USA > Connecticut > Litchfield County > Biographical review; this volume contains biographical sketches of the leading citizens of Litchfield County, Connecticut > Part 69
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Mr. Alanson L. Weirs and Miss Amelia Knight were united in marriage on October 28, 1879, at Stoneham, Mass., by the Rev. William J. Batt, pastor of the Congregational church. Mrs. Weirs is a daughter of Timothy C. and Betsy (Moore) Knight, both of whom were natives of Thetford, Vt., where they spent their lives, her father being a prosper- ous farmer. By a former wife Thomas Knight had three children. His union with Betsy Moore was blessed by the birth of five chil- dren, all of whom are living, their names being George W., Sarah A., Martha J., Etta, and Amelia. George W. Knight, now residing at Post Mills, in the town of Thet- ford, Vt., served in the Civil War, where he received injuries which have rendered him a cripple. Sarah A. is the widow of William
H. Tyler, who was also engaged in the late war, but was killed by a boiler explosion after his return. Mrs. Weirs in her girlhood re- ceived a good education, pursuing her elemen- tary studies in the district schools, and later being initiated into higher branches of learn- ing at Thetford Academy. She resides at II Park Place, her three sisters making their home with her in the pleasant dwelling erected by her husband opposite the beautiful park.
RTHUR D. WARNER, attorney-at- law, of Woodbury, Conn., was born in Southbury, New Haven County, August 2, 1848, son of Sherman B. and Lydia A. (Hall) Warner. Mr. Warner's great- grandfather, Ard Warner, moved from Hart- ford to Waterbury, where he resided for the rest of his life, becoming a prosperous farmer and an extensive land-owner. He bequeathed to each of his children a good farm. His son, Ard Warner, Jr., Mr. Warner's grandfather, was born in Waterbury, and reared to agricult- ural pursuits. He cultivated his farm with good results, and, by adding more land to his inherited property, became the owner of a large estate. He occupied for many years a substantial residence, situated upon North Main Street in Waterbury, and was widely known as an energetic, far-sighted man and a worthy citizen. He lived to the age of eighty-three years, surviving his wife, Maria Bronson War- ner, who died at sixty-one. They reared six children ; namely, Charles, Abraham, Sherman B., Mary, Nancy, and Mercia.
Sherman B. Warner, third son of Mr. Ard Warner, Jr., was born in Waterbury. When a young man, he learned the trade of a button burnisher, becoming an expert workman in that calling, which he followed as an occupa- tion for several years, and then engaging in
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the drug business for a time. Later, selling out, in company with L. Lane he erected a factory in Waterbury, and carried on the man- ufacture of buttons with profitable results for a number of years. He finally retired from the enterprise and moved to Southbury, where he purchased a farm, and resided there until his death, which took place in February, 1891. An able and progressive business man, for many years he was actively interested in the industrial development of Waterbury. He was one of the founders of the Waterbury American, for which enterprise he furnished the capital, while his associate, Mr. Cook, was the industrial partner; and he was a very public-spirited citizen. In politics he was a Democrat, and, aside from holding some of the important offices of the town, he acted as Trial Justice for several years. His wife, Lydia A. Hall Warner, who is now in her seventy-fourth year, is a daughter of Eli and Irene Hall, and the mother of two children, namely : Arthur D., the subject of this sketch; and Irene H., who was born September 10, 1858.
Arthur D. Warner, having acquired his elementary education in the district schools, continued his studies at Brookfield under the charge of Professor H. D. Noble, and later at Professor T. M. Thompson's Academy, where he was graduated in 1869. He then began the study of law with the Hon. James Huntington, of Woodbury, and, being admitted to the bar in 1872, entered into the practice of his profes- sion in West Cornwall, remaining there for over ten years, or until November 14, 1883, when he returned to Woodbury, and formed a partnership with his former preceptor, the Hon. James Huntington. Mr. Warner has since been here, engaged in legal practice. On April 5, 1893, he was elected Judge of the Court of Common Pleas for Litchfield County, which position he now holds.
On October 14, 1874, Mr. Warner was united in marriage with Julia J. Sherman, daughter of Lewis G. and Jennette E. Sher- man, who were prosperous farming people of Bethlehem. Mr. and Mrs. Warner have had one daughter; namely, Gracie, who died at the age of four months.
ALTER D. MUNSON, proprietor of a steamship line running from New York City to Cuba and Mex- ico, is a summer resident of Litchfield, Conn., spending the remainder of the year in New York City, his place of business being at 80 Wall Street, his residence at 664 Lafayette Avenue, Brooklyn. He is a native of Con- necticut, born February 18, 1843, in West Cheshire. His father, Barnabas Munson, son of Obadiah Munson, was born and brought up in Bethlehem.
Barnabas Munson was a dealer in clocks, and for several years before his death had a good trade in the South, through which he travelled extensively. He departed this life in 1846, being then a comparatively young man. His widow, whose early name was Delia Canfield, was a native of Morris Centre, being one of a large family of children. She bore her husband four children-Martha, Cynthia, Walter D., and Amelia. Martha married Frederick Storrs, of Bridgeport, Conn. ; Cynthia is the widow of Dr. Charles S. Wood; and Amelia, the wife of Charles Słoper, of Meriden, Conn. After the death of her first husband Mrs. Munson became the wife of David W. Wood, a prosperous farmer of this locality, and the owner of the summer home of the subject of this sketch, where she spent her remaining years, dying in 1882, at the age of seventy-three years.
Walter D. Munson was but three years of
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age when his father died. Two years later he came with his mother to Litchfield, and, after living two years in that part of the town then called Bantam, went to Morris Centre, where he stayed two years. He then came to Litch- field, and here devoted himself to his studies for some years, finally completing his school life at the Hudson River Institute at Claverack, N. Y. In August, 1861, Mr. Munson enlisted as a private in Company E, Eighth Connecti- cut Volunteer Infantry, and served for four years and nine months, being mustered out in March, 1866, with the rank of Captain, having passed through the intermediate grades of Lieutenant and Quartermaster. He was in the quartermaster's department during service in Texas, and also acted for a time as Assist- ant Adjutant-general. At the close of the war he went to Havana, Cuba, where he re- mained for fourteen years, engaged in refining petroleum, being a pioneer in this branch of industry in that country. During this period he made a visit every summer to the North, visiting Litchfield, and remaining usually about two months. On his return to the United States in 1882, he located in New York City, although he still continues to spend his summers in Litchfield, and estab- lished his present steamship line, which he has conducted with signal success.
In 1863 Mr. Munson was united in marriage with Miss Emily Wood, a native of Broome County, New York, born in the town of Ves- tal, where her parents, David W. and Beulah (Beach) Wood, were then living. Their wedded pathway has been pleasantly marked by the birth of five children, namely : Della, who married John Coyle, of Brooklyn, N. Y., and has two children - Walter Wensley and Emily Beulah ; Carlos W., who married Mabel Williams, and resides in Havana, being in partnership with his father; Frank C., a re-
cent graduate of the Brooklyn Adelphi Acad- emy; and Beulah and Mabel, both at home, pursuing their studies at the Adelphi Acad- emy. A man of inborn sagacity and great native business instinct, Mr. Munson has taken advantage of every favorable opportunity for pushing his enterprises to a successful issue, and has rarely been disappointed in his efforts. A broad and liberal-minded man, with decided views on the leading questions of the time, Mr. Munson has not tied himself to any particular creed in religion or politics, but votes for the men and measures he deems most conducive to the public good, and believes in the divine love and goodness and in humanity. Socially, he is a member of the George C. Strong Post, No. 534, Grand Army of the Republic.
Mrs. Munson's father, David W. Wood, was the eldest of the five children born to his par- ents, Nathan and Lorana (Shove) Wood, the former a lifelong farmer of Warren, this county. Having acquired a fair education, he began when very young to teach school, and continued in that occupation for many years. He first became a land-holder in this town, but, after carrying on farming here for a while, dis- posed of his first purchase, and subsequently was the owner of farms in various places, being one of the most thrifty and prosperous agriculturists of Litchfield County. In 1845 he bought the present home of Mr. and Mrs. Munson, it having been previously known as the Pierce farm, although it was originally school land, belonging to the State. The house, which is substantially built, and has always been kept in excellent repair, was erected a century ago. Here Mr. Wood spent the last three decades of his life, dying in 1875, aged seventy-four years. The maiden name of his first wife was Beulah Beach. She was born in Litchfield, being one of a family
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of twelve children, nine girls and three boys, of Mr. and Mrs. Enos Beach. She lived but forty-seven years; and after her decease Mr. Wood was united in marriage with Mrs. Delia (Canfield) Munson, the widowed mother of the subject of this sketch.
All of the children of Mr. Wood were born of his first marriage, being ten in number, seven of whom are still living. The record of these children is thus chronicled : Annie, who married Edward Gould, died at the age of sixty-seven years; Charles S., who was a grad- uate of the Philadelphia Medical College, served as a surgeon in the army, afterward having charge of a hospital in Sacramento, Cal., and finally locating as a practitioner in New York City, where his death occurred February 1, 1891, aged sixty-five years; Frank D., a photographer in Bradford County, Penn- sylvania; Almon N., an insurance agent in New Haven, Conn. ; Lois, who married, and. is now a widow; Jane, the widow of Henry Payne; Susan, widow of Lyman Marvin; Emily, the wife of Mr. Munson; Lucy, the wife of Whitman S. Osborn, of Litchfield ; Marcus M., the youngest son, although not the youngest child, was educated for the medical profession at the Philadelphia College, and had an extensive practice in Greene, Che- nango County, N. Y., where he departed this life October 5, 1894, at the age of threescore years. Mrs. Munson and her children are members of the Third Unitarian Church of Brooklyn.
SCAR E. BEEMAN, proprietor of a saw-mill in the town of Washing- ton, was born in Kent, Conn., in 1827, son of Harley W. and Mary (Young) Beeman. His paternal grandfather was Lem- uel Beeman, who was a resident of Kent for the greater part of his life. In carly manhood
he followed the occupation of blacksmith, but the latter years of his life were devoted to agriculture. He served seven years as a drum- major in the Revolutionary War. He was accidentally drowned in Lake Waramaug, when seventy-eight years old. His wife by maiden name was Lydia Cogswell, and they reared a family of six children, namely: Reuben ; Havila; Lemuel, Jr. ; Elisha; Harlcy W. ; and Asenath.
Harley W. Bceman was born in Kent. He learned the carpenter's trade, which he fol- lowed successfully for many years, becoming widely known as a skilful and reliable work- man. Most of his life was spent in the town of Washington, where he resided until his death, which was the result of an accident, and took place when he was fifty-four years old. He was a Whig in politics, and held various town offices. In his religious views he was a Methodist. His wife, Mary Young, who was a daughter of Thomas and Mary (Segar) Young, became the mother of four children, as follows: Oscar E., the subject of this sketch ; Esther (Mrs. Payne), who died in 1882; Martha, who became Mrs. Knapp, and has three children; and Elizabeth, now Mrs. Smith, who has four children -- namely, Hat- tie, Mary, Edith, and Myron. Mrs. Harley W. Beeman, who is still living, has reached the age of eighty-five years.
Oscar E. Beeman, after attending the schools of his native town, began at the age of seventeen to learn the carpenter's trade, of which he soon acquired a thorough knowledge. Hle then worked as a journeyman until 1875. when he built the saw-mill which he is now operating. In addition to this he conducts a wagon-shop and is engaged in the manufacture of cider. By close application he has built up a profitable business that monopolizes his entire time and attention. In 1853 Mr. Bee-
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man was united in marriage to Jeanette Cogs- well, a daughter of Charles Cogswell, of Washington. They have one son, Henry W., who married Helen Marvin, and has two chil- dren - Claude and Harold. Mr. Beeman is a Republican in politics, and has performed the obligations of citizenship by serving as a grand juror.
R ALPH E. ALFORD, of Winsted, Conn., a well-known dealer in horses, was born in Avon, Hartford County, in 1857, son of Emerson and Sarah (Pratt) Alford. His paternal grandfather was Daniel Alford, a resident of Virginia, who was in business in the South in ante-bellum days, employing a number of men upon the road, selling clocks and tinware. He married a Miss Mills, of Canton, Conn. ; and they had four sons and four daughters, all of whom married and had families. Of these children three daughters and two sons are still living. Emerson Alford, above named, one of the sons of Daniel, was born in Virginia in 1825. He spent the greater part of his life in agricult- ural pursuits. He and his wife, Sarah Pratt, had four children, as follows: Clara Alford, living at Plainville, at one time a school- teacher, but now retired; Ephraim, who died at two years of age; Ralph E., of Winsted; and Frank J., a farmer in West Simsbury.
Ralph was early initiated in the duties of farm life, at the same time acquiring a fair education in the district schools at Avon and at Williston Seminary. At twenty years of age Mr. Alford took charge of a school in his own district, and he continued to teach for eight terms. Then, with a partner, he started in trade as a dealer in general merchandise at Canton Centre, and later engaged in the same business in Winsted, where for five years he was one of a firm conducting a large variety
store. This store was burned in 1889, and Mr. Alford lost his all. He then decided to begin life anew as a salesman, and would have done so but for a voluntary offer of help from one of Winsted's best men, a large-hearted capitalist, who loaned him money with which he opened a horse market at his present stand, 177-182 Main Street, with a partner, the firm name being Lamphier & Alford. Their prin- cipal business was buying and selling horses, importing largely from the West. Mr. Lam- phier retired on September 14, 1892, since which time Mr. Alford has conducted the business alone, carrying on a large trade, and winning an enviable reputation for hon- esty and square dealing. Mr. Alford has also been engaged in growing tobacco; but, find- ing the business unprofitable, he sold his . interest.
In May, 1882, he was married to Addie L., daughter of Giles A. and Caroline (Higley) Sisson. Two sons were the fruit of their union, both of whom died young. Mr. Alford is a Democrat in politics. His entering his pres- ent business was much opposed by his honest old father, he thinking that honesty and horse- trading were incompatible; but Ralph E. Al- ford has conclusively proved that a man may be a successful horse-trader without infringing on the Decalogue.
DGAR R. LA PLACE, a druggist and apothecary of Salisbury, was born in Deep River, Conn., May 30, 1868, son of Gilbert R. and Emma U. (Lord) La Place. Mr. La Place's grandfather, Francis La Place, was a native of France. He emi- grated to the United States in early manhood, and, landing on Long Island, came up the Con- necticut River to Hamburg, Conn., where he settled, and resided there for the remainder of
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his life, engaged in operating a saw-mill. He died at the age of sixty years. His children were named respectively, as follows: John, Timothy, Frank, Henry, Roswell, Elizabeth, and Gilbert R. Gilbert R. La Place was born in Hamburg, Conn. He learned the trade of a ship carpenter, which he followed for some time, subsequently taking charge of the saws in the finishing department of a piano factory in Deep River, Conn., where he now resides at the age of sixty-two years. His wife, Emma U. Lord, is a daughter of Will- iam Lord, of Deep River, Conn. ; and she be- came the mother of four children, namely : William; Edgar R., the subject of this sketch; Fanny; and Harold. Mrs. Gilbert La Place is still living, being now about fifty years old.
Edgar R. La Place acquired a common-school education, and was employed in a drug store for several years. He then entered the Col- lege of Pharmacy in Philadelphia, from which he was graduated with the class of 1891. He was engaged as hospital pharmacist for nine months, and for a similar length of time had charge of a drug store in New London, Conn. In 1892 he came to Salisbury, and has since been successfully engaged in the drug busi- ness in this village. On July 25, 1893, Mr. La Place was united in marriage to Sarah Champion, daughter of Alonzo and Mary Champion, of New London, Conn.
ON. ALBERT P. BRADSTREET, who is now serving his third term as Judge of the District Court of Waterbury, was born in the town of Thomas- ton, formerly a part of Plymouth, Conn., June 9, 1846. He is the son of Thomas J. and Amanda (Thomas) Bradstreet, and is of Puri- tan ancestry, being descended on the paternal
side from Simon Bradstreet and Joseph Dud- ley, governors of Massachusetts in Colonial times. His father, Thomas Jefferson Brad- street, who is now living in Plymouth, is one of the leading men of the town, a large real estate owner. His mother is the daughter of Seth Thomas, at one time one of the leading manufacturers of Connecticut, whose name is perpetuated in the Seth . Thomas Clock Company.
Albert P. Bradstreet spent his boyhood in attending school in his native town and work- ing on his father's farm. In 1867 he entered Yale College, from which he graduated in 1871 with the degree of A. B. ; and in the fall he entered Columbia College Law School, in New York City, graduating in 1873, with the degree of LL. B. After spending a few months in the law office of Webster & O'Neill, of Waterbury, he opened an office for himself in Thomaston, where his career has been one of marked success up to the present time.
A Republican in politics, in 1877-78 he represented Thomaston in the legislature, and was Senator from the Sixteenth District in the sessions of 1881-82, serving the latter year as Chairman of the Judiciary Committee. In 1879 he was elected Deputy Judge of the Dis- trict Court of Waterbury, and in 1883 was elected Judge, being re-elected in 1887 and in 1893. He was Town Clerk of Thomaston con- tinuously from 1875 to 1891, and Judge of Probate for the Thomaston District from 1882 till 1890. Untiring and energetic in the pur- suit of his legal work, he is liberal in his ideas and careful in his judgment; and no decision of his while upon the bench has ever been reversed. A loyal friend to every good enterprise, he is an untiring for of sham and frand; and this fact, with his exhaustless fund of good nature, makes him universally respected.
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ENRY H. FENN, D. D.S., one of Litchfield's cherished sons, was born August 19, 1868. His father, Henry E., and his paternal grandfather, were both born in this county, and spent the greater part of their lives within its limits. . Grand- father Fenn was a farmer and speculator, and passed a few years in the West, but returned to the scenes of his boyhood some time before his decease, which occurred after a long life of fourscore years. He reared a large family of children, four of whom are still living, namely : Lucinda, the wife of Leonard Stone, formerly a contractor in this town, but now retired from active labor, owing to impaired health; Addie M., wife of William Wilson, of Westport, Conn. ; Henrietta, the wife of William Rogers, of Wisconsin; and George, of Preston, Conn.
Henry E. Fenn acquired a good common- school education, and began the activities of life by engaging in the livery business in Litchfield, in which he was very successful. Later, in connection with that, he became agent here for the Adams Express Company. He subsequently formed a partnership with Henry Botsford, a prominent business man well known in this locality, continuing with him as long as able to pursue active labor. His earthly term was comparatively brief, his career being ended when but forty years old. His wife, whose maiden name was Rosalind Slocomb, was born in Cornwall, where her father, Seneca Slocomb, was a farmer and drover. Mr. Slocomb married a Miss Nicker- son, who bore him five children, none of whom are now living. Mr. and Mrs. Henry E. Fenn were the parents of four children, as fol- lows: Henry H. ; George L., a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania, who has prac- tised dentistry in different States, and is now an assistant of Dr. Roberts in Springfield,
Mass. ; William S., a jeweller in this town in company with Mr. Pratt; and Kitty A., a graduate of the Litchfield High School, and one of the most successful teachers of this vicinity.
Henry H. Fenn received his elementary education at the district and high schools of this village, afterward taking a course at Storrs's Agricultural College in Mansfield. Returning to Litchfield, he soon began the study of dentistry with Dr. Sage, of Bridge- port, and afterward entered the University of Pennsylvania, from which he was graduated in 1888. He began the practice of his profession in New Haven, remaining there a few months, then opening his present office in Litchfield, where he has built up a large and increasing practice. Dr. Fenn has made rapid advance in his professional career, and keeps himself well informed of the later methods of dental surgery, bending his energies to keep pace with the leading members of his profession.
On January 14, 1890, the Doctor was mar- ried to Miss Leva T. Thompson, a native of Unionville, Hartford County, Conn., daughter of Almon Thompson and his wife, the late Jane E. Woodruff Thompson. Mr. and Mrs. Thompson reared five children, three of whom are living, as follows: Emma, the wife of Edson Perkins; Edward; and Leva T., Mrs. Dr. Fenn. Both parents united with the Con- gregational church when young, the father being still a communicant. Dr. and Mrs. Fenn are the parents of two bright and active . children - Ethel T. and George Newell F. The Doctor is a firm advocate of the princi- ples of the Republican party, and is quite influential in social organizations, belonging to the Knights of Honor, to the United Order of American Mechanics, and to the Ancient Order of United Workmen. He is a member of the Congregational church.
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ORACE O. ADAMS, shoe merchant, an esteemed citizen of Winsted, son of Joseph and Almira (Johnson) Adams, was born in Butternuts, Otsego County, N. Y., in 1834. His paternal grand- father, Samuel Adams, was a Connecticut farmer, the greater part of whose life was spent in the town of Bristol, Hartford County. He bore arms in the Revolutionary War, and in the time of peace that followed lived upon his farm, there rearing his two sons and two daughters.
Joseph Adams, son of Samuel, was born on Fall Mountain, Bristol, Conn., in 1791, and was reared to farm life. Some time previous to 1816 he went to Otsego County, New York, and, taking up a farm in that new country, soon had a home prepared for his bride-elect, Al- mira Johnson, for whom he returned to her home in Harwinton, Conn. They made their wedding trip in an ox-cart to New York State, and here remained until 1859, when they sold their farm, and returned to Connecticut, in which State they both died, Joseph Adams in 1874. His wife, who was a woman of amiable character and a conscientious member of the Presbyterian church, had passed away six years before. Their graves are in the cemetery at Plainville. They had eight children - six sons and two daughters. The third daughter was fatally scalded when three years old; but the others reached maturity, and four are yet living, namely: Charles J., in Wisconsin ; Susan L., in Plainville, Conn. ; James N., a clock-maker in New Haven; and Horace O., in Winsted. Joseph Nelson Adams, a Baptist clergyman, . died in Orange County, New York; S. Luke Adams died in Gilbertville in 1852, at the age of thirty, leaving one son ; and Lucy Ann, the wife of John Woodruff, died in Plainville, leaving five children.
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