill. He still survives at the advanced age of eighty- nine. His wife, Eliza Tomlinson, died April 16, 1884. They reared six children as follows: Anna H., wife of John C. Ackley; Caroline, who is now Mrs. George B. Ack- ley; Jared B .; Charles T .; Eliza T., wife of Irwin J. Beardsley; and Horatio G., of Colo- rado. Mr. and Mrs. George B. Ackley now occupy the Sperry homestead, which has been in the possession of her family for so many years.
EORGE A. ADAM, an intelligent and progressive young farmer of East Canaan, Litchfield County, Conn., son of the late Dr. George Adam, whose por- trait is here given, was born in this town, on July 11, 1872. His paternal grandfather, Samuel Forbes Adam, was a grandson of Sam- uel Forbes.
GEORGE ADAM.
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George Adam, son of Samuel F. Adam, hav- ing acquired his elementary education in the schools of his native town, made further ad- vancement in learning in Lenox and West- field, Mass., and subsequently pursued his medical studies in New York City. After practising for some time in the hospitals of the metropolis, he settled in Canaan, where he became known as a skilful physician, and conducted an extensive practice for many years. Dr. George Adam died in Canaan at the age of eighty-one years. He was twice married. His first wife, whose maiden name was Rosanna Mills, died young, leaving three children, as follows: Joseph S .; Samuel F .; and Mary E., who is now the wife of the Rev. Mason Noble. Dr. Adam's second wife, Mary (Geikie) Adam, who still survives, is a native of Scotland, a daughter of the Rev. Archibald Geikic. She accompanied her father with the rest of the family to Canada, later coming to the United States. Her three children are: George A., the subject of this sketch; Catharine Isabella; and John G. Adam. Mrs. Adam now resides on the old home farm known as the " Squire Forbes place," the house having been built by Squire Forbes about one hundred and seventy years ago.
At the age of eleven years George A. Adam became a pupil at the Sedgwick Institute in Great Barrington, Mass., where he completed a seven years' course. Since leaving school he has resided at the homestead and managed the farm. The property is well improved, and Mr. Adam conducts general farming with good results. He is a Republican in politics. On June 7, 1893, Mr. Adam was united in marriage to Lena B. Hatch, daughter of Ed- ward Hatch, of Gaylordsville, Conn., and has one son, named Kenneth A. Mr. and Mrs. Adam are members of the Pilgrim Congrega- tional Church at Canaan.
HARLES COOK, an enterprising and prosperous dairyman of Morris, Conn., was born June 26, 1817, in Dover, N. Y., the native place of his parents, Joshua and Lowinda (Cummins) Cook. His grand- father, Horace Cook, who was a shoemaker by trade, served in the Revolutionary army, bravely meeting the dangers and enduring the privations which were the lot of the ill- equipped soldiers of the Continental army. His son Joshua also learned the trade of shoe- making, and worked at it for some time, but later devoted himself wholly to agricultural labors. He died at the age of seventy-two years of age, and his wife at seventy. They reared the following children: George, who married Louisa Hubbell, and has one child, Willis; Charles, whose name heads this ar- ticle; and Jane, wife of Royal Treat, of New Milford, who has one child, Elizabeth.
Charles Cook was reared and educated in Dover, N. Y., acquiring in boyhood a practical knowledge of the science of agriculture. He was thrown on his own resources, and obliged to go to work when quite young, and, being thrifty and industrious, gradually saved enough to make a good start in the world, prospering increasingly as he grew older. He settled in Morris in 1854, and for over forty years has been an esteemed member of the farming com- munity of this town. He makes a specialty of dairy products. Mr. Cook is a self-made man, his prosperity being due to his own efforts; and he is highly respected by his townsmen.
Mr. Cook married his first wife, Sylvin Bostwick, daughter of David W. Bostwick, of Sharon, Conn., in 1841. She died at the age of thirty-three, leaving four children, namely : Mary, who died in her eighteenth year; Sarah J., who married Milo L. Judd, and has two children - Florence M. and Edna C. ; Charles
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W. and Sylvia, twins. Charles Cook married Nancy Judd, and has six children: Robert, Jessie I., Justice M., Mary B., Hobart J., and Lester H. Sylvia died at the age of ten years. Mr. Cook was again married August 14, 1855, his second wife being Anna M. Woodruff, daughter of Solomon and Lavina (Ensign) Woodruff, of Morris. Mr. Woodruff died in his fifty-seventh year, but his wife attained the advanced age of eighty. They were the parents of three children: Jacob, who married Penila Wilson, and reared two chil- dren -- Ensign W. and Mrs. Abigail Kenney, the latter the mother of two children, Mrs. Jane T. Abbott and Edward, who married Ella Baird; Anna M .; and Edward, who married Hannah Kilbourn, and has one daughter, Lucy M.
In politics Mr. Cook is a Democrat. He is a prominent member of Morris Grange, No. 119. In religious belief he and his wife are Methodist and Congregationalist, respec- tively.
YMAN B. MUNSON, superintendent of the iron foundry department of the Turner & Seymour Manufacturing Company of Torrington, Conn., was born in Plymouth. His parents were Horace and Betsey (Benham) Munson. His paternal grandfather, David Munson, who was a native of Massachusetts, was a carpenter, and worked at that trade in various places in the Bay State when a young man, but spent the latter part of his life in Plymouth, engaged in farming. He lived to be over fourscore.
Horace Munson learned his father's trade, and established a reputation as a carpenter and builder in the vicinity of Plymouth and Bristol, where the greater part of his life was spent. He died at the age of seventy-four. His wife, Betsey Benham, who was born in
Burlington, Conn., became the mother of sev- eral children, namely: Ralph, deceased; Mary Ann; Lydia; Eugene; Alphea, who married Cyrus T. Gaylord; Adella, Mrs. Hall; Sarah, who married Edward Ham; and Lyman B., of Torrington. Mrs. Munson died in Bristol, at the age of forty-five. She and her husband were members of the Episcopal church.
Lyman B. Munson acquired a fair education in the common schools of his native town. As a first attempt at earning a livelihood, he hired himself out for monthly wages on a farm in the vicinity, and subsequently worked with his father for a while at carpentry. About 1863 he engaged in the moulding business, entering the employ of A. Terry, of Plym- outh ; and four years later he obtained a posi- tion as moulder for the Turner & Seymour Company, in whose employ he has remained" up to the present time, gradually working his way to the superintendency. This position he has held for a quarter of a century, and during that time has been identified with the prosper- ous growth of the manufactory, which from a small establishment has come to be one of the largest of the kind in the world. Mr. Munson now has seventy-five men under his charge, and has the general oversight of the whole iron-moulding department. He is a man of intelligence and good judgment, fully qualified to fill the position which he has held so long.
Mr. Munson was married in 1864 to Sarah Pratt, of Harwinton, daughter of Samuel and Betsey (Perkins) Pratt. Her father, who was a farmer, died at the age of seventy, her mother having previously passed from earth at the age of fifty-three. They reared nine chil- dren. Mr. and Mrs. Munson have but one child, a son named William, who is a moulder in the employ of the Turner & Seymour Com- pany. The family attend the Episcopal church. Politically, Mr. Munson favors the
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FREDERICK J. PARTREE.
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Democratic party. He has been a member of the Masonic fraternity twenty years, and now belongs to Seneca Lodge, of Torrington.
REDERICK . J. PARTREE, an influ- ential citizen of Watertown, whose well-cultivated farm is situated on the Middlebury road, was born in Watertown, March 29, 1827. His home is near the farm on which his paternal grandfather, John Par- tree, Sr., a native of Nova Scotia, who had resided in Milford, Conn., for a time, settled about 1790. Grandfather Partree there de- voted himself to agriculture for the rest of his life. He died in 1825, aged seventy-five years. His wife, Abigail Platt, of Milford, also lived to reach the age of seventy-five. They reared a family of six children.
John Partree, son of John and Abigail (Platt) Partree, was born in Milford. In his boyhood he acquired his education in the district schools, and at home early made him- self useful on the farm. At the age of twenty-one he purchased the farm that is now owned and occupied by his son William W .; and he carried it on with marked success, being an industrious and capable farmer. He resided there for forty-five years, and died at the age of sixty-six. His wife, Manarcy Welton, who was a daughter of Johnson F. Welton, a prosperous farmer of Watertown, became the mother of seven children, four of whom are still living, namely : Robert; Fred- erick J .; Sarah E .; and William W., who occupies the old homestead. Mrs. Manarcy WV. Partree lived to reach the age of seventy- eight years. Both she and her husband were members of the Congregational church.
Frederick J. Partree acquired his element- ary education in the district school, and sup- plemented it by a course at the academy, after
which he taught school for six years in Water- town and in an adjoining village. He then worked at farming by the month for a time, later hiring a farm and engaging in agricult- ural labors on his own account until 1855, when he moved to his present farm, which originally consisted of one hundred and fifteen acres. He made various improvements upon the land and buildings, and erected his fine brick residence, the material for which was the product of home industry. Some time since he sold fifty acres of his land, the re- maining portion being all he could work; and he has here conducted general farming with an energy and ability resulting in the most gratifying success. In politics he has always voted with the Republican party, and has long been identified with local public affairs, hav- ing rendered valuable services as a member of the Board of Selectmen at different times, as an Assessor, and a member of the Board of Relief. His broad and clear conception of the needs and general interests of the commu- nity and the practical sagacity he has dis- played in furthering measures calculated to promote the general welfare have been heartily appreciated.
In 1857 Mr. Partree was united in mar- riage with Elizabeth Scovill, a daughter of Seabury Scovill, a former resident of Water- town, who moved to Central New York, where he became a pioneer and a prosperous farmer. Mr. and Mrs. Partree were the parents of three children, namely: Cora E., who died in 1891, aged thirty-one years; Ella Maria; and Bertha Scovill, who married Arthur D. Noble, a travelling salesman for the Waterbury Man- ufacturing Company. Mrs. Partree died in 1883, aged fifty-four years.
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