USA > Connecticut > Litchfield County > Biographical review; this volume contains biographical sketches of the leading citizens of Litchfield County, Connecticut > Part 62
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Mr. Norton was a member of the legislature for the years 1870 and 1871. In 1873, having an appointment at the Exposition at Vienna, he went abroad, and spent some time there, greatly enjoying his stay in Great Britain and the countries of Europe where once dwelt his ancestors in the far past. The double claim of Mr. Edward Norton to be - in common with some other true born Americans whose pedi- grees have been published -of royal descent is ingeniously set forth in the condensed par- agraphs below, the first tracing his father's ancestry and the second his mother's through various male and female lines to William the Conqueror, the third naming the progenitors of the far-off queen-mother, Matilda of Flanders, for fifteen generations : -
Lewis Mills Norton was son of Ebenezer Norton and Charity Mills; he, son of Colonel Ebenezer Norton and Elizabeth Baldwin: she. daughter of the llon. Nathaniel Baldwin and Elizabeth Parmelee; he, son of Abigail Bakl- win and Samnel Ballwin; she, daughter of Mary Bruen and John Baldwin ; she, daughter of John Bruen, Esq., and Margaret -- ; he. son of Lady Dorothy Holford and John Bruen ; she, daughter of Jane Booth and Thomas Hol- ford; she, daughter of Sir William Booth and Lady Ellen Montgomery ; he, son of Katherine
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Montford and Sir George Booth ; she, daughter of Robert Montford; he, son of Sir William de Montfort and Margaret de Peche; he, son of Lady Margaret Clinton and Sir Baldwin de Montfort; she, daughter of Lady Idones de Saye and Sir John Clinton; she, daughter of Maud de Beauchamp and Geoffrey de Saye; she, daughter of Alice de Toni and Guy de Beauchamp; she, daughter of Ralph de Toni and Alice de Bohun; she, daughter of Matilda de Exodun and Humphrey de Bohun; she, daughter of Alix and Ralph de Exodun; she, daughter and heir of Henry de Eu and Matild Marshall; he, son of John de Eu and Alice de Alliney; he, son of Henry de Eu and Mar- garet de Sullis; she, daughter of William de Blois and Agnes de Sulli (William took his wife's name); he, son of Adela and Stephen, Count of Blois; she, daughter of William the Conqueror and Matilda of Flanders.
Laura Foote was daughter of John Foote and Louis Mills; he, son of Captain John Foote and Rosanna Humphrey; she, daughter of Jonathan Humphrey and Mercy Ruggles; she, daughter of the Rev. Benjamin Ruggles and Mercy Woodbridge; she, daughter of the Rev. John Woodbridge and Abigail Leete, daughter of Governor Leete; he, son of the Rev. John Woodbridge and Mercy Dudley ; she, daughter of Governor Thomas Dudley (of Massachusetts) and Dorothy -; he, son of Roger Dudley, of Northamptonshire, England ; he, son of John Dudley, of London; he, son of Thomas de Dudley and - Threlkeld; he, son of Maud Clifford and Sir Edmund Sutton; she, daughter of Thomas Lord Clifford and Elizabeth -; she, daughter of Elizabeth Mortimer and Henry Percy; she, daughter of Phillippa and Edward, Earl of Marshe; she, daughter of Prince Lionel and Elizabeth Burgh; he, son of Edward III. (king) and Phillippa; he, son of Edward II. and Princess
Isabelle of France; he, son of Edward I. and Queen Eleanor; he, son of Henry III. and Eleanor of Provence; he, son of John (of Magna Charta fame) and Isabella; he, son of Henry II. and Eleanor of Aquitaine; he, son of Geoffrey Plantagenet and Matilda; she, daughter of Henry I. and Matilda of Scot- land. Henry I. (Beauclerc) was son of Will- iam the Conqueror and Matilda of Flanders.
Matilda of Flanders was daughter of Bald- win V., Count of Flanders, and Adela, Prin- cess of France; he, son of Baldwin IV. and Ogivia of Luxemburg; he, son of Arnold II. and Rosalie, Princess of Italy; he, son of Baldwin III. and Matilda of Provence; he, son of Arnold I. and Adela of Vermandois; he, son of Baldwin II. and Elstruda, Princess of England, daughter of Alfred the Great; he, son of Baldwin I. and Judith, widow of Ethel- wolf, King of England; she, daughter of Charles II., King of France, and Ermentrude of Orleans; he, son of Louis I. and Judith, daughter of Guelph, ancestor of Victoria; he, son of Charlemagne and Hildegarde; he, son of Pepin (the Short) and Bertha, daughter of Charibut; he, son of Charles Martel and Rotrude; he, son of Pepin de Heristel and Alpaide; he, son of Ansigise and Begga, called St. Begga; he, son of Arnold, Duke of Austrasia and Dodo of Saxony.
Arnold died, it is said, 640 A.D., or twelve hundred and fifty-six years ago. This would allow thirty-one years for each of the forty generations succeeding him, as above repre- sented. Mr. Norton, it may be added, con- siders both lines "free from all uncertainty."
R. HARMON W. SHOVE, late of Woodbury, who was at one time a prominent physician in the county, was born in Warren, this county, July 30,
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1823. He was the son of Cyrus and Salome (Young) Shove, and a descendant in the fourth generation of the Rev. Seth Shove, who came to this country from England about the year 1700, and became pastor of the First Congre- gational Church of Danbury, Conn. His sons, Seth and Levi, went to Warren, where they engaged in farming. Seth, who was the grandfather of Dr. Shove, reared but one son, Cyrus. Cyrus Shove also followed agriculture for a livelihood. He died when comparatively young, leaving seven children.
Harmon W. Shove attended the Howard Academy in Warren for three years, finishing his course when about eighteen years of age. He then taught in New Jersey four years, in New York two years, and in Connecticut two years. In 1849 he began to study medi- cine with Drs. Beckwith and Seymour, of Litchfield, and also attended lectures. He subsequently took one course at Yale Medical College, from which he graduated in the spring of 1852, and two courses at the College of Physicians and Surgeons of New York City. While pursuing his studies, he was surgeon's steward in the United States Navy. After graduating, he opened an office in Wood- bury, Conn., where he spent the rest of his life, steadily devoting himself to his profes- sion, and never relaxing his studious habits. He kept well abreast of medical progress, and established a large and successful prac- ticc, acquiring therefrom a handsome fortune. No physician in Connecticut ever obtained a firmer hold on the confidence and esteem of the people. Dr. Shove was a member of the Litchfield Medical Society and of the Ameri- can Medical Association. He was examining physician since 1861, and took an active in- terest in the schools of Woodbury, acting as President of the School Board for nineteen ycars. A self-made man, Dr. Shove was a
good example of what may be accomplished by faithful application, self-denial, and patient courage. He died January 24, 1892, mourned by all who knew him.
Mrs. Susan B. Shove, the widow of Dr. Shove, whom he married July 30, 1861, is a native of Woodbury, daughter of the Hon. Thomas and Susan (Sherman) Bull. Her father, who was born December 9, 1801, was a farmer, was intrusted with the settling of many estates, and was Judge of Probate for several terms.
Mrs. Shove's marriage was not blessed with children; but Helen, the daughter of her hus- band's brother, Burton, lived with her and the Doctor from early childhood, and was the light of their beautiful home on Main Street. Helen Shove was married August 20, 1895, to Professor Edward S. Boyd, Principal of the Parker Academy of Woodbury.
Professor Edward S. Boyd was born in Shel- burne Falls, Mass., September 8, 1867, son of the Rev. Pliny S. and Mary J. (Allen) Boyd. His grandfather also - Thomas P. Boyd, a na- tive of Shelburne Falls -in addition to being a farmer, was a teacher, who taught until he was sixty years of age, having charge of a private school in the State of Florida for many years. He married Anna Steele, and they reared seven children ; namely, Almira, Louisa M., Myron H., Ella M., Pliny S., Ed- ward E., and Hattie. Pliny Boyd, the father of Professor Boyd, was born in York, N. Y .. May 18, 1836. He graduated from the New York State Normal School at Albany, from a preparatory school at Oberlin, Ohio, in 1860, from the Oberlin College, and from the Theo- logical Seminary at Andover, Mass., in 1865. He then took charge of the First Congrega- tional Church at Shelburne Falls, remaining something over three years, and was afterward pastor at Ridgefield, Con., Amesbury, Mass.,
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and Granby, Conn., where he died in 1887. His wife, the mother of Professor Boyd, is living in Woodbury. Six children were born to them; namely, Herbert W., Willard P., Edward S., Maurice C., Charles A., and Pliny A. Professor Edward S. Boyd received his first schooling in Amesbury, Mass. When seventeen years of age, he entered Arms Academy at Shelburne Falls, from which he graduated in 1886; and in 1890 he received his diploma from Amherst College. On leaving college, he was elected Principal of Haverhill Academy, New Hampshire, but was soon obliged to resign on account of failing health. When again able to resume work, he accepted a position as assistant at Upson Sem- inary, New Preston, Conn. In 1892 he bought the personal effects of Professor E. H. Grout, and rented the Parker Academy. Pro- fessor Boyd commenced with twenty-eight scholars, and under his management the at- tendance has increased to sixty. He is uni- versally esteemed, his broad knowledge win- ning the respect of his pupils and his courteous manners making many friends. In 1893 Am- herst College conferred upon him the degree of M.A. in recognition of his work in the classics. Professor Boyd and his wife reside with Mrs. Shove in the handsome residence on Main Street erected by the Doctor. The fam- ily attend the Congregational church.
DWARD S. MINER, merchant, Assist- ant Postmaster, and station agent of Burrville, was born in Torrington, Conn., June 18, 1844, son of Darius and Mary (Wadsworth) Miner. His paternal grand- father was Darius Miner, who was a native of Stonington, Conn. He settled upon a farm in Cornwall, which he managed successfully, and also kept a hotel in that town for some
years. He was the father of a family of seven children. His death took place at the home of his son Darius when he had reached the venerable age of ninety-two years. Darius Miner, Jr., was reared to agricultural life. In 1844 he moved to Torrington, where he settled upon a farm, and later purchased his present property, which consists of one hundred and ten acres. His wife, Mary Wadsworth, is a daughter of James Wadsworth, formerly a well-to-do farmer of Cornwall, who died at the age of eighty-five years. Mrs. Miner became the mother of two children, namely: Edward S .; and Nellie, who married William Durand, of Torrington. The parents of our subject are members of the Congregational church.
Edward S. Miner commenced his education in Torringford, and, after attending the high school there, continued his studies in Goshen, Conn., and New Marlboro, Mass. He resided with his parents until reaching the age of twenty-one, when he purchased his present store in Burrville, an old established grocery business, which was formerly conducted by Lewis Johnson. Shortly after this he was ap- pointed Assistant Postmaster and station agent at Burrville, and up to the present time has well performed the duties of both positions. Mr. Miner is a Republican in politics. He has been a member of the Board of Selectmen for one year, and was a Representative to the legislature in 1883. He is now a member of the School Board, and for some years has held the office of Constable. He is a member of Seneca Lodge, No. 55, A. F. & A. M., of Torrington, and also of the Ancient Order of United Workmen of Winsted. In 1867 Mr. Miner was united in marriage to Josephine Clinton, a daughter of Lyman C. Clinton, formerly a manufacturer of agricultural imple- ments in North Haven, Conn. Mrs. Miner's father is no longer living. Mr. and Mrs.
RICHARD CARROLL.
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Miner have had five children, three of whom survive, namely: Nellie, who married John Brader, of Springfield, N.J .; Anson, who is engaged in business with his father; and Stiles, who resides at home. Mr. Miner at- tends the Congregational church, of which Mrs. Miner is a member.
ICHARD CARROLL, who for many years has been connected with the Union Hardware Company of Tor- rington, Conn., was born in the County of Tipperary, Ireland, in the year 1825, son of Thomas and Margaret (Burns) Carroll. Mr. Carroll's grandfather, John Carroll, was a na- tive of County Limerick, Ireland, and there followed agricultural pursuits all of his life. His son, Thomas Carroll, was reared to agri- culture, and in carly manhood moved to County Tipperary, where he married, and be- came the possessor of a small farin, which he cultivated with good results. He died at the age of eighty-four years. His wife, Margaret Burns, who was a native of Tipperary, as were also her ancestors for many generations, was a daughter of Richard Burns. They reared eight children, all of whom became the heads of families; and a majority of them emigrated to the United States. Briefly named, they are as follows: John settled in Torrington, where he worked for the Seymour & Turner Manu- facturing Company, and died at the age of sixty-five years; Richard, the subject of this sketch; Andrew; Bridget, wife of Michael Conners, of Torrington; Honora, wife of Michael Hayes, of Torrington: Mary, who still resides in Ireland; Margaret, now de- ceased; and Winifred, who married David McNamara, of Torrington. The mother died in Ireland, at the age of eighty-five years.
Richard Carroll passed his boyhood in Tip-
perary, assisting his father upon the farm. He received his education in a private school, and followed agricultural pursuits until 1851, in which year he emigrated to the United States. Immediately after landing in New York City, he came to Torrington, where he worked for a short time on the track of the Connecticut River Railroad. He was next employed in handling stone; but in the autumn of 1852 he secured work with Edward Wooding, a manufacturer of pocket-books and trunk locks. On the death of Mr. Wooding the business was purchased by Mr. Wadhams, with whom he continued. Mr. Wadhams was also engaged in the manufacture of skates, an industry that was purchased by A. F. Migeon, and soon developed into the Union Hardware Company, with which Mr. Carroll has since been connected. During the forty years in which he has labored for that concern Mr. Carroll has confined himself to one particular branch, that of grinding and polishing; and this long and uninterrupted period of service in the interests of one company speaks for it- self as to his ability as a workman and his character as a man. His efforts have been attended with prosperous results financially : and he now occupies a substantial and beauti- ful residence, situated on Migeon Avenue, the principal residence thoroughfare of the town, which he erected in 1872. He is a Democrat in politics, and has been one of the Burgesses of the borough and a Collector of school taxes in his district.
In 1855 Mr. Carroll was united in marriage with Julia Condon, daughter of James Condon, a native of County Tipperary, Ireland. Mrs. Carroll's mother is still living. Mr. and Mrs. Carroll are the parents of eight children, seven of whom are living, namely : Margaret : Thomas; James, who married Catherine Doyle, of Litchfield, and has four children -
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Richard, Arthur, Mary, and Irene; Nellie R .; Julia B .; Andrew; and John, who is in col- lege, preparing for the priesthood. Three of Mr. Carroll's sons are employed by the Union Hardware Company. His daughter, Julia B., is a graduate of the public schools of Torring- ton and of St. Joseph's Seminary of Hartford, and is now taking a course in vocal and instru- mental music in New York City. Margaret was educated in the convent at Winsted, Conn. The family attend the Roman Catho- lic church. Mr. Carroll has made the best of life's opportunities, and his success is merited.
On another page may be seen a portrait of this esteemed citizen, who so worthily bears a name that holds an honored place in the annals of our country, and will be remembered as long as the story of the struggle for American independence.
ESLIE I. BALDWIN, an influential citizen of Torrington, Conn., a pro- gressive and successful business man, engaged in the manufacture and sale of tombstones and monumental work, was born in Washington, Conn., September 11, 1854, son of Hiram J. and Mary A. (Barlow) Bald- win.
Isaac Baldwin, father of Hiram, spent a portion of his life in the town of Delhi, Dela- ware County, N. Y., where he was a prosperous farmer, but passed his declining years in Con- necticut, and died in the town of Washington. Hiram J. Baldwin learned the trade of a marble-cutter in New Preston, Conn., and fol- lowed his chosen vocation in that town for many years, but afterward removed to Torring- ton, where he established the business which is now carried on by his son, the leading sub- ject of this biography. His wife, Mary A. Barlow Baldwin, was born in Kent, Conn.,
daughter of Elisha Barlow, who was a tailor. She reared two children: Lydia A., the wife of Fred C. Coggswell, of. Torrington; and Leslie I. Mrs. Henry J. Baldwin is now liv- ing in the town of Torrington. She is a con- sistent member of the Advent church, to which her husband belonged.
The childhood and early youth of Leslie I. Baldwin were passed in the towns of Wash- ington and New Preston, Conn., where he ac- quired a district school education, and later attended a select school. At fifteen years of age he secured a position in a store, in which he was employed for three years. About two years later he came to Torrington with his father, and, learning the marble business, con- tinued engaged in it with his father until the latter's death, when he assumed the manage- ment of the business, which has now been es- tablished about twenty years, and is the only enterprise of the kind in the town. Mr. Bald- win was married in 1877 to Miss Emily Bee- man, of New Preston, Conn., a daughter of Marvin S. Beeman, a prosperous merchant of that place. Mrs. Baldwin is one of two chil- dren of her parents who grew to maturity. Her union with Mr. Baldwin has been blessed by the birth of two sons: Fred and Frank.
Mr. Baldwin is a stanch Republican; and his townsmen have shown their appreciation of his character and ability by electing him to various offices, among which may be men- tioned that of Town Constable, which he held twelve years, Borough Sheriff and Chief of Police for six years, and Deputy Sheriff, to which he was appointed in 1895 for a four- year term. He is a member of the Ancient Order of United Workmen, and for fifteen years has been connected with the Torrington Band. Mr. Baldwin and his estimable wife are liberal in their religious views, and both are prominent and popular in social circles.
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'AY J. BULL, a prosperous farmer and dairyman of Morris, was born in Kent, Conn., April 28, 1836, and is a son of Jackson T. and Mary (Phelps) Bull, the former a native of Kent, the latter of New Milford, Conn. Jackson T. Bull was a well- to-do farmer in Kent. He did not attain such an advanced age as is common to members of farming communities, but died in his fifty- ninth year. His wife outlived him many years, reaching the age of seventy. They reared the following children: Betsey, who was twice married, changing her name first to Hunt, then to Nettleton, and had two children by her first marriage - Henry and Sabrina Hunt; Washburn; Esther, who became Mrs. Shelden; Ralph, who married Sarah Waddles, and has one child - Eugene; Emeline, who married Charles Northrop, and has two chil- dren - Charles and Wesley; Henrietta, who became the wife of Miles Stuart, and has four children - James, Mary, David, and Ida; Adaline, who was twice married, had one child, Frederica, by her first husband, Fred- erick Howland, and two, Henry and Addie, by her second, Wanzer Murray; and Jay J., the subject of this sketch.
Jay J. Bull spent his boyhood and youth in Kent, acquiring a fair education in the public schools and a knowledge of agricultural labors on his father's farm. In 1863 he removed to Morris, where he has since been engaged in general farming, making a specialty of dairy products. He manufactures a fine grade of butter, which is in demand in the market, and which, in conjunction with other products of his farm, brings him a comfortable income. His homestead, which is near the centre of the town, is one of the best improved farms in the locality, its general appearance speaking well for the thrift and good management of its owner.
December 29, 1859, Mr. Bull was united in marriage with Cornelia Murray, daughter of Ezra and Charlotte (Merwin) Murray, of New Milford, Conn. Mr. and Mrs. Ezra Murray had two children, namely: Cornelia, Mrs. Bull; and Orange B., who married Sarah Benedict, and has two children. Mrs. Murray married a second husband, William S. Hurd, by whom she had four children, as follows : Louisa E., who married Edward Brennan, and has three children; William, who married Lena Merwin, and has a son and a daughter; Sarah, wife of Frederick L. Bull, who has three children; and Charles, who married Julia Hendricks, and has one child.
Mr. and Mrs. Bull have two daughters, who are both married: Alice, wife of Frederick Gillett, who has a son and a daughter - Flor- ence and Raymond; and Emily, wife of Henry Goslee, who has one child, named Bessie May.
In politics Mr. Bull is a Democrat, casting his ballot when occasion requires, but not as- piring to the cares of office. In religion he favors the Congregational church, of which his wife is a member.
UBERT A. STEELE, a well-known farmer residing upon Town Hill, in New Hartford, is doserving of honorable mention in this biographical vol- ume, both as a useful and respected citizen of Litchfield County, doing his part in the work of to-day, and a veteran of the Civil War. He was born in New Hartford, September 16. 1829, son of Isaac P. and Laura (Phelps) Steele. Mr. Steele's grandfather, Isaac Steele, settled upon a tract of land in this town at an early date.
Here was born Isaac Steele's son, Isaac P. Steele, who was reared to an agricultural lite, and on his father's demise succeeded to the
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ownership of the Steele homestead, in his turn becoming a prosperous farmer. He was prom- inent in public affairs, and served as assessor and tax collector for several years. Isaac P. Steele, Jr., died at the age of fifty-eight years. He was an energetic and useful citizen, and enjoyed the respect and esteem of his fellow- townsmen. His wife, Laura Phelps, was a daughter of Lynde Phelps, a farmer of Burling- ton. She became the mother of nine children, five of whom are still living, namely: Catha- rine, wife of James Woodard; Hubert A., the subject of this sketch; Angeline; Caroline, who married Alford Humphrey, of Oregon ; and Cora, who married Seth C. Paine, of New Hartford. Mrs. Laura P. Steele died at the old home, aged eighty-five years. She and her husband were members of the Presbyterian church.
Hubert resided with his parents, and as- sisted in carrying on the farm until he was twenty years of age, when he went West, and engaged in operating a steam saw-mill .on the Mississippi River. In 1861 he enlisted as a private in the First Regiment, Illinois Vol- unteer Cavalry, and served one year as a de- fender of the imperilled Union. Upon being discharged from the service, he returned to New Hartford, where he resumed agriculture as an occupation. After the death of his father he came into possession of the home- stead; and he occupied it for a time, but later removed to his present farm of one hundred and forty acres. He here carries on general farming and dairying with satisfactory results.
Mr. Steele's first wife, whom he married in 1854, was Ellen Barber, of New Hartford. She died at the age of twenty-five, leaving one son named Hiram, who is now a sailor. Mr. Steele wedded for his second wife Mary Royce, daughter of Daniel Royce, a thriving farmer of New Hartford, who formerly occu-
pied the farm where Mr. Steele and his family now live. Mr. and Mrs. Steele have had four children, three of whom are living, namely : Anna, who married George Jester, a farmer, and has two children - Florence M. and Har- old S .; Walter Dewitt, who is engaged in agricultural pursuits with his brother-in-law; and Fanny, who was educated at the North End High School, and is now a teacher in Bark- hamnsted. Mr. Steele is a Republican in pol- itics. The family attend the Presbyterian church.
VERETT ST. JOHN DUNBAR, de- ceased, was a native of Sharon and a son of Horace and Ann Jeannette (Lord) Dunbar. The genealogical record of the Dunbar family goes back six generations to John and Temperance Dunbar, whose son, Aaron Dunbar, first, was born in 1748 and died in 1820. Aaron Dunbar married Miss Mary Potter, whose birth occurred in 1751. She survived her husband seven years; and the eight children born of their union were: Daniel, Mary, Aaron, Asaph, Keturah, Lyman, Hall, and Lyman, second. Aaron Dunbar, Jr., was born in 1779, and lived to be seventy-three years old. He married Miss Polly Dumner, who was eight years his senior. She died in 1844, leaving seven children : Nathan, Henrietta, Thaddeus, Elam, Mary, Esther, and Horace.
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