USA > Connecticut > Litchfield County > Biographical review; this volume contains biographical sketches of the leading citizens of Litchfield County, Connecticut > Part 64
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After finishing his studies in the district school, Edward H. Persons was a pupil in the Marlboro High School two terms, where he im- proved his opportunities for obtaining knowl- edge, being an ambitious and diligent pupil. When eighteen years of age, he began his mercantile career by working as a clerk for C. S. Norton, being in his employ three and one-half years. Mr. Persons was then en- gaged as a salesman for O. D. Hunt until 1874, when he and a fellow-clerk, Gilbert L. Hart, were admitted into partnership with their employer, the firm name being O. D. Hunt & Co. After carrying on a successful business for twelve years, the firm was changed, Mr. Hunt retiring, the business being continued by the firm of Hunt & Persons until 1891, when Mr. Hunt left; and the junior member of the firm formed a copartner- ship with Mr. Baldwin, the new firm name being Persons & Baldwin. In 1894 another change was made, Mr. Persons taking the dry goods and Mr. Baldwin the grocery business. Mr. Persons has been invariably successful in business matters, his ability and tact, together with his prompt and cheerful attention to his customers, winning him an extensive and fine trade. His ample store is well stocked with a complete and modern assortment of the best
goods in his line of trade, his sales from them amounting to upward of twenty thousand dol- lars per year. He employs three clerks, who are efficient assistants, attending well to the interests of their employer and of his patrons. Mr. Persons is a man of enterprise, and has made wise investments of his money, being a stockholder in the turning establishment for the manufacture of articles from foreign woods, besides being identified with other enterprises. In politics he affiliates with the Democratic party, but has steadily declined official honors.
On September 17, 1878, Mr. Persons was united in marriage with Miss Mary Cook, a daughter of the late George B. and Cornelia (Trowbridge) Cook, respected residents of Winsted. Mr. Cook died in October, 1894, aged sixty-five years, leaving his wife and two children, namely: Mary, now Mrs. Persons ; and William A. Cook, of this city. Mr. and Mrs. Persons reside at 21 Wheeler Street, where they settled in 1888, their house mark- ing, besides a happy home, a centre of attrac- tive and generous hospitality. They have one child, Helen Cornelia, a bright little girl of four years.
UDWIG LINER, a successful farmer of Cornwall, Conn., was born in Ger- many, November 14, 1830, son of Ludwig Liner, who was also a native of Ger- many. Mr. Liner's father emigrated to the United States about thirty years ago, and died in Sharon Conn., at the advanced age of ninety-two years. His first wife became the mother of five children, as follows: Marilla, Abby, Ludwig, Philip, and Jacob. She died at the age of thirty-five; and he married for his second wife Elizabeth Smith, who died aged fifty years, leaving five children, namely :
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LUDWIG LINER.
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Catherine; Philip, second; Peter; John; and Margaret.
Ludwig Liner was educated in the schools of Germany, and in 1848 he emigrated to the United States. After remaining in New York City for eight months and in Poughkeepsie, N. Y., for the same length of time, he went to Amenia, N. Y., where he resided for eight years, and then settled upon his present farm in Cornwall. His property, which consists of two hundred and thirty acres of land, located in the fertile Housatonic valley, is exceedingly productive; and he conducts general farming with prosperity and success.
In 1858 Mr. Liner was united in marriage with Ann M. Beisel, daughter of John G. and Ann M. (Smith) Beisel, the former of whom was born in Germany. Mrs. Liner's parents reared five children: George Adam, Ann M., George P., John G., and Adam S. Mr. and Mrs. Liner have eight children, namely : Mary E., who is the wife of Carl B. Lorch, and has three children - Mary, Carl, and Fred; Jacob, who married Maggie E. Barrett, daughter of Michael Barrett, of Warren, Conn .; Ma- tilla L .; Ludwig, who was killed at the age of twenty-three; John; Ida; Sophia, who is the wife of Charles F. Parent; and Henry.
Mr. Liner is active and industrious, and is prominent among the well-to-do farmers of Cornwall. His friends and neighbors will be pleased to recognize his portrait herewith pre- sented.
ENRY A. BIDWELL, a representa- tive of one of the oldest families of Thomaston, Conn., and a man highly esteemed by those with whom he comes in contact, socially or in the way of business, has since 1884 been in the employ of the Seth Thomas Clock Company, and is now in charge of their supply department. He
was born in this town on April 8, 1841, and is a son of Chauncey and Emily (Love- land) Bidwell.
The Bidwell family are of English descent, and were among the pioneer settlers in this country. Grandfather Bidwell, who was a na- tive of Watertown, Conn., spent his life in that place. Chauncey Bidwell passed his boy- hood on a farm in Watertown; but, on attain- ing his majority, he came to Thomaston, which at that time could boast of no more than a dozen houses, and entered the employ of the Seth Thomas Clock Company, with whom he continued for half a century, for many years being foreman of their finishing department. He lived to be eighty-eight years old, and was active up to within a short time of his death. His wife, Emily Loveland, daughter of Ashbel Loveland, an early settler of Watertown, Conn., lived to the age of eighty-two years. They reared one son, Henry A. Both parents were honored members of the Congregational church.
Henry A. Bidwell grew to manhood in the village of Thomaston, where he attended the village school until eighteen years of age, and then entered the academy at Watertown, and subsequently became a student of the Episco- pal Academy at Cheshire, Conn. After com- pleting his education, he secured a position as clerk in a store in New Britain, which he left three years later to accept a similar situation in Hartford, where he remained for four years. He next established himself in business in a general country store at Windsor, Conn., which he conducted with good results for nine years. He then sold out, and went to New York City as clerk in a large store, and con- tinned in that place until 1884, when he re- turned to Thomaston, and went to work for the Seth Thomas Clock Company, as above mentioned.
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Mr. Bidwell has been married twice. His first wife, whom he wedded in 1865, was Miss Emily Wolcott, a daughter of Nelson Wolcott, of South Windsor, Conn., where she was born on her father's farm. She died when but twenty-eight years of age, leaving one daugh- ter, Ida, who lives with her father. Mrs. Emily W. Bidwell was a member of the Con- gregational church. Mr. Bidwell's second union was with Mrs. Martha (Foster) Johnson, a daughter of Frederick Foster, of Goshen, and now the sole survivor of a family of three children. Mr. Foster was born at Pough- keepsie in 1816, settled in Goshen in his younger days, and resided there until 1866, since which time he has made his home with his daughter in Thomaston. His wife, Sarah Davidson, was born in Cornwall, where her father, Asa Davidson, spent the greater part of his life. She died at seventy-four years of age. Mrs. Martha F. Bidwell has borne her husband one daughter, Jennie, now a young lady of sixteen years.
In politics Mr. Bidwell is a loyal adherent of the Republican party, but has never been an aspirant for official position. He is a member of Union Lodge, No. 96, A. F. & A. M., of Thomaston, and was formerly con- nected with Union Lodge of Windsor, where he served as Treasurer a number of years. He and his wife are attendants of the Congrega- tional church, toward the support of which he is a liberal contributor.
ALTER S. FYLER, a successful mechanic and highly respected citi- zen of Torrington, Conn., son of Carlton C. and Louisa (Barber) Fyler, was born here on March 14, 1873. His father was born in Newfield, which is a part of the town of Torrington.
His paternal grandfather, Harlow Fyler, a practical farmer, was a lifelong resident of Torrington. He was the father of five chil- dren, of whom Orsamus, Florimond, and Carl- ton C. are now living. Carlton C. Fyler grew to manhood under the parental roof, assisting his father in the varied duties of the farm; and, when he started in life for himself, he continued his agricultural labors, and in addi- tion thereto he engaged in speculative invest- ments. He remained in Torrington and vicin- ity up to 1880, when he removed to Dakota; and later he went from Dakota to California, where he now resides. His wife, Louisa Barber Fyler, who was born in the town of Torrington, is a daughter of Orson Barber, late a successful farmer and a worthy represen- tative of one of the oldest families of the town. Mrs. Louisa B. Fyler has reared three children, namely: Carlton C. and Sheridan, both of whom live in California; and Walter S., with whom she resides on a pleasant place four miles from the village. She is an es- timable and highly intelligent woman, and a member of the Congregational church.
Walter S. Fyler spent his early years with his mother, acquiring his education in the public schools, and then worked for some time by the month on a farm. He next secured a position in a grocery store, where he remained one year; and the following year he was em- ployed by the Union Hardware Company. Later on he was engaged by Mr. Green in the flour and feed business, and from the latter place entered his present position with the Eagle Bicycle Company, where he is employed as an assembler of wheels. On November 21, 1894, he was united in marriage with Miss Marion Drake, who was born in Winchester, Conn., but early removed with her parents to Torrington, where she received her education. She has one sister, Elma Drake. Their
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father, Miner Drake, is a representative of one of the oldest families of Torrington. In politics Mr. Fyler is a stanch supporter of Re- publican principles.
OHN A. BUCKINGHAM, a retired business man, who occupies a pleasant residence situated opposite to the com- mon in Watertown, was born in Waterbury, New Haven County, April 1, 1839, son of Scovill M. and Charlotte A. (Benedict) Buckingham. Mr. Buckingham's grandfather, John Buckingham, was a native of Oakville, and was there for many years engaged in the manufacturing of plated ware and daguerrco- type materials, also conducting a farm. He resided in Oakville a greater part of his life, but passed his latter years in Waterbury, where he died at the age of eighty-two years.
Scovill M. Buckingham, son of John, was born at the homestead in Oakville. In young manhood he engaged in the industry which his father had established. Later moving to Waterbury, he was connected with the Scovill Manufacturing Company for many years, being an able and successful business man and a worthy citizen. He died in Waterbury at the age of seventy-nine years. His wife, Char- lotte Benedict, who passed onward at seventy- seven, was a daughter of Aaron Benedict, a member of the manufacturing firm of Benedict & Barnum of Waterbury. Her father lived to the age of eighty-six years. Mr. and Mrs. Scovill M. Buckingham reared but one son, John A., the subject of this sketch.
John A. Buckingham received his education in the schools of Waterbury, and at the age of seventeen went to New York City, where he was for eight years employed as a salesman for the Scovill Manufacturing Company. He then spent two years travelling in Europe;
and upon his return to the United States he engaged in business in New York City, becoming an active and successful operator among the financiers of Wall Street. After fifteen years of prosperity in the metropolis, he relinquished business pursuits, and six ycars ago retired to his home in Watertown, where he occupies the old Warren place, so called, which is one of the most desirable pieces of residence property in this vicinity. Hc is both a prominent and popular citizen, interested in the growth and development of the town, enjoying the respect and good will of the community. Aside from his valuable real estate holdings here, he owns a large piece of farm property in Middlebury. He is a Republican in politics, and is actively in- terested in public affairs, but has never as- pired to political honors.
In 1869 Mr. Buckingham was united in marriage with Anna McLean, daughter of Samuel McLean, an extensive dry-goods im- porter of Brooklyn, N. Y., and has two chil- dren, namely : Scovill McLean, who is now a student at Yale College; and Charles Bene- dict. Mr. Buckingham is an Episcopalian in religion, as were his parents, and is a liberal supporter of Christ's Church.
HARLES P. LYMAN, a prominent merchant of Washington and ex-mem- ber of the Connectient Senate, was born in New Preston, Conn., May 9. 1858, son of Dr. Edward and Sarah ( Lemmon) Lyman. His father was born in Salisbury, Conn., and received a liberal education. After graduat- ing from Yale College, where he pursued a thorough course of medical studies, he located in New Preston, where he became known as a skilled and reliable physician, his practice ex- tending over a period of forty years. He oc-
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cupied a prominent position among the leading men of the town, serving as a member of the legislature; and, although a consistent Re- publican, he was free from party prejudice. Hc was a highly csteemed and useful citizen, possessing many admirable qualities of heart and mind., He died in 1882, at the age of sixty-onc years. His wife, Sarah Lemmon, was a daughter of Charles C. and Fanny R. Lemmon. She reared but one son, Charles P., the subject of this sketch. She lived to reach the age of fifty-eight years, her death occurring in 1880.
Charles P. Lyman received a good educa- tion, and at the age of eighteen went South, where for six years he was engaged in business with his uncle. He then returned to New Preston, and entered into mercantile pursuits, in which line of business activity he has since continued with gratifying results. He con- ducts a large general store, in which he carries an extensive and varied line of goods; and his business ability and enterprise have placed him in the front rank among the solid mer- chants of his locality. In politics he is a Democrat, and has several times been called upon to serve in public office. He was a member of the Connecticut House of Repre- scntatives for two terms, and was elected to the Senate in 1891. During his term of ser- vice in both houses he faithfully guarded the interests of his constituents. He was Post- master in this town during President Cleve- land's first administration, and was a cour- teous and obliging official; and in 1893 he served as County Commissioner.
Mr. Lyman was united in marriage in 1883 to Nellie Sperry, daughter of Walter D. Sperry, of Washington. They have three children : Edward P., Henry L., and Eveline. The family are attendants of the Congrega- tional church.
C OHN QUANE, a successful dairyman of Goshen, was born in Templederry, Ire- land, September 25, 1831, son of John, Sr., and Mary (Hickey) Quane. Mr. Quane's grandparents, Richard and Alice (Hunt) Quane, natives of Ireland, died at the respec- tive ages of seventy and eighty years. The children reared by them were: Mary, Alice, Jane, John, and William.
John Quane, Sr., Mr. Quane's father, was born in Templederry, Ireland. He emigrated to the United States in 1851, and settled in Litchfield, Conn. His wife, who was a native of Ireland and daughter of James Hickey, be- came the mother of one son, John, Jr., the subject of this sketch.
John Quane, Jr., emigrated to the United States with his parents, and engaged in farm- ing. In 1859 he bought his present farm in Goshen, where he has since resided. He de- votes his eighty acres of land entirely to the purposes of dairying, in which he has been most prosperous. In 1856 Mr. Quane was united in marriage to Hannah Ryne, daughter of Michael Ryne, a native of Ireland. Mr. and Mrs. Quane have one son, Richard, who wedded Anna Ryne, and has four children, named respectively John, Martin, Joanna, and Eddie. Mr. Quane is a progressive farmer and an intelligent and useful citizen. In politics he is a Democrat, and his religion is the Catholic.
OHN LINER, the genial proprietor of the Brookside Hotel of Sharon, where during the past two years he has pro- vided excellent accommodations for travellers, was born on the other side of the Atlantic on February 19, 1849.
Ludwick Liner, father of John, left his transatlantic home about thirty years ago to come to America, accompanied by his sons.
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JOHN LINER.
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They settled in Sharon, Litchfield County, Conn .; and here the father continued to live until his death, which occurred in the nine- tieth year of his age.
John Liner, one of the sons who made the trip to the United States in search of a broader field of action, spent the first years of his resi- dence here at work on different farms in Sharon; but after his marriage he purchased a farm south of the village, and during the fol- lowing fourteen years he was successfully en- gaged in general farming. His next business venture was the purchase of Pleasant View Hotel in Sharon Village, of which he re- mained proprietor and manager for a half- dozen years, conducting the business of inn- keeping with good results. In 1890 he pur- chased a one-hundred-and-fifty-acre farm half a mile north-west of the village, and for three years he combined the vocation of a farmer with his other calling of entertaining the travelling public. Two years ago, in 1893, he sold the Pleasant View Hotel, and bought the Brookside Hotel. Here he is doing a thriving business, and his many friends and patrons wish him a still further measure of success than he has already attained.
In 1873 Mr. Liner was married to Miss Mary Klebes, a daughter of Lawrence Klebes, of Smithfield, N. Y. ; and during the years that have followed two sons and two daughters have been born into their household - namely, Hannah, Charlie, Lawrence, and Mabel.
The accompanying portrait of Mr. John Liner will be of interest to numerous friends and ac- quaintances.
EV. ELIJAH W. WOODRUFF, an ) old and esteemed citizen of Washing- ton, Conn., was born in this town, February 26, 1830. He is a son of Elijah and Zillah (Warner) Woodruff, and grandson
of John Woodruff, one of the early settlers of Washington, who was born and reared in Farmington, Conn. John Woodruff was a nat- ural mechanic, but devoted the greater part of his time to farming. He died in Washington on September 6, 1806, at the age of seventy- two. His wife, whose maiden name was Sarah Baker, passed to the other life on No- vember 2, 1822, aged eighty-three. They reared a large family, as follows: Lois, born in 1756; Samuel, in 1758; Thoday, in 1762; Eunice, in 1764; Sarah, in 1767; John, in 1771; Elijah, March 14, 1775; and Truman, on September 8, 1778.
Elijah Woodruff, son of John, was a native of Washington. In his youth he learned the shoemaker's trade, at which he continued to work at intervals, also tilling a farm. This combination of occupations was very common in those days, before the time of shoe facto- ries; and many an old farm-house standing to-day has a small shop in the rear, where in carly times might have been heard the patter of the shoemaker's hammer on the lapstone. Elijah Woodruff died June 16, 1859, having been twice married. His first wife, Cathe- rine Wildman, who was born in 1781, died in 1826, aged forty-six years. His second wife, Zillah Warner, attained the advanced age of eighty-eight, being called to rest on November 10, 1883. The following children were born to her: Elijah W., whose name begins this sketch; Charles T., who was twice married, his first wife, Charlotte Geer, of Kent, dying August 7, 1879, at the age of forty-seven, and who by his second wife, Mary E. Clark, has two children - Clifford C. and Nellie W. Woodruff ; Sarah F. ; and Merritt S., who mar ried Anna Cogswell.
Elijah W. Woodruff took his first steps in learning's way at the district school of his native town, and afterward attended the acad
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emy, where he mastered the more advanced branches. He studied theology, but never was physically strong enough to take full charge of a parish, though retaining his con- nection with evangelical work, acting as sup- ply minister for the Congregational church for the past twenty years. He is also well known as a correspondent of many of the leading newspapers of the day.
In politics Mr. Woodruff is a Republican, and was one of the first fourteen who voted that ticket in the State of Connecticut. He is regarded with estcem by all who know him, not only for his scholarship and culture, but also for his sterling character and amiable disposition.
OHN R. BOSTWICK, a retired business man and a highly esteemed resident of New Milford, was born in that town, January 9, 1820, son of Jared and Ann (Cop- ley) Bostwick. Mr. Bostwick is a descendant of Arthur Bostwick, who with his son, John Bostwick, emigrated from England, and settled in Stratford, Conn., in 1650. They were the first of the family to settle in America.
John, second, son of John and Mary (Brins- mead) Bostwick, settled in New Milford in 1708. He owned a large tract of land, and the Boardman homestead on Main Street was a part of his property. He married Mercy Bushnell; and his eighth son, Daniel Bost- wick, had the distinction of being the first white male child born in the town. The first John Bostwick died in New Milford, aged cighty years; and the descent continucd through John (second) and Mercy (Bushnell) Bostwick, the former of whom was born in 1689. He settled upon the land now occupied by John R. Bostwick, and died at the age of fifty-two years. Mr. Bostwick's great-grand- parents were Samuel and Anna (Fisk) Bost-
wick. Samuel Bostwick, born August 3 1723, and died in 1789, built the first frame house in the town, a portion of which is still standing, attached to the rear of the present brick dwelling of Mr. J. R. Bostwick, the latter dwelling being erected by Elisha Bost- wick in 1781. He was a very prominent man in the community, serving as Town Clerk for over fifty years, and as a Representative to the legislature for thirteen consecutive terms. He owned large tracts of land, which he culti- vated by the aid of slaves. A fact worthy of note is that he freed his slaves long before Connecticut permitted such a thing, by selling each to the other for twenty-five cents. He was the wealthiest resident in New Milford in his day, was active in religious affairs, and a member of the Congregational church. Elisha Bostwick, grandfather of John R., was born about 1747, and died in 1833, aged eighty-six years. His wife was Betsey Ferris. She died in the same year as her husband, being sixty-six years old at the time of his death. They were prominent and highly respected residents of the town. Their children were : Betsey A., Jared, and Samuel R.
Jared Bostwick, Mr. Bostwick's father, suc- ceeded to the possession of the homestead ; and he resided there during his life. He was active and progressive, making various im- provements in the property, and was very pros- perous. He occupied a prominent position in the town, of which he was Clerk for eighteen years, besides holding other offices of trust. He was a liberal supporter and a member of the Congregational church ; and he died in Jan- uary, 1868. His wife, Ann Copley, became the mother of five children, as follows: Stan- ley G., George H., John R., Mary A., and Frederick E. The mother died November 21, I 869.
John R. Bostwick was educated in the
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schools of his native town ; and, when a young man, he learned the trade of a harness and trunk maker. He relinquished that occupa- tion, and on December 11, 1840, became a brakeman on the Housatonic Railroad. He was soon advanced to the position of a conduc- tor. After nine years of service he resigned, and became the first conductor upon the Hud- son River Railroad, in which capacity he re- mained for ten years. He was subsequently made superintendent of this railroad. Having held that position for a time, he resigned, and engaged in the hotel business in New York City, as proprietor of Bostwick's Murray Hill House, situated at the corner of Fortieth Street and Sixth Avenue. In 1860 he went South, and visited Washington, New Orleans, and other cities. In 1868 he entered mercantile business in Bridgeport. Two years later he returned to New Milford, and started in the meat and provision business, which he con- ducted successfully for eleven years. Since 1888 he has resided at the old homestead, where since his retirement he has devoted his spare time to dairy keeping and the care of bees. He has always taken an active interest in the growth and improvement of the town.
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