USA > Connecticut > Litchfield County > Biographical review; this volume contains biographical sketches of the leading citizens of Litchfield County, Connecticut > Part 66
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with a niece, Mrs. George P. Haskell, using the old home as a summer residence. Al- though Miss Bostwick has reached the ad- vanced age of eighty-one years, she is still blessed with good health, and enjoys the so- ciety of her large circle of friends and ac- quaintances, by whom she has always been held in the highest respect.
Mrs. George P. Haskell, Miss Bostwick's niece, who was previous to her marriage Mary Frances Woodin, is a daughter of Sheldon G. and Mary F. (Bostwick) Woodin. Her father was born in the Lower Merryall District in 1812. In early manhood he went to Rock Island, Ill., where he acquired a large tract of land, which he cultivated with prosperous re- sults, and resided there for the remainder of his life. In 1860 his daughter, Mary Frances, married George P. Haskell, who was born in Monroe, Mich., July 1, 1839, son of Norman and Elizabeth (Folsom) Haskell. Mr. George P. Haskell is connected with the New York Life Insurance Company. He owns and with his family occupies a pleasant residence in Brooklyn. He is well known among insur- ance men, and for some years past has taken charge of Miss Bostwick's property. Mr. and Mrs. Haskell have two children, namely : Alice I., who was born August 13, 1861; and Norman R., born February 5, 1864.
ENRY VOLKMANN, a highly intel- ligent citizen and well-known hotel- keeper of Torrington, who died on September 26, 1895, was born on September 22, 1835, in Bavaria, Germany, of which county his parents, Carl and Kunigunda (Griesbach) Volkmann, were both natives.
Carl Volkmann was a baker by trade, and he continued in that line of business through- out his life. His wife, Kunigunda Griesbach
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Volkmann, bore him seven children, of whom six are still living : Ernest, residing in New Britain, Conn. ; Pauline, the wife of John Müller; Henry; Margaret, widow of Andrew Spoerl; Martin; and Charles, a barber in Tor- rington. Mrs. Henry Volkmann came to America, and spent her last years with her children, her death occurring at the age of seventy-five. She and her husband were con- sistent members of the German Lutheran church.
Henry Volkmann acquired a good practical education in the schools of his native town, and then engaged as a weaver. At thirty-two years of age, in 1867, having saved sufficient money to pay his passage to America, he em- barked on a sailing vessel; and after a voyage of fifty-two days he landed in New York with but twenty-five cents in his pocket. He first secured work on a farm in Torrington, Conn., and later on obtained a position in the wool- len mill at Rockville, Conn., where he re- mained two and one-half years. He next returned to Torrington, and during the suc- ceeding three years was employed in the spoon- shop. After that, being forced on account of failure of the parties who owned this industry to seek another position, he worked for the Union Hardware Company until he secured a situation in New Britain, Conn., where he remained a year. Mr. Volkmann then again came back to Torrington, where he first en- gaged in the vocation of a barber, and later obtained a position in the skate-shop, in which he was employed two years and a half. Hav- ing by that time accumulated sufficient prop- erty to enable him to erect a house, he estab- lished himself in the hotel business on South Main Street, remaining there eight years. He then went into the building next to where the present hotel now stands; and later on, as his patronage continued to increase, desiring
more commodious and attractive quarters, he purchased the old building which stood on the site adjoining, and here in 1888 he erected the present three-story structure, the finest on the street, in which he conducted a German inn, known as the Germania Hotel. He also owned two houses on South Main Street.
On August 8, 1865, he was united in mar- riage with Miss Johanna Dhus, a daughter of John Dhus, of Bavaria, where the ceremony was solemnized. She was born in the same town as Mr. Volkmann, in which place her father was successfully engaged as a carpenter and wood-turner. Mr. Dhus was twice mar- ried, having by his first wife one child, and by his second wife four children, of whom Mrs. Volkmann is one; and she and a half-brother residing in Saxony are the only survivors. Her mother died in Germany at sixty-eight years of age, and her father in his seventy-first year. Mrs. Volkmann bore her husband six children, four of whom are living: Charles W. ; Charles C., who married Miss Emily Bickel, of Newark, N. J., daughter of Charles Bickel, a brewer; Louisa J. ; and Ernest A. The two eldest were born in Germany, and came with their mother to America in 1870. The children have received the full advantages of the schools of Torrington ; and all are still at home, the two sons being engaged in the hotel business. After coming to this country, Mr. Volkmann and his family twice visited his native land; and he also travelled quite exten- sively in the country of his adoption, spending with his wife two winters in Florida, besides making various other trips to different places.
In politics Mr. Volkmann was a supporter of Republican principles. Fraternally, he was a member of the D. O. H., a German Lodge, of Torrington, and was formerly a member of the Mannie, a higher degree of this lodge in Winsted. The family are all mem-
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bers of the German Lutheran church. Start- ing in life with very meagre pecuniary resources, Mr. Volkmann by persevering in- dustry and good business ability acquired a comfortable competence.
ENRY GAY, a citizen of Winches- ter, Conn., was born in Salisbury, Conn., April 5, 1834, and, after acquiring a rudimentary education in the dis- trict schools, pursued his studies for two terms in the Salisbury Academy. He left school at the age of thirteen to accept the position of clerk in a country store in Lakeville under R. B. Mitchell, with whom he remained for four years. He then served as clerk in the Iron Bank of Falls Village, Conn., coming to Winsted in 1854 to take a position as book- keeper in the Winsted bank, of which George Dudley was then President. He remained with this institution until 1868, at which time the bank wound up their business, paying their stockholders in full with some eleven per cent. profit. During Mr. Gay's connec- tion with the institution he filled the positions successively of cashier and President. In 1874 Mr. Gay was elected cashier of the Hurl- but National Bank at Winsted; and in 1889 he succeeded William L. Gilbert as President, Mr. Gilbert's death occurring in that year. Besides filling this position, Mr. Gay is inter- ested in other prominent business enterprises, among them the George Dudley & Son Com- pany, in which he is a director, the Richards Hardware Company, the Edge Tool Company, Metaliform Company, Winsted Optical Com- pany, Winsted Yarn Company, New England Knitting Company, Morgan Silver Plate Com- pany, and the W. L. Gilbert Clock Company. He is also one of the Trustees of the Gil- bert Home, and holds other similar positions.
Mr. Gay is a Republican in politics, and has served the town as Treasurer for six years. He has also held various minor offices, and has represented his town six terms in the legislature, in all these varied positions show- ing good business ability and fidelity to the public interests.
On November 20, 1857, Mr. Gay was mar- ried to Miss Charlotte Watson, daughter of Thomas and Emeline (Curtis) Watson, of Winsted. Mrs. Gay's parents are no longer living. Mr. and Mrs. Gay have one child, Mary, now the wife of Dr. Edward L. Pratt, of Winsted. She is the mother of one son, Henry Gay Pratt.
ENRY J. TUCKER, a prosperous . farmer of New Hartford, and a com- rade of the Grand Army of the Re-
public, was born in this town, August 12, 1843, son of Benjamin, Jr., and Rosalia (Avery) Tucker. Mr. Tucker's great-grand- father, Ephraim Tucker, was an early settler in New Hartford, and followed agriculture as an occupation. His son Benjamin, Mr. Tucker's grandfather, who was born and bred in New Hartford, became an extensive farmer and land-holder, and also engaged in lumber- ing and the construction of roads. He died in New Hartford at the age of eighty years.
His son, Benjamin Tucker, Jr., was born at the old homestead on West Hill. On reach- ing his majority, he purchascd a farm in that locality, which he cultivated with good results until his death, which occurred at the age of seventy-six. His wife, Rosalia Avery, lived to the age of eighty-one. She was a daughter of Amos Avery, of Barkhamsted. Of their seven children, the following lived to reach maturity, namely: Ann, who married Warren N. Jones; Sophia, who is no longer living;
H. R. ADKINS.
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Betsey, who married Leonard Tucker; Frank- lin B .; and Henry J., the subject of this sketch.
Henry J. Tucker received his education in the district schools of his native town, and re- sided at home until reaching the age of eigh- teen. He enlisted in 1861 as a private in Company D, Thirteenth Regiment Connecti- cut Volunteers, and served two years in the Civil War, taking part in several important battles. Wounds received at the battle of Irish Bend caused him to be confined in the hospital from April 14 to October 29, 1863, when he was honorably discharged from the service. He returned to his native State, and was employed for a year in the rule factory at Riverton. During the four succeeding years he resided at the old homestead in New Ilart- ford, and then purchased an adjoining farm, which he has since cultivated with substantial success. This is one of the finest pieces of agricultural property in New Hartford, is well improved, and devoted principally to the dairy- ing interests.
In 1866 Mr. Tucker was united in marriage to Julia A. Root, daughter of Orrin Root, of Barkhamsted. Mr. and Mrs. Tucker have had two children, namely - Eugene H. and Harry O. Engene H. Tucker married Caroline I. Sims, daughter of Henry Sims, of Hebron, and has one son, named Dwight B. Eugene H. is now a student at Yale University Law School. Harry O. Tucker is a student at an agricultural college, and will graduate in 1896.
A Democrat in politics, Mr. Tucker has served as an Assessor and a Selectman for sev- eral years, being at one time Chairman of the Board. Besides being connected with the society of the veterans of the Civil War, he is a member of Amos Beecher Lodge, A. F. & A. M., of the Knights of Pythias, and of the local Grange of the Patrons of Husbandry.
Mr. Tucker attends the Methodist Episcopal church. He is known and esteemed as an en- ergetic farmer, a useful and intelligent citizen, and able public official, one who while in office has always sought to administer public affairs for the best interests of the town.
ENRY R. ADKINS, harness-maker, is one of the oldest and best known residents of Winsted, where he has lived close on forty years. He was born in Plymouth, Conn., January 30, 1815, and is the son of Mason and Amanda (Weed) Adkins. His paternal grandfather, David Adkins, was born November 12, 1759, and, though only six- teen when the war opened, became a Revolu- tionary soldier. He was bred on a farm, and also learned to make shoes - a common custom in those days before the time of factories and sewing-machines. He had a farm in Plym- outh, Conn., but in the latter part of his life was very lame, being obliged to use a staff as support, and confined his work to the shoe- maker's bench. He died November 21, 1844. His wife, Cornelia Cleaver, born April 14. 1761, became the mother of eleven children, six daughters and five sons. One of them, Jonathan, died at sixteen : the others lived to a good age.
Mason Adkins, son of David, was born Jan- uary 29, 1788. He also was in early life a farmer and shoemaker, but devoted his last years to farming alone. He died on May 20, 1874. His wife, Amanda Weed, whom he married on May 4, 1814, was born July 2, 1790, and lived through the joys and sorrows of over sixty years of wedlock, dying on June 18, 1880. Mr. and Mrs. Adkins were Ortho- dox Congregationalists. Their remains are resting in the burialground at Thomaston. now adjoining the church which they often at-
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tended. They had seven children, and reared three sons and three daughters. One son, Seth, died at fifteen; and a daughter is now a widow, living at Ormond, Fla. Charles Adkins was a farmer at the old homestead, where he cared for his parents in their old age. He died at the age of sixty, leaving four chil- dren, namely : two daughters who married, one being now deceased; and two sons, who are living on the home farm.
Henry R., the eldest son of Mason Adkins, attended the district school until seventeen years of age. He then went to learn the har- ness-maker's trade, binding himself to an apprenticeship of four years, three months of the first year to be given in which to attend school. He opened his first shop at Bakers- ville, where he could have all the stock he wanted on time. He has worked at his trade constantly since his seventeenth year, and at one time sold all the goods he could manufact- ure, keeping six good workmen continuously busy. He still carries on his business, though eighty years old, employing two men.
Mr. Adkins married Ruth Ann Baker, a native of Connecticut, and has had two chil- dren. The elder, Courtney Buckland, died in 1872, leaving a widow; his sister, Anna Ger- trude, became the wife of Howell Dutton, and died April 20, 1876, at the age of twenty- five. Two grandchildren have likewise gone before, Mr. Adkins's son and daughter having each lost a child in infancy.
Mr. Adkins has been a Republican, but is now independent in politics. With his wife he attends the Congregational church, of which he has been a Deacon for many years. He came to Winsted in 1857, and since that time - during thirty-eight years - he has lived in his present cosey home.
The accompanying portrait of Mr. Adkins will be of interest to the general reader as
well as to his friends and neighbors, by whom he is held in much esteem as a man and a citizen.
OSES LYMAN, of honored mem- ory, formerly a prosperous merchant of Goshen and West Cornwall, and later prominently identified with the iron industries of Litchfield County, was born in Goshen, Conn., on October 1, 1810, and died in 1883.
In his youth Moses Lyman partially fitted for college under the instruction of the Rev. Timothy Cooley, of Granville, Mass., and at Goshen Academy; but his eyes not proving strong enough for continued study, and his tastes inclining him in other directions, he turned his attention to mercantile pursuits, at sixteen years of age entering the store of M. and E. Lyman, and from that time forward, to use his own words, he "took care of him- self." During the early days of the Housa- tonic Railroad he did a large and prosperous business in both Goshen and West Cornwall with John P. Porter, under the firm name of Lyman & Porter. About 1844, in company with Samuel S. Robbins, of Salisbury, Conn., Lee Canfield and the Hunts, of Canaan, he was one of the founders of the Hunts-Lyman Iron Company in Canaan. A few years after, relinquishing his mercantile business, he be- came still more largely interested in the manufacture of charcoal pig iron from the celebrated Salisbury (Conn. ) and Richmond (Mass.) ores, and so continued to the close of his life. In 1867 he made a trip to Florida, where he purchased lands in Orange County and developed a portion of his purchase for raising oranges. There in the midst of his groves, which are now in full bearing, sur- rounded by beautiful lakes, he erected his charming home, "Onoro," where for about ten
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years he spent his winters. The rapid devel- opment in that section of the State proves that as a pioneer he anticipated the future with wisdom. He was one of the incorporators of the Cayuta Wheel and Foundry Company of Waverly, N. Y., which was organized in 1872, and continued to serve as president of the company until 1877, when he was prostrated by illness, from that time until his death, in 1883, being obliged to give up all active business.
On the 6th of May, 1834, he married Miss Mary Ann Holley, a daughter of John Milton and Sally (Porter) Holley, of Salisbury, Conn., who still survives him, and is now liv- ing in Goshen, Conn. Their union was blessed by the birth of five children : Moses, Mary, Alice, Richard, and Holley P., the two younger of whom died in childhood - Richard at four years of age, and Holley at eleven. Moses, who was a graduate of Brown Univer- sity, served in the Civil War as First Lieuten- ant in the Fifteenth Regiment of Vermont Volunteers in 1862-63. After the war was over, he engaged in the lumber business for a few years; and, when the Cayuta Wheel and Foundry Company was incorporated at Wav- erly, N. Y., he became its treasurer, and later was its general manager. On December 31, 1863, he was united in marriage with Miss Ellen A. Douglass, of Mauch Chunk, Pa., who died in 1871, at thirty-one years of age, leaving three children : Moses, Jr., who mar- ried Miss Florence Van Fleet, of Williams- port, Pa. ; Isabelle, the wife of Lewis D. Atwater, a banker at Waverly, N. Y. ; and Harriet D., who died at the age of four years and six months. For his second wife, in 1873, he married Miss Sarah H. Beebe, a daughter of Philip S. Beebe, of Litchfield, Conn., by whom he has one daughter, Mary Alice.
Mary Lyman married on June 15, 1865, Philip Wells, a banker of Brattleboro, Vt., who died at Amenia, N. Y., in January, 1872, leaving her without children. Several years later she married the Rev. Lyman Phelps, an Episcopal clergyman, who went to Florida for his health. They now reside in a beautiful home on a part of the land first improved by her father, surrounded by orange groves and every semi-tropical attraction. She has no children. Alice Lyman is the wife of J. T. Sawyer, a banker of Waverly, N. Y., and has one daughter, Ellen.
Moses Lyman was a man of sound judgment, unwearying energy, and strictest integrity. It was his pride, though not a boast, that his word was never dishonored. He was for many years a member of the Congregational church in Goshen, and he ever lived a consistent Christian life. He has left a stainless record in business and in private life, and he be- longed to a class of men who in character and generation are rapidly passing away.
HARLES B. MATTOON, a leading farmer and dairyman of Watertown and an ex-member of the State leg- islature, was born upon his present farm, De- cember 23, 1851, son of Dayton and Ruhamah (Wakeman) Mattoon. His father, Dayton Mattoon, was born in Vienna, Oneida County, N. Y., August 20, 1811. William Mattoon, our subject's grandfather, dying when Dayton was but six years old, the latter resided in Watertown with his uncle until reaching the age of sixteen. He then worked out by the month, but four years later returned to his adopted home. He managed the farm during his uncle's declining years, and eventually succeeded to the ownership of the property, becoming one of the most prominent farmers
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in Watertown. His death took place October 15, 1888, when he was seventy-seven years old. He was a Republican in politics, and for many years was actively interested in local affairs, serving upon the Board of Relief as Assessor, as member of the Board of Se- lectmen, and as Highway Inspector for Water- bury and adjoining towns, the latter a posi- tion which he filled most capably for thirty years. He had the full confidence of the com- munity in which he resided, and was often selected to settle large estates. His wife, Ruhamah Wakeman, whom he married Febru- ary 23, 1831, was born October 19, 1812, and was a daughter of Eli Wakeman, a farmer of Watertown. She became the mother of six children, of whom Charles B., the subject of this sketch, is the only one now living. She still survives at the age of eighty-three years, residing with her son, Charles B. Mr. Mat- toon's father and mother were members of the Congregational church, of which his father was a Deacon for many years.
Charles B. Mattoon acquired his prelimi- nary education in the common schools, com- pleting his studies at the Watertown Acad- emy. He was trained to agriculture, and in 1878 took charge of his father's farm, which he conducted on shares. He also engaged ex- tensively in dairying, and purchased a large herd of cows, besides equipping several wagons for retailing milk. A few years later he purchased his father's interest in the prop- erty, and has continued the enterprise upon a still more progressive scale, keeping at the present time seventy cows and supplying the people of Waterbury with six hundred quarts of milk per day. His farm, which consists of two hundred and ten acres of well-improved land, is devoted entirely to this business. Mr. Mattoon is a Republican in politics; and, although his business interests have compelled
him to decline many important offices, he takes an intelligent interest in public affairs. He has served as a member of the Board of Relief, and in 1885 he represented his town in the legislature. In 1878 Mr. Mattoon was united in marriage to Alice M. Kellogg, of Baraboo, Wis. Her father was Albert F. Kellogg, who was born March 20, 1824, and died October 16, 1886. Mr. and Mrs. Mat- toon attend the Congregational church. They are both highly respected in this town for their many admirable personal qualities.
ATHER LEO, an esteemed clergyman of the Roman Catholic church in Win- sted, where he has been in charge of a parish for thirty years, was born in Southern Italy, August 15, 1833. His father, Leo Rizzo, was born in 1796, and was an infant in his mother's arms at the time when Napoleon was harassing Italy, and when that ruthless invader despoiled Rome, Parma, and Modena of their priceless treasures of art, which he caused to be carried to Paris. On attaining manhood's estate Leo Rizzo became a mer- chant. He died July 1, 1842. His wife, who before marriage was Maria Paladino Fo- restieri, died in 1876, and is buried with her husband in the Franciscan Church of Saracena, Italy. They had two sons and three daugh- ters, of whom only Father Leo and his sister Anna, the latter residing in Saracena, are now living.
Father Leo was educated in Cosenza and at Rome, and was ordained September 20, 1856. He commenced his clerical life in Saracena, and later lived as a friar at Cosenza. During his childhood and youth Italy was con- tinually the scene of warfare, and kept at boil- ing heat by Mazzini and Garibaldi. Assassi- nations were frequent; and the head of the
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Roman Catholic Church, Pius IX., was at one time obliged to leave Rome disguised as a common priest. In 1860 Father Leo came to America as a missionary. He was in the Union army at the time of the Civil War, serving for a time as chaplain in the Ninth Connecticut Volunteers. When he came to Winsted, there was a small parish, comprising not more than one thousand souls. There are now over two thousand, and through the efforts of the zealous pastor some fine buildings have been crected. Latterly, by order of Rome, the Franciscan Monastery has been raised to a house of Franciscan studies; and Father Lco has been appointed Superior and Director of the young friars preparing for the priesthood. The edifice, which is a three-story brick build- ing, fifty-five by thirty-five feet, was built in 1866. The convent, which is of the same dimensions, was erected about ten years ago. The church, measuring one hundred by fifty- five feet, has been standing since 1855, but has been remodelled. The parish school is in a flourishing condition, employing eight teachers, with an average attendance of three hundred pupils. There are nine teachers in the convent. Father Leo at one time also had charge of Torrington, Litchfield, Norfolk, and Colebrook parishes, cach of which has now a resident pastor.
RTHUR E. KNOX, editor and owner of the Woodbury Reporter, was born in the town of Bethlehem, Litch- field County, Conn., September 15, 1855. His grandfather was Anson S. Knox, and his grandmother Sarah (Thompson) Knox. His parents were Levi T. and Julia (Crane) Knox.
Anson S. Knox came from Illinois to Con- necticut, and made his home in the town of Bethlehem, where he became a merchant, and
was also engaged in teaming. He moved to Woodbury, but continued in his old business, living to the advanced age of eighty-six. His first wife, Sarah (Thompson) Knox, died when she was about forty years old, leaving one child, Levi T. Knox, the father of the sub- ject of this biography. Sarah (Roberts) Knox, second wife of Anson S. Knox, left two children, George A. and Frederick Knox, both of whom are now living.
Of the childhood and youth of Levi T. Knox little has been told, but it is evident by the way he increased his property that he was a man of great energy and enterprise. For a time he was engaged in the manufacture of straw-board at the Hutchkinsville paper-mill, but subsequently entered the mercantile field, and in partnership with Albert Judson carried on a thriving business in the town of Bethle- hem. He died at his home in 1864, only thirty-two years of age, having accomplished a great deal in his short but useful life. His first wife, Julia Crane Knox, died in 1856, only twenty-two years old, leaving him one child, Arthur E., above named. There is something very sad in the record of these un- timely deaths. By his second wife, formerly Emily L. Lord, he had three children : Her- bert A .; Emma L., who died in 1886; and Bennet S. Mrs. Emily L. Knox died in 1887.
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