USA > Connecticut > Litchfield County > Biographical review; this volume contains biographical sketches of the leading citizens of Litchfield County, Connecticut > Part 63
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Horace Dunbar, who was born in Plymouth, Conn., was a man who took a very active in- terest in political matters; and, besides serv- ing in various town offices, he was chosen in 1855 as a Representative to the State legisla- ture. Formerly a Whig, after the organiza- tion of the Republican party he cast his vote with that political body. His wife, Ann Jeannette Lord, was a daughter of Erastus Lord. She died seventy-six years of age, and
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he lived to be seventy-eight years old. They reared five children ; namely, Esther C., Mrs. Jane L. Everett, Everett St. J., Erastus L., and Phila M.
Everett St. John Dunbar was a veteran of the late war. In November, 1861, he enlisted in the Thirteenth Regiment of Connecticut Volunteers. He was elected First Lieutenant of Company C, which took part in the follow- ing engagements: Georgia Landing, Irish Bend, Port Hudson, Cane River, Mansura, Winchester, Fisher's Hill, and Cedar Creek. He received his honorable discharge in 1865. During the last years of his life he was em- ployed as a commercial agent in New York City. He married Miss Harriet Per Lee, a daughter of John and Eunice (Boyd) Per Lee. He died in 1892, leaving three children, as follows: Julia P .; Horace M., who married Miss Ellen Everett, and has two children - Everett S. and Alice May; and Walter P. Like his father, Mr. Dunbar took a keen inter- est in public affairs. He was a charter mem- ber of Gregory Post, No. 59, Grand Army of the Republic.
ORACE D. TAFT, A.M., Head Master of Mr. Taft's school at Watertown, Conn., was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, December 28, 1861, son of Alphonso and Louise M. (Torrey) Taft. His grandfather, Peter R. Taft, who was a native of Massachusetts, was a prosperous farmer and prominent citizen of Jamaica, Vt., serving as a Justice of the Peace and representative in the legislature from the district. His last years were spent in Cincinnati with his son Alphonso, his only child, at whose home he died, in his eighty-third year.
Alphonso Taft was born in Jamaica, Vt., in 1810. He graduated from Yale in 1833. taught school for a year at Ellington, Conn.,
and then returned to Yale as tutor. While in New Haven, he studied law, and, after being admitted to the bar, went to Cincinnati, where with a few interruptions he practised his pro- fession with distinguished success for forty years. He was for six years Judge of the Su- perior Court in Cincinnati. He was a mem- ber of President Grant's second cabinet, hold- ing first the position of Secretary of War and afterward that of Attorney-general. In Pres- ident Arthur's administration he was Minister to Austria for two years and Minister to Russia for one. A fever which he contracted while in Russia undermined his health, and within six years from the time that he was taken ill he died. This was in 1891, and he was eighty years old. Judge Taft was twice married, the mother of Horace being his second wife. She was a daughter of Samuel D. Torrey, of Boston, a merchant in the West India trade, who for many years after his re- tirement from business lived at Millbury, Mass., where his children grew up. Five of his children are now living, one son by his first wife and three sons and a daughter by his second wife. Of these Charles is editor and proprietor of the Cincinnati Times-Star, and is a member of Congress; William H. is a Judge of the United States Circuit Court of Appeals; Henry W. is a lawyer in New York City, counsel for the New York & New Haven Consolidated Railroad; and Frances L. is the wife of Dr. William A. Edwards, of San Diego, Cal.
Horace D. Taft prepared for college at the Woodward High School of Cincinnati, and. entering Yale in 1879, graduated in 1883. Hle then went abroad with his father, who was at that time Minister to Austria, and on his return took up the study of law in Cincinnati, being admitted to the bar in 1885. He prac- tised one year, and after a brief stay in Kansas
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City was appointed tutor of Latin at Yale, re- maining three years. He then opened a pre- paratory school for boys at Pelham Manor, N.Y., which he successfully conducted for three years. In 1893 he moved the school to Watertown. The school building is one of the handsomest structures in the State, and was formerly known as the Warren House. The institution is designed to fit boys for col- leges and scientific schools, and has a regular attendance of something over forty. In 1892 Mr. Taft was united in marriage with Wini- fred S. Thompson, a native of New Bedford, Mass., daughter of Edwin P. Thompson, of Niagara Falls, N. Y.
In politics Mr. Taft is a Democrat. So- cially, he is a member of the Watertown Grange and of the Skull and Bones Society of Yale.
ORTIMER D. MERRELL, one of the most enterprising and pro- gressive farmers of New. Hart- ford, son of Dan C. and Charlotte (Butler) Merrell, was born in the village of Nepaug, September 25, 1868. His great-grandfather, Asher Merrell, was a pioneer agriculturist of New Hartford. Asher Merrell's son, Cama- ralzaman Merrell, named for the young prince in the Eastern story, was born in New Hart- ford, grew to manhood on his father's farm, and in time succeeded to its possession and management. He died at seventy-eight years of age. He and his wife, Mary North, a na- tive of Colebrook, reared a family of four children, as follows: Margiana, who married James M. Henderson; Dan C., father of the subject of this sketch; Mary N., wife of Henry Merrell; and Mercy, a resident of New Hartford.
Dan C. Merrell was born in New Hartford, January 4, 1835. An only son, he easily
learned to make himself useful on the home farm, and continued to reside with his parents until reaching the age of thirty-two years, when he purchased a farm which adjoined his father's property. After conducting it suc- cessfully for some years, he retired from active labor, but still resides in New Hartford. He is a Democrat in politics, and has served as a Selectman for eight years and Assessor for three years. On January 1, 1868, he married Charlotte Butler, whose father, Roman Butler, who is no longer living, was a prosperous farmer of New Hartford. Mr. and Mrs. Dan C. Merrell are the parents of three children, as follows: Mortimer D .; Flora, who married William C. Haury, a merchant of Collins- ville; and Clara, who resides at home.
Mortimer D. Merrell received his education in the district schools of his native town. At an early age he gave his attention to agricult- ure, which has since been his occupation ; and, in company with his father, he is now manag- ing two large farms with ability and success. He is one of the leading farmers of the town, energetic and enterprising, raising large and superior crops and keeping his buildings in the best repair.
A Democrat in politics, like his father, Mr. Merrell, although frequently solicited to ac- cept public office, has always declined nomi- nation. He has, however, rendered efficient service as a member of the Democratic Town Committee, a position which he has held for some years. He is a member of Amos Beecher Lodge, A. F. & A. M., the Knights of Pythias, and the Eureka Grange, No. 62, of New Hartford, with which he has been offi- cially connected. He is a bright and intelli- gent young man, fully up with the times in all matters relating to agriculture, and is very popular socially. He attends the Congrega- tional church.
J. LeROY BUCK.
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LEROY BUCK, a prosperous busi- ness man and substantial citizen of
. New Milford, Conn., son of David D. M. and Susan (Hill) Buck, was born on the old homestead in this town on January 21, 1842.
His grandfather, David S. Buck, was for some time a teacher in Litchfield County, em- igrated to Bath, N. Y., where there were then but few settlers, and purchased a large farm that he carried on with excellent success. He dicd on April 25, 1842, aged fifty-cight years, six months, and fifteen days. Hc married Miss Susan Marsh, and they reared a family of eight children; namely, Harmon, Daniel, Scralpha, Sherman, David D. M., Susan, Harriet, and Willis. Mrs. Susan M. Buck survived her husband four ycars, dying August 24, 1846, aged fifty-nine years, ninc months, and seven days.
David D. M. Buck, who was born at Bath, Steuben County, N. Y., on January 3, 1813, began in carly life, in company with his brother Harmon, the manufacture of woollen goods. He afterward camc to New Milford, and purchased a farm of one hundred and fifty acres, on which he erected new buildings and made other improvements. He dicd here on December 13, 1878, at sixty-five years of age. He was a public-spirited citizen, and among the town offices which he ably filled was that of Selectman. His wife, whose maiden name was Susan Hill, was born on December 1, 1814, and is a daughter of Silas and Polly Hill. She is still living. A son and two daughters were the fruit of their union, as follows: Mary, who died at eighteen years of age; Jane, who married John Mattis, and lives on the old homestead; and J. Leroy Buck. Both parents were communicants of the Episcopal church.
J. Leroy Buck received a good education at
the public schools of New Milford and at the New Milford Academy. He remained with his parents, and at his father's decease he pur- chased the old homestead. He has since bought another farm that contains two hundred and seventy-eight acres, and has there erected new buildings and repaired the old ones. With the aid of help he carries on both farms, keeping a dairy on each, about forty head all together, of choice short-horn cows, the milk going to the creamery, in which he owns a share, and of which he is the manager. He is also trustec for three different parties owning farms, amounting in all, including his own, to eight hundred acres. In addition to this care hc runs a feed storc, fced-mill, and saw-mill at Lanesville, in the town of New Milford.
On November 11, 1869, Mr. Buck married Miss Elizabeth Bostwick, daughter of Solo- mon E. and Adaline (Booth) Bostwick and grand-daughter of Solomon and Anna (Wells) Bostwick. She represents the ninth genera- tion from the first progenitor of the Bostwick family in this country, Arthur Bostwick, who came thither from England, and settled in Stratford, Conn., in 1650. Of his son and grandson, John and Zachariah Bostwick, but little is known. His great-grandson, Ben- jamin Bostwick, first, was one of the twelve pioneer settlers of New Milford and a signer of the first petition of the plantation to the General Court in 1711. He married Miss Zeruiah Johnson, who was the first bride of New Milford. Their son, Benjamin Bost- wick, second, inherited his father's homestead, which was on what is now known as Grove Street. He and his wife, Rachel Bostwick. had a son whom they named Benjamin, and who became a large land-owner of New Mil- ford, and had one of the finest residences in the village. Benjamin, Bostwick, third, mar- ried Miss Olive Judson. Their grandson,
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Solomon E. Bostwick, the father of Mrs. Buck, was for twenty years a prosperous mer- chant of New Milford; and later on he en- gaged in the manufacture of ivory buttons. When the History of the Town of New Mil- ford was compiled, he rendered valuable as- sistance in the way of giving facts relative to the town and the people. His wife, Adeline Booth, bore him two sons and a daughter, namely: Henry E., born May 6, 1835, who married Miss Alice C. Merwin; Elizabeth, born February 9, 1837, now Mrs. Buck; and Walter B., born August 26, 1840, who mar- ried Miss Alice G. Marsh. Mr. and Mrs. Buck have two daughters; namely, Adaline LeRoy and Alice Bostwick.
Mr. Buck casts his vote with the Demo- cratic party. For six years he has served his town very acceptably as Selectman, and has held minor official positions. He and his wife are communicants of the Episcopal church.
A portrait of Mr. J. LeRoy Buck appears on another page of this volume.
AMES B. SPENCER, a well-to-do farmer and prominent citizen of New Hartford, Conn., residing in the vil- lage of Nepaug, was born upon the farm he now owns and occupies, April 14, 1836. His father, Elijah Spencer, and his grandfather, Ashbel Spencer, were natives and lifelong residents of this town. The latter, who was a prosperous farmer, died a middle-aged man. Two members of the Spencer family, emi- grants from England more than two hundred and fifty years ago, were among the original proprietors of Hartford, Conn.
Elijah Spencer was reared to farm life, and succeeded to the possession of the homestead. He was an industrious and thrifty farmer, and
resided here until his death, which occurred when he was seventy-four years old. His wife, Rebecca Bartholomew, was born in Har- winton, Conn., daughter of James Bartholo- mew, a native of Massachusetts, who settled in this State. She reared six children, two of whom are living, namely: James B., the sub- ject of this sketch; and Caroline, who married George Raymond, of Winchester, Conn. Mrs. Rebecca B. Spencer lived to reach the age of seventy. Mr. Spencer's parents attended the Congregational church, of which his father was a member.
James B. Spencer received a common-school education in his native town, and on the home farm early gained experimental knowledge of different branches of agriculture. He event- ually succeeded to the ownership of the home- stead, and has since continued to carry on the land and reap the products of the soil. His farm, which consists of one hundred well-im- proved acres, is pleasantly located, and under his skilful management is made to produce abundant crops of a superior quality. He is energetic and industrious, possessing rare judgment in matters relating to agriculture; and he has made general farming a financial success.
In 1866 Mr. Spencer was united in marriage to Julia A. Millard, daughter of Samuel Mil- lard, of Otis, Mass., and has three children, as follows: Estella R., who married Earnest Griggs, a clerk in New Haven; Carroll A. and James A., who reside at home. Mrs. Spencer died in 1884, aged thirty-nine years. Mr. Spencer is a member of the Congregational church, as was his estimable wife; and his children are connected with the church and Sunday-school.
He has long held a prominent position in the community politically and socially, and is highly respected by all. He is a Republi-
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ean in politics, for fourteen years was a mem- ber of the Board of Assessors, and represented his town with marked ability in the legisla- ture during the session of 1885. Mr. Spencer is connected with Eureka Grange of New Hartford, and takes an active interest in all matters relating to agricultural improvements.
ILLIAM A. ARMOUR, assistant superintendent in the watch factory of the Seth Thomas Clock Company at Thomaston and a prominent young man in this community, was born in Wakefield, Mass., on September 19, 1863, son of William E. and Anna (Whittaker) Armour.
William E. Armour, who was of Scottish deseent, was born in old England. Learning the basket-maker's trade, he followed that vo- cation in his native land until after his mar- riage; and, when he came to this country, he settled in Providence, R.I., and established a basket factory. He was subsequently induced by the late Mr. Cyrus Wakefield to accept the position of foreman in his factory in South Reading, Mass., now Wakefield, where he was one of the first to introduce the use of rattan in place of willow, the material formerly used. He died in 1874, when but forty-seven years of age. His wife, Anna Whittaker, was of English parentage and a daughter of William H. Whittaker, who was twice married. She had but one brother, now deceased; and he was a well-known musician in England, where he was engaged in many different churches as leader and organist. Mrs. Armour bore her husband six children, five of whom were born in this country, and four are still living, namely: Mary, the wife of William Biggs; Margaret J., who married William B. Daniels; Sarah E., whose home is in Waltham, Mass. ; and William A. Their mother died on Sep-
tember 14, 1895, at sixty-eight years of age. Both parents were members of the Episcopal church.
William A. Armour, the only son, was left fatherless when but eleven years of age. For three years after he remained with his mother, and continued his attendance at the grammar school in Wakefield. He then entered the employ of the Wakefield Rattan Company, and three years later went to work for the Smith & Anthony Stove Company in their machine de- partment ; but not long after he secured a po- sition in Hartford, Conn., with the Cushman Chuck Company. From the time he left the last-named place until 1884 he was in Boston, in the employ of G. M. Stevens, a manufact- urer of tower eloeks and fire-alarm strikers. He then came to Thomaston, and went to work in the machine-room of the watch department of the Seth Thomas Clock Company, where three years afterward he was placed in charge of the pinion department, eighteen months later was given entire charge of the machine- room, and still later was promoted to the posi- tion of assistant superintendent of the factory, in which capacity he is now serving.
He was married in 1890 to Miss Martha J. Baldwin, a native of Thomaston and the only child of Harvey W. and Cynthia (Todd) Ball- win, the former of whom was born in Corn- wall, Conn. Her grandfather, Phineas Bald- win, was born in Milford, Conn., on January 10, 1828. As a young man, he removed to Cornwall, where he followed the trade of a carpenter and joiner, living to be eighty-five years of age. Harvey W. Baldwin, son of Phineas, spent his early years on the farm in Cornwall, coming to Thomaston in 1860, and obtaining a situation with the Seth Thomas Clock Company, by whom he has since been employed. His wife, Cynthia Todd, was born in Cornwall, and is a daughter of Almon and
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Lydia (Ford) Todd. A maternal aunt of Mrs. Armour married F. H. Hotchkiss, of Thomas- ton. Mr. and Mrs. Armour have one child, Charlotte Baldwin.
Mr. Armour from his boyhood has had an unusually successful career, and, although still a young man, is already higher up on the lad- der of success than many much older. He is Worshipful Master of Union Lodge, No. 96, A. F. & A. M., of Thomaston. In religion he is an Episcopalian, and Mrs. Armour is a communicant of the Congregational church.
OHN A. DOLAN, M.D., a young and rising medical practitioner of Gay- lordsville, Litchfield County, was born in that village, September 15, 1866. He is a son of John and Maria A. (Fitzsimmons) Dolan, natives of County Waterford, Ireland, who emigrated to the United States, and set- tled first at Naugatuck, Conn., where for three years they were engaged in farming. John Dolan, Sr., then found employment on the railroad, and came to Gaylordsville as division foreman. He purchased a residence in the village, and subsequently bought one hundred acres of land, but finally retired from active labor. He died in 1894, at the age of sixty- six years. His wife, Maria A. Fitzsimmons, was the mother of eight children, as follows : Ellen, wife of M. O'Riley, who resides in Norwalk, Conn., and has ten children; Eliza- beth, now Mrs. J. F. Murphy, of New Mil- ford; Thomas, who died at the age of thirty- two years; Hannah, wife of T. Morrissey, now residing in Illinois; Edward, who died at the age of twenty-one years; John A., the subject of this sketch; Frank and Albert, who reside at home. The mother, who still survives, re- sides at the homestead in Gaylordsville.
John A. Dolan acquired the elementary
branches of his education in the public schools of his native town, and pursued his medical studies at the College of Physicians and Sur- geons in Baltimore, from which he graduated with the class of 1893. His professional life was commenced in Winsted, Conn .; but, after a short residence there, he decided to locate in Rockport, Me., where he remained about one year, after which he concluded to settle in his native town. He established his office at his mother's pleasant residence in the village, and has since enjoyed a large and increasing gen- eral practice, which extends over a wide sec- tion of the surrounding country.
Dr. Dolan is a young physician of ability and promise, who is thoroughly devoted to his profession; and he has already acquired an enviable reputation for the care which he be- stows in the treatment of all cases intrusted to his charge. He is energetic and ambitious, aiming to reach the highest degree of excel- lence in his profession; and his many com- mendable qualities have won for him the es- teem and confidence of the general public. In politics he is independent, and in religion a member of the Roman Catholic communion.
DWARD C. ROOT, a successful gen- eral merchant of Thomaston, son of Barnabas and Caroline P. (Hinman) Root, was born in the adjoining town of Plym- outh on February 27, 1842. Mr. Root's pa- ternal grandfather was a prosperous farmer of Woodbury, Conn., where he passed the greater part of his life; and his son Barnabas, Mr. Root's father, was born in that town.
Barnabas Root worked for some time as a journeyman tailor in Southbury, where he learned the trade. He later settled in Plym- outh, and conducted business in that town for several years, a part of which time he was as-
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soeiated with a Mr. Harrington. He resided in Plymouth for the remainder of his life, and died at the age of fifty-nine, having been for many years a Deaeon of the Congregational church. His wife, Caroline P. Hinman Root, was a daughter of Curtis Hinman, a well- known lawyer of Southbury, where she was born. She died in Plymouth, aged fifty-nine years.
Edward C. Root is now the only survivor of the three children born to his parents. He attended the common sehools of Plymouth; and, after completing his studies, he learned the carriage-trimmer's trade, which he fol- lowed as an occupation until he was thirty years old. He then bought an interest in a furniture and undertaking business eondueted by a Mr. Cadwell, with whom he remained for some years, next entering into partnership with R. T. Andrews in Thomaston. This firm carried on business for six years, and was then dissolved, Mr. Root establishing himself in business at his present location as a dealer in dry goods and notions, toys, gentlemen's furnishings, wall papers, paints and oils, glass, ete. He is also well and favorably known as an undertaker, having had mueh experienee as an embalmer.
In 1867 Mr. Root married Amelia M. Ren- frell, who was born in Middlebury, Conn., daughter of Alfred B. Renfrell. Her father was of English aneestry, and was a prosperous farmer. He spent his last years in Plymouth. Mrs. Root died at the age of forty-three years. She was a highly esteemed member of the Congregational church, with which Mr. Root is still connected. Of the six children born to Mr. Root and his wife, four are yet living to brighten the father's home, namely: Lena C., who has just been graduated from Mt. Holyoke College at South Hadley, Mass .; Fanny M. ; Grace M. ; and Theodore Edward.
Mr. Edward C. Root has been connected with the Masonie fraternity for twenty-eight years, being a member of Union Lodge in Thomaston. He is also a member of the Ancient Order of United Workmen. He is known as a eitizen of intelligence and ehar- aeter, in politics a Republican.
DWARD H. PERSONS, dealer in dry goods, notions, earpets, oil-eloths, and wall papers, is an important factor in the mercantile interests of Litehfield County, carrying on a substantial business in Winsted. He is a native of Berkshire County, Massa- chusetts, born in 1850, in the town of Sandis- field, the place of nativity of his father, Torrel Persons, whose birth oeeurred in 1799. The paternal grandfather of Mr. Persons was Elihu Persons, a shoemaker and tanner and a man of enterprise and progress. Both he and his wife, whose maiden name was Polly Clapp, rounded out a full period of years; and after death their bodies were interred in the rural cemetery at Sandisfield. They had a family of five sons and two daughters, one of whom, Timothy Persons, a retired tanner, is spending his deelining years at Colebrook River. Ile and his brother Elihu were engaged as tanners together, one living in Connectieut and the other in Massachusetts, although their houses were but a few yards apart.
Torrel Persons was a farmer by birth and occupation and a lifelong resident of Sandis- field, where he departed from earthly scenes in 1878, leaving a good farming estate. He was a man of decision and integrity, exerting a good influence in the community, and served aeeeptably as Selectman for many years. In 1830 he married Sylvia Bristol, who bore him eight children, three of them being daughters, two of whom have passed into the other lite,
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namely : Maria, at thirteen years of age; and Romania, at twenty-two. The record of the living children is as follows: Aurora is the wife of Andrew Washburn, of Colebrook; Byron J. resides on the old homestead in Sandisfield, the mother, who celebrated the ninetieth anniversary of her birth in June, 1894, making her home with him; Bruce is in the grocery business in Winsted; Wallace J. is here engaged in the boot and shoe trade; Dallas is a mechanic in the employ of the New England Pin Company; Edward H., the youngest, is further mentioned below.
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