USA > Connecticut > Litchfield County > Biographical review; this volume contains biographical sketches of the leading citizens of Litchfield County, Connecticut > Part 59
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Mr. Partree and family are members of the Congregational church, in which he has served upon the church committee, been superin .
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tendent of the Sunday-school, but declined to hold the office of Deacon. His daughter is a teacher in the Sunday-school. Mr. Partree is regarded by his fellow-townsmen as a man of rare intelligence and high moral principles. He has been frequently called upon to act as an appraiser and to settle estates, and his good judgment and strict impartiality in such cases have always resulted in securing satis- factory adjustments.
ANIEL L. PEIRCE, of Canaan, Litchfield County, Conn., was born in that town January 1, 1824, son of William and Polly (Loveland) Peirce. Mr. Peirce's great-grandfather, Amos Peirce, set- tled in Canaan in 1744, and died in 1791, at the age of ninety-two years. He was the father of twelve children, as follows: Keziah, born February 4, 1727; Thomas, July 2, 1729; Ichabod, March 12, 1731 ; Mary, July 24, 1733; Lucy, September 12, 1735; Ruth, July 25, 1737; Silas, October 9, 1739; Amos, September 6, 1742; Elizabeth, September 6, 1744; Esther, January 16, 1747; Edward, January 24, 1749; and Phinehas, January 24, 1 751.
Amos Peirce, Jr., the grandfather of Daniel L., was a lifelong resident of Canaan, where he died on February 13, 1807. He married Miss Lois Fellows, and their union was blessed by the birth of ten children, whose record is as follows: Mary, born April 14, 1773, died February 12, 1793; Ichabod and Edward (twins), born November 12, 1775, the former of whom died in September, 1848, and the latter on February 24, 1802; Anna, born October, 1778, died April 12, 1828; Steven, born June 15, 1780, died in boyhood ; Samuel, born March 27, 1783, died May 3, 1860; Betsy, born April 8, 1785, died August 23,
1836; William, born February 25, 1787, died October 19, 1864; Laura, born August 3, 1789, died March 30, 1826; and Candace, born on October 14, 1792.
William Peirce, father of our special sub- ject, was born in Canaan, February 25, 1787. He was trained to agriculture, becoming a prosperous farmer, and died October 19, 1864, at the age of seventy-seven years. His wife, Polly Loveland, born October 2, 1792, was a daughter of Daniel Loveland, of Sandisfield, Mass. She became the mother of five children, namely : Amos, born November 12, 1814, was married on May 13, 1841, to Miss Miriam Butler, who bore him two chil- dren; he died February 13, 1883. William G., born November 27, 1816, was married May 1, 1843, to Miss Jane Adam; his death occurred on September 30, 1887. Mary, born December 24, 1818, became the wife of John R. Elton on January 20, 1840; she died October 16, 1888. Laura, born April 29, 1821, died December 16, 1855. The young- est child was Daniel L., whose name appears as the caption of this sketch. Mrs. William Peirce died November 23, 1855.
Daniel L. Peirce was trained to farming, which he followed as an occupation until 1869, when he moved to Canaan village, and en- gaged in lime burning. In 1871 he built his first kiln, and has since followed the business with success, having an extensive trade and shipping his product to various parts of the country. At the present time he is the senior partner of the firm of Peirce & Freeman. Among the heirlooms in his possession is a deed given by Thomas Peirce to Amos Peirce, his brother, the great-grandfather of Daniel L. Peirce. This document bears date of 1724, having been given "in the tenth year of his Majesty's reign." Mr. Peirce is independent in politics. In 1881 he represented his dis-
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trict in the legislature, and was again called to serve in the same capacity in 1890. He is a member of Housatonic Lodge, No. 61, A. F. & A. M.
On June 5, 1850, Mr. Peirce was united in marriage to Ann Eliza Rood, daughter of Dor- rance Rood, of Avon, Conn., and has had seven children, namely: Ellen, who on March 3, 1880, was married to Clarence E. Vroman, a lime dealer of Brookfield, Conn. ; Mary Elton (deceased) ; Minnie E. ; Mary E. ; Alice L .; Burton A., who married on June 22, 1892, Miss Mabel Spaulding, and has one child, Ruth I .. ; and Robert D., who on August 31, 1893, married Miss Emily D. Newton, and has one child, Doane L. Mr. and Mrs. Peirce are members of the Congregational church.
LARENCE M. ELY, an extensive lumber contractor of Harwinton, was born in this town on June 18, 1855, son of Albro and Philomena (Thompson) Ely. His paternal grandfather, Eli Ely, was 'a son of Jacob Ely, who was an carly settler in Har- winton. Eli Ely moved from Harwinton to Bristol in 1845, and was there engaged in farming until his death. He reared a family of seven children.
Albro Ely, Mr. Ely's father, was born in Plymouth, and came to Harwinton when he was two years of age. In early manhood he engaged in selling dry goods through the cast - ern part of Connecticut, and, after following that business for nineteen years, settled upon the farm where his son Clarence M. now re- sides, which was formerly the property of his father. He became a successful farmer and a prominent man in public affairs, and was a Representative to the legislature in 1871. Albro Ely died in 1887, aged seventy-nine. He was a member of the Congregational
church. His wife, Philomena Thompson Ely, who is still living, was born in Dansfield, Tolland County, Conn., daughter of James Thompson, a farmer of that town. She be- came the mother of five children, as follows: Ione, wife of Henry Coe; Walter A., who is in the wholesale charcoal business in To- ronto, Canada; Eli T. and Clarence M., who are in business together in Harwinton; and Jessie H. Mrs. Albro Ely is a member of the Baptist church in Willimantic.
Clarence M. Ely acquired his elementary education in the schools of his native town, and supplemented it by a course of study at the Connecticut Normal School in New Bri- tain. After teaching school in Willimantic for three years, he returned to Harwinton, where for the next three years he was engaged in assisting his father on the farm. He then went to Danielsonville, Conn., where he was employed in his uncle's store for two years. since which time he has been engaged with his brother, Eli F., in taking large contracts for furnishing lumber and telegraph poles. They do an extensive business in this line, and among their various enterprises is the fur- nishing of over six hundred miles of tele- graph poles between Boston and Baltimore.
Mr. Ely resides at the homestead of his father in Harwinton, and still conducts the farm with good results. Ile is a Republican in politics, and was a member of the Board of Selectmen for two years. He served upon the School Committee and upon the Board of Visitors for six years, and represented the town in the legislature in isot. He is a member of the First Baptist Church in Willi mantic.
Mr. Ely is a stirring and energetic business man, progressive in his ideas, and much es- teemed as a highly intelligent and useful citizen.
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YRUS W. MARSH, a respected resi - dent of Cornwall, son of Dr. William and Emeline Bradford, was born in Goshen, Litchfield County, Conn., June 13, 1824. His paternal grandfather was Nathan- iel Marsh, a native of Harrington, Conn., and a farmer by occupation. He resided all his life in his native town, and came to an un- timely and lamentable end by being frozen to death during a severe spell of cold weather. He and his wife, whose maiden name was De- light Wilson, were the parents of four chil- dren - Eunice, Mary, Cyrus, and William.
William Marsh was born in Harrington, and received a good education, studying medi- cine at the Hartford Medical College. He successfully practised his profession in North Goshen, and was regarded as one of the most skilful physicians of his time in this vicinity. Dr. Marsh died at the age of forty-five years. His wife, Emeline Bradford, who was a daugh- ter of James Bradford, of Cornwall, surviving him, died at the age of fifty-two. They reared the following children: Julia E., Cyrus W., Alvin I., Mary E., and William L.
Cyrus W. Marsh, after acquiring a plain but practical education, began at the age of sixteen years to learn the carpenter's trade, which he has followed throughout his life with a fair measure of worldly success. He has gained a good reputation as a capable and trustworthy workman, and is besides highly respected as a man of sound moral character, who performs his full duty as a citizen. In 1850 he was mar- ried to Elizabeth F. Polley, daughter of Cush- man Polley, of Canaan, Columbia County, N. Y.
The following is a brief record of the chil- dren of Mr. and Mrs. Cyrus W. Marsh. Emily F. died at the age of thirty-seven. William E. married Mary J. Millard, of Ca- naan, Conn. Their children are : Charles W.,
Cyrus E., William B., and John M. Mary J. married William L. Millard, of Canaan, Conn. Their children are: William R. and Elizabeth May. Charles C. married Inez Studley, of Cornwall, Conn. Their children are: Marion L. and Emily E. Hattie J. married John C. Curtis, of Denver, Col. Elizabeth C. died in infancy. Mr. Marsh is a member of the Con- gregational church, and takes a great interest in temperance reform, being a strong Pro- hibitionist.
EWIS A. CANFIELD, who died in 1893 at his home in Washington, Litchfield County, Conn., was a native and a lifelong resident of this town. He was born in 1809, son of Leman and Ruth (Platt) Canfield. His father was a carpenter and joiner by trade. He died at the age of seventy-three years, and his wife when in her seventy-seventh year. They were the parents of four children; namely, Aurelia, Lewis, Daniel, and Julia. Aurelia became the wife of John N. Gunn; and Daniel married Irene Lemmon, and has one child, Florence, now Mrs. Kinney.
Lewis A. Canfield acquired his father's trade, which he followed until reaching the Scriptural limit of threescore years and ten. The last fourteen years of his life were spent in retirement. He was a man greatly re- spected by reason of his many admirable per- sonal qualities, maintaining an unblemished character for integrity, and possessing a con- siderable fund of self-acquired knowledge. He was always keenly solicitous for the wel- fare and advancement of his town, and kept himself well informed upon public events. His death was much regretted by a wide circle of friends and acquaintances. Mr. Canfield married Amaryllis Gunn, daughter of Sheriff Gunn and his wife Polly Ford. Mr. and Mrs.
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LEVI PHELPS.
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Gunn were the parents of eight children, as follows: John N., who married Lora Smith ; Louisa, Mrs. Andrews; Susan, Mrs. Fenn; Abigail, Mrs. Logan; Lewis, who married Charlotte Barber; Sarah, Mrs. Pike; Ama- ryllis, who became the wife of the subject of this sketch; and Frederick, who married Abi- gail Brinsmade.
Mr. and Mrs. Lewis A. Canfield were the parents of one daughter, May E. Canfield, now a resident of Washington. Mrs. Canfield died in 1879, at the age of sixty-eight years.
Lewis A. Canfield was one of the first Abo- litionists in the town, and his house was one of the stations on the "underground railroad " leading to Canada. He was much interested in political questions, and remained to the last an ardent Republican.
EORGE C. GILBERT, the present proprietor of the old Seth Thomas farm in Thomaston, where he is suc- cessfully engaged in general farming, was born on High Street, in the village of Thomaston, on July 2, 1858, and is a son of George W. and Elizabeth (Thomas) Gilbert.
George Gilbert, the grandfather of George C., was a native of Belchertown, Hampshire County, Mass., and there spent the early years of his manhood in the successful pursuit of agriculture. In the latter part of his life he made his home in Thomaston, attaining the age of eighty-one years. Ilis son, George W., was reared to farm life; but later on he went to work in the Seth Thomas Clock Com- pany's shop, and he continued in their employ as long as able to engage in active labor. He died in Thomaston at sixty-seven years of age. Hle was a member of the Congregational church, as is his wife, formerly Elizabeth Thomas. She is still living at their old home
on High Street, and at sixty-three years of age is strong and active. They had but two chil- dren, namely : Mary, who married Dr. Haney, and died at twenty-six years of age; and George C. The mother is a daughter of Seth Thomas, the founder of the Clock Company, and the man to whom the town of Thomaston, which was named for him, owes the origin of its present prosperous condition. Of the six children of Mr. Thomas, the two surviving are: Mrs. Elizabeth T. Gilbert; and her brother, Aaron Thomas.
George C. Gilbert grew to manhood in his parental home, acquiring a good practical com- mon and high school education, which was supplemented by a two years' course in a busi- ness college at Hartford and two at New Haven, Conn. At twenty-two years of age he went on to the place formerly carried on by his grandfather, Seth Thomas, and on which his mother was born. It is a productive farm of one hundred acres, and he is profitably en- gaged in mixed husbandry. In 1880 he was united in marriage with Miss Eliza W. Judd, of Watertown, Conn., where her father, G. B. Judd, is engaged in farming. She has borne her husband three children, two of whom are living - George B. and Charles Il.
In political issues Mr. Gilbert takes the side of the Republican party. He is a mem- ber of the Congregational church, and is highly respected throughout the community' Mis. Gilbert is a communicant of the Episcopal church.
EVI PHELPS, a well-to do farmer of Norfolk, Litchfield County, Conn., was born in this town, September 29, 1818, son of Angustus and Lucy (Petti- bone) Phelps. Augustus Phelps, who was also a native of Norfolk and was a son of Jede diah Phelps, was a prosperous farmer, and
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passed his entire life of fourscore years in that town. He was a Whig in politics, and a member of the Congregational church. His wife, Lucy Pettibone, of Norfolk, became the mother of three children, namely; Augustus, Jr. ; Levi, the subject of this sketch; and Margaret. Mrs. Augustus Phelps died in Norfolk, aged fifty-eight years.
Levi Phelps was reared to agricultural pur- suits, and resided with his parents, assisting in carrying on the farm until 1852, when he joined the great rush for the gold fields of California, where he engaged in mining and other employment for about eight years. He was fairly successful ; and after his return East he succeeded to the possession of the home- stead, upon which he has since resided. The farm originally consisted of one hundred and eighty acres; but he has added to its extent by purchasing adjoining land, and now owns three hundred acres of valuable agricultural prop- erty. Intelligent and progressive, he conducts general farming with good results. Mr. Phelps is a Republican in politics, and has always been actively interested in public affairs, representing his district in the State legislature with ability in 1876.
Mr. Phelps and Ora Ann Graham were united in marriage on December 24, 1863, and have had two children, namely: Lucy P., who was born November 5, 1864, and resides at home; and Edith, who was born June 22, 1866, and died November 21, 1890. Mr. and Mrs. Phelps are members of the Congrega- tional church.
Ancestors of the Phelps family were among the early settlers of Connecticut. The lineage includes many of the name who have won dis- tinction in various walks in life. The accom- panying portrait of Mr. Levi Phelps will be recognized as a good likeness of this worthy scion of good old New England stock.
RANKLIN WATSON, an extensive farmer of New Hartford, Conn., was born in this town, near Bakersville, on April 21, 1832, son of William and Melissa (Cadwell) Watson. His great - grandfather Watson was an early settler and an extensive land-owner in New Hartford, where he reared a large family, the sons becoming very pros- perous farmers. One of them, named Alvin, a native of New Hartford, was the next repre- sentative of the line now being traced. He married, and lived to an advanced age; but his son William, Mr. Watson's father, was the only one of his children who reached maturity.
William Watson succeeded to the ownership of the homestead, and resided here during his whole life of seventy-two years. He was a sturdy and industrious farmer and a prominent citizen, serving as a Selectman for many years, and representing his town in the legislature. He and his wife, Melissa Cadwell, daughter of Aaron Cadwell, of Bloomfield, were the parents of five children, three of whom are living, namely : Franklin, the subject of this sketch; Gaylord, who was for some years in the map business in New York City, and is now residing in the West; and Chloe, who married James Humphrey, of St. Paul, Minn. The mother died at sixty-two years of age. She and her husband were both members of the Congregational church, and his father was a Deacon for many years.
Franklin Watson received his education in the schools of New Hartford and East Hamp- ton, and began at an early age to assist in con- ducting the farm, which he inherited after his father's death. Previous to that event he had purchased an agricultural estate in the vicinity of the old farm, and this he leased for a time ; but at present he oversees the cultivation of both. His landed property aggregates about five hundred acres, and is mostly devoted to
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dairying interests, to which he gives his prin- cipal attention. He keeps a large number of cows, their milk being disposed of at the creamery ; and he finds this branch of agricult- ure to be the most agreeable and profitable employment.
In politics Mr. Watson is a Republican ; and he has occupied a prominent position in public affairs for several years, having served with marked ability as a member of the Board of Selectmen, as an Assessor, a member of the Board of Relief, and as a representative in the State legislature in 1880. He is connected with the Grange, and for some time acted as its Secretary.
Mr. Watson and Caroline Holcomb, daugh- ter of Friend Holcomb, a prosperous farmer of New Hartford, were married in 1854, and have five children, as follows: William, a machinist of Torrington, who married Alice Jones, of New Hartford, and has two children, named Mabel and Vincent; Sarah, who resides at home; Caroline; Lillian; and Henry, who is a book-keeper in Bridgeport. Mr. and Mrs. Watson are members of the Congregational church.
J AMES M. BENTON, keeper of the Litchfield County jail, was born in Watertown, Conn., April 1, 1836. He is a son of Seth and grandson of Ebenezer Ben- ton, of Morris, Conn., and comes of an old and respected family, whose genealogy was pub- lished in 1881. Seth Benton was born on the homestead in Morris. He was an enterprising man, successfully managing a hotel in New Haven for some time, then taking an interest in the oyster trade in Albany, and finally return- ing to New Haven, where he died at the age of seventy-two. Ile was twice married. His first wife, Eleanor Martin, daughter of Samuel Martin, died at the age of twenty nine, leav-
ing two children - Mary F. and James M., the subject of this sketch. His second wife, Mrs. Eliza Cooper Seeley, left one daughter, Ellen, who married John J. Phelps, and reared three children - Mrs. Nellie Smith, Hattie, and John J.
James M. Benton received a common-school education, supplemented by a course at the Gunnery in Washington, Conn., and at a pri- vate school in New Haven. He was for some time successfully engaged in agriculture, leav- ing the plough to enlist at the time of the Civil War, and remaining in the army three years, first as a member of the Nineteenth In- fantry and later in the Second Connecticut Heavy Artillery. At the close of his term of service he returned to his farm, where he re- mained till appointed keeper of the jail in 1895.
In 1859 Mr. Benton was united in marriage with Margaret Walker, daughter of Theodore WV. and Maria (Percy) Walker, of Woodbury, Conn. Mr. Walker lived to the advanced age of eighty-two. His wife died in her forty- sixth year, leaving four children : Frances, widow of C. J. Miner, who, by a former mar- riage with S. B. Miner, had three children, of whom one, Jesse, is now living : Maria, widow of W. 11. Corning, who has one daughter. Helen (now Mrs. Skinner) ; Josephine, wife of C. 1 .. Ilall, who has two children - Mary (Mrs. Peck) and Charles; and Margaret, the wife of Mr. Benton. Mr. and Mrs. Benton have reared but one child, Walter 1., who married Hattie Morgan, and has five children =Frank M., Percy W., Eleanor M., Ebenezer B., and James W.
In political matters Mr. Benton favors the Republican party. He represented the dis trict in the legislature in 18;8, and has held various local offices, serving as Justice of the Peace for twenty years. He is a member of
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St. Paul's Lodge, No. 11, A. F. & A. M., and belongs to Seth F. Plumb Post, No. 80, Grand Army of the Republic. In religious belief Mr. and Mrs. Benton are Congregationalists. Mr. Benton is a man of conservative judgment and considerable executive ability, who is emi- nently qualified for the responsible position which he holds. A member of the Grand Army, his courage is unimpeachable; and he holds the full confidence of the government.
RANK B. MUNN, a lawyer, notary public, and judge of probate of New Hartford, and a member of the law firm of Smith & Munn, of Winsted, was born in West Stockbridge, Mass., November 16, 1860, son of James B. and Eliza (Boughton) Munn. Mr. Munn's paternal grandfather was Israel Munn, a native of New Marlboro, Mass. He followed the trade of a blacksmith during the greater part of his life, and moved from New Marlboro to West Stockbridge, where he died at the age of eighty-five years. James B. Munn was born in New Marlboro, and passed his boyhood in that town. He was reared to agriculture, but in early manhood went to the State of New York, where he was employed upon the Erie Canal, and also in the construc- tion of a railroad. After a sojourn in Canada he purchased a farm in West Stockbridge in 1856, and resided in that town until his death, which occurred in 1878, when he was fifty-six years old. He was a member and Deacon of the Congregational church, and was otherwise officially connected with the church and soci- ety. His wife, Eliza Boughton, who was a native of Devonshire, England, became the mother of five children, three of whom are still living, namely : Frank B., our special subject ; Cora, who married Marvin Peck, of Stockbridge, and now resides in Bridgeport,
Conn. ; and Augusta, a teacher in the public schools of Pittsfield, Mass. Mrs. James B. Munn resides with her daughter in Pittsfield.
Frank B. Munn began his education in the schools of West Stockbridge, and, after grad- uating from the high school, entered Dartmouth College, from which he was graduated in the class of 1887 with the degree of A.M. He then became principal of the New Hartford High School, a position which he ably filled for three years; and at the expiration of that time he began the study of law with Welling- ton B. Smith, of Winsted. He was admitted to the bar in 1892, and in company with Mr. Smith has since continued to practise his pro- fession. Mr. Munn is a Republican in poli- tics, and was elected Judge of Probate in 1894. He is a member of Masonic Lodge of New Hartford, of which he is Junior Deacon, and of the Knights of Pythias, of which he is Past Chancellor.
In 1892 Mr. Munn was united in marriage to Marie Widner, daughter of Jacob Widner, a merchant in New Hartford. Mrs. Munn at- tends the Congregational church.
EORGE S. WEEKS, a prosperous grocery merchant and highly re- spected citizen of Torrington, Conn., was born in the adjoining town of New Hart- ford on March 16, 1847. His father, Fred- erick Weeks, was a son of Ezra Weeks. The latter passed the greater part of his long life in the towns of Litchfield and Morris, Conn., being for many years successfully en- gaged in farming. He was over one hundred years old at the time of his death.
Frederick Weeks grew to manhood on his father's farm, and after he attained his major- ity he cultivated a farm, which he purchased for himself in New Hartford; but he after-
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ward sold that, and removed to Litchfield, where the remainder of his life was spent in the same occupation. His death occurred at fifty-two years of age. He and his wife, Hulda L. Beach Weeks, who was a daughter of Lyman Beach, reared four children, all of whom are still living, namely : Sarah A., the wife of H. A. Weeks; George S .; M. J.
Weeks; and Wilbur A. Weeks. Their mother, who afterward married David Tal- madge, is residing at the present time in Litchfield, Conn. She is a communicant of the Methodist Episcopal church. George S. Weeks lived in New Hartford until he was seven years old, when he removed with his parents to a farm in Litchfield, where he ac- quired a good practical education in the dis- trict schools. He assisted his father in agri- cultural labors on the home farm up to eigh- teen years of age, and then for nine years held a position as clerk in a general store. In company with John Workman he next opened a general store, which they successfully con- ducted under the firm name of Workman & Weeks. On retiring from this business, he took a position as book-keeper, where he remained five years, or up to 1889, at which time he erected the building on the principal street of Torrington in which he established his present thriving business. He carries a well-selected line of groceries of various kinds, and has a good trade, having been engaged in mercantile pursuits as long as any one in Torrington.
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