USA > Connecticut > Litchfield County > Biographical review; this volume contains biographical sketches of the leading citizens of Litchfield County, Connecticut > Part 8
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In 1845 Mr. Randall was united in mar- riage to Minerva Northrop, daughter of Waite S. Northrop, of Brookfield, Conn. He has three children by the union, namely: Caro- line, wife of George W. Hall; Lucy C. ; and George A. Mr. Randall has served as a mem- ber of the Board of Selectmen and as an Assessor. He is a member of Montgomery Lodge, No. 31, A. F. & A. M.
ENJAMIN PLATT, of Thomaston, where for nearly forty years he was in the employ of the Seth Thomas Clock Company, was born in the town of Prospect, then Waterbury, Conn., on the anni versary of Washington's Birthday, in 1806. His parents were Benjamin and Nancy (Bris tol) Platt, the former of whom was born in Old Milford, in 1782.
His grandfather, who also bore the name of Benjamin Platt, was a farmer. He fought on the side of his country in the Revolutionary War, and died fifty years of age. His wife, whose maiden name was Abigail Green, bore him eight children. His son, Benjamin Platt,
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was reared on the farm, and thereafter success- fully engaged in farming as an occupation. He died on his farm in Prospect on August 3, 1870, eighty-eight years of age. His wife, whose maiden name was Nancy Bristol, was born in Milford in April, 1785, and reared him a family of twelve children. Of these, five are still living, namely : Benjamin Platt ; Delia, the widow of Luther Morse; Jane E. Platt ; John R. Platt ; and Mrs. Augusta Hall, a widow. Their mother spent her last days in Prospect, where she died at the age of eighty- two years. Both parents were consistent mem- bers of the Congregational church.
Benjamin Platt lived with his parents until he was twenty-two years of age, receiving a good practical education in the common schools of his native town. He then went to work in Waterbury, and for six years was en- gaged in driving a team from that place to New Haven. In the winter of 1831, while so employed, the harbor being frozen over, he made a trip to New York, driving four horses, and upon his arrival in New York putting up at the Bull's Head Hotel, then the only public stopping-place in that part of the city. In 1834 he removed to Thomaston, where he was engaged by the Seth Thomas Clock Company in a similar capacity, making trips for them to New Haven and Hartford, both of which places were about thirty miles distant. He did this for about twenty years, or until the construction of the railroad, after which he took a position in the packing-room of the company. He worked here until 1873, when he resigned, and has since for the most part lived a retired life. Although now eighty- nine years of age, for a man who has done so much hard work all his life he is remarkably well preserved, both physically and intel- lectually.
He was married in 1838 to Miss Agnes
Welton, of Hamilton, N. Y., who was a daugh- ter of Willard Welton, a successful lawyer of that State. Toward the close of his life her father retired to a farm and still later removed to the village of Hamilton, where he died. He had nine children, of whom four are still living. Mr. and Mrs. Platt have a son and daughter, namely: William B., who, born in 1841, received a common-school education, en- tered the Fourteenth Regiment of the regular army, and afterward fell sick, and died in 1863, twenty-two years of age; and Helen, who married Jonathan M. Peck, of Bristol, Conn., and has three children - Mary C., Arthur B. (a civil engineer), and William Tracy. Her husband is a successful agriculturist.
Mr. Platt is a Republican in politics and has been prominent in town affairs. He served as a Representative to the legislature in 1876 and in 1880, and was elected to the office of Selectman, but declined to serve. He has, however, acted as a member of the Board of Relief for many years. Mr. Platt and his wife are active and influential members of the Con- gregational church, and earnest workers in the Sunday-school, in which his wife has served as a teacher for several years.
ENRY J. ALLEN, of Torrington, Sheriff of Litchfield County and a leading man in his district, was born in Manchester, Conn., May 26, 1831, son of William and Hannah (Johnson) Allen, re- spectively natives of Hebron and New London. His grandfather, Hiram Allen, was engaged in agricultural pursuits in Hebron during the greater part of his life. He also taught school, winning the prominence and respect accorded to a capable instructor of youth. He lived to be sixty-two years of age, dying in Torrington.
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William Allen, father of Sheriff Allen, was a blacksmith by trade, and worked at the anvil in Hebron, Granby, Manchester, and New Britain, conducting a smithy in the latter town for thirty years. Late in life, retiring from active business, he moved to Torrington ; and his last days were spent in East Haddam, where he died in 1890, at the age of eighty- eight. He was twice married. His first wife, in maidenhood Hannah Johnson, was a daughter of David Johnson, a prominent farmer, who was well known in New London, Hebron, and Stamford. Mrs. Allen died in New Brit- ain at the age of fifty-eight, having been the mother of eight children, of whom the subject of this sketch is the only survivor. Mr. and Mrs. Allen were originally members of the Methodist church, but were converted to the doctrines of the Second Adventists.
Henry J. Allen received his education in the common schools and the academy of New Britain. At seventeen he opened a confec- tionery store in that town, and later was engaged in the confectionery business in Hartford and on North Main Street, Torring- ton. In 1851 he engaged as clerk in the hotel at New Britain; and in 1856, when it passed into the hands of a stock company, he was made superintendent. The following year he rented the house, but relinquished it the next year and engaged as clerk in the Massasoit House in Chicago. He subsequently rented the Merchants' Hotel in New Haven, and in March, 1859, he purchased the hotel in Tor- rington now known as the Allen House. Among the improvements he has made in the building is the addition, in 1868, of two sto- ries, thereby enlarging it to four stories. His experience in the hotel business in different places had given him a broad knowledge of the requisites for success in catering to the public : and for the next twenty-five years the Allen
House, under its genial and capable host, had a large patronage. In 1880, finding that other claims on his time interfered with his duties as manager of the hotel, he disposed of the business by letting the house, which is now conducted by Mr. Moulthrop. Mr. Allen has also been a successful auctioneer for thirty years, has dealt extensively in real estate, and for fourteen years has been in the insurance business, now representing the Mutual Life Insurance Company of New York, of which he is one of the most trusted agents. He was elected sheriff of the county in 1884, to serve three years, and has been re-elected each time since. In politics he is a Democrat, and he represented the district in the legislature in 1878. He has also served as Town Constable ten years, Deputy Sheriff nine years, and reg- istrar of voters twenty-five years. In all he has been connected with the sheriff's office twenty-three years. His executive ability is fully appreciated throughout the county.
In 1853 Mr. Allen was united in marriage with Ellen, daughter of Augustus Robinson, a shoemaker of New Britain. Her parents died at her husband's home, the father at eighty-four and the mother at eighty-two years. Mr. and Mrs. Allen are the parents of three children, as follows: Henry J., assistant at the jail in Litchfield, who married Mary Walling, of Irvington, and has four children Emma, Daisy, Harry, and Ellen : Nelly H., who married Herman Huke, assistant superin tendent of the Needle Company, and has one son, Allen ; and Harriet B., who married Pro fessor Charles T. Grilby, the well-known elo cutionist and public reader of Boston, who is now studying oratory in Emerson College.
Mr. Allen is active in Masonic work, having joined the order of A. F. & A. M. in New Britain in 1852, as a member of Harmony Lodge. In 1860 he reorganized Seneca
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Lodge, No. 55, of Torrington, it having been disbanded twenty-five years previously ; and he was the first Master, holding the position for six years, and after an interim of two years for two years more. He is also a member of the Chapter here, and was formerly a member of Giddings Chapter, No. 20, of New Britain. Mr. Allen attends the Congregational church, of which his wife is a member.
G EORGE S. ELMORE, a prominent merchant of Litchfield, partner in the firm of Granniss & Elmore, was born in Winchester, Conn., April 29, 1856, son of George W. and Julia Ann (Johnson) Elmore. Mr. Elmore's grandfather, John Elmore, was a native of North Canaan, Conn. He became a prominent lawyer of Litchfield County, and practised his profession in the county courts for many years. He resided in North Canaan, where he died at the age of sixty-three. He married Phoebe Sterling, and she became the mother of six children, as follows: Sterling and John D., who are no longer living; Frederick W. ; Harriet D., who married Henry Drake; George W. ; and Theodore. She died in Canaan in 1852. Both grandparents were members of the First Congregational Church.
George W. Elmore, Mr. Elmore's father, was born in North Canaan, August 24, 1831. He learned the trade of a tanner and currier in Winchester, and was employed in these trades by the firm of Elmore, Drake & Co. Their business subsequently passed into the hands of his brothers, Sterling and John D. Elmore. In 1861 he enlisted as a private in Company F, Twenty-eighth Regiment, Connecticut Vol- unteers, for nine months' service in the Civil War, and after serving thirteen months re- turned home in feeble health. Upon his re-
covery he was employed at Rockwell's tannery in Winsted for four years, and then went to New York State, where he was engaged in the tanning business with his brother, John D. He later engaged in farming in Litchfield and the adjoining towns, and is at present residing in Litchfield. His wife, Julia Ann (John- son) Elmore, was a daughter of Sheldon and Sarah (Wells) Johnson. Her father, who was a native of Hartford, moved to Torrington, and there became prosperous in farming. He and his wife had six children. Mrs. George W. Elmore became the mother of eleven children, eight of whom are still living; namely, George S., Ida, Hattie C., Charles H., Addie L., Theodore S., Sarah E., and Ella D. Ida is the wife of M. M. Drake, Hattie C. married George Drake, Addie L. married James H. Bailey, and Sarah E. married Frank L. Leon- ard. Those who are deceased were: Sarah E., who died aged six years; Eddie J., who died aged eight months; and James W., who died in 1893, aged forty years. The mother's death occurred in Torrington, September 8, 1892, aged fifty-eight years. Mr. Elmore's parents were Adventists.
George S. Elmore resided with his parents until his father enlisted for the Civil War, at which time he went to live with an aunt, Mrs. Henry Drake. At the age of twelve years he commenced to work upon his grandfather's farm, attending school in the winter season. In 1872 he came to Litchfield; and after work- ing for Charles McNeil, a market gardener, for a year, he entered the employ of Charles B. Lane, who conducted a meat market, and with whom he remained four years. Mr. Lane was succeeded in business by A. L. Judd, but Mr. Elmore continued to work in the market under the new proprietor until 1880. He then formed a partnership with Mr. C. M. Ganung, and they purchased a bankrupt stock, with
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which they started in a general mercantile business. This firm continued in trade until 1882, at which time the present partner, Mr. W. G. Granniss, bought Mr. Ganung's inter- est ; and the firm of Granniss & Elmore have since conducted a very successful business. They carry a complete line of groceries, crock- ery ware, dry goods, gentlemen's furnishings, carpets, and paper-hangings, and have acquired a reputation for being "square " and upright in their dealings. They are good buyers as well as sellers, and import goods when it is for their interest to do so. In 1888 their store was destroyed by fire, but they immediately built their present block, which stands upon the ground formerly occupied by the old dis- trict school, which they purchased of the town. The present building is seventy-five by fifty- nine, with an extension twenty-five feet by nineteen. It is located at 44 West Main Street, one of the finest business positions in town.
Mr. Elmore is a Republican in politics, and has served upon the Board of Burgesses for two years. He is a charter member of the Lodge of Ancient Order of United Workmen, and of the Order of United American Mechanics, being an ex. Councillor of the latter and Mas- ter of the former lodge; and he is Financial Reporter of the Lodge of Knights of Honor in Litchfield. He is also a Past Master of the Workmen's Association of Connecticut and of the Ancient Order of United Workmen, and was a delegate to the Grand Lodge in 1893 and 1895. He was one of the first members of the Litchfield Fire Company, and is to-day closely identified with that organization.
On May 21, 1879, Mr. Elmore was mited in marriage to Nellie R. Peck, of Litchfield. She was born November 11, 1858, daughter of Charles J. and Julia A. (Bradley) Peck, the former of whom was an old resident of Litch-
field. Mrs. Elmore's grandfather, Horace Peck, was a prosperous farmer of Litchfield, who died at the age of seventy years. He married Lydia Orton; and she became the mother of four children, of whom Charles J., Mrs. Elmore's father, was the eldest. Charles J. Peck was born in Litchfield, and was reared to agricultural pursuits. He was also engaged in the wholesale butchering business, which he followed successfully for some years. He died in 1885, aged sixty-four years. His wife, Julia A. Bradley, was born in Litchfield, November 3, 1825, daughter of John R. and Julia A. (Roberts) Bradley. John R. Bradley was a lifelong resident of South Farms, now called Morris, where he followed farming with success. Mrs. Elmore's grandmother, who was born June 3, 1802, became the mother of nine children, of whom Mrs. Elmore's mother was the eldest, and died February 3, 1860. Mrs. Charles J. Peck was the mother of six children, as follows : Lydia J., who died at the age of sixteen; Edwin B., a butcher of Litch- field; Ella A., wife of William H. Cypher, of Worcester, Mass. ; Julia A., wife of Marvin S. Todd, Jr., of Litchfield: Charles E., who formerly resided upon the old homestead, and (lied at the age of thirty-four years; and Nel- lie R., who is now Mrs. Elmore. She was a member of the Congregational church, and died at the age of sixty-five years. Mr. and Mrs. Elmore have two children, namely : George Orton, who was born December 12. 1881 ; and Paul Bradley, born Jannary 22. 1885. Mr. and Mrs. Elmore attend the Con gregational church, Mrs. Elmore being a mem ber. Mr. Elmore's business career has been marked by a degree of energy and perseverance that easily accounts for his success. He, how ever, credits it in a large measure to the timely assistance of Mr. Samuel G. Beach. . prominent citizen of Litchfield, who owned the
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block in which Mr. Elmore first established himself in trade.
WIGHT C. KILBOURN, a well- known resident of Litchfield, Conn., Clerk of the Superior Court of Litch- field County, was born in this town, October 9, 1837. He is the son of William P. and Caro- line A. (Canfield) Kilbourn, and a descendant of early settlers of Connecticut.
Thomas Kilbourn, who came with his fam- ily from Wood Ditton, in the County of Cambridge, England, arrived on the ship "In- crease " in 1635, and settled in Wethersfield, where he died prior to 1639. His descendants have filled with honor various positions in our national history, and some of them have be- come quite prominent. Among them may be mentioned Jonathan Law, LL. D., Governor of Connecticut in 1741-50; Benjamin Silliman, the distinguished scientist ; James Kilbourn, one of the pioneers of Ohio; Byron Kilbourn, the developer of the railroads in the North- west ; Payne Kenyon Kilbourn, a distin- guished genealogist and historian. Thomas Kilbourn's grandsons, Joseph and Abraham, settled in Litchfield about 1721, and from them a large posterity descendcd ; and all have been csteemed and reliable citizens. In 1854 a family meeting was held in Litchfield, at which over five hundred descendants were present.
Abraham Kilbourn, son of John and grandson of Thomas, the immigrant, was born in Wethers- field, and was the first of the family to settle in the town of Litchfield, being among its earliest inhabitants. He was a fuller by occu- pation, and conducted a mill at what is now the village of Bantam, but which was then known as Bradleyville. His descendants in direct line to Dwight C. Kilbourn were all natives and lifelong residents of Litchfield.
The next in line after Abraham was Jesse. He was a farmer, and was the father of Jacob, who was a farmer and currier, and served as Tax Collector and first Constable for many years. Jacob's son, Norman, was the grand- father of the subject of this sketch. He had a large family, of which William P. was one of the older menbers.
William P. Kilbourn, father of Dwight C., was born in the village of Bradleyville, town and county of Litchfield, Conn., in 1811. In early manhood he acquired a knowledge of the carpenter's and wheelwright's trades, which he followed in this county, making his home in Bradleyville. He was a good mechanic, and besides working at his regular trades was often engaged to put machinery into mills of various kinds. He had a wide reputation as an excellent workman, and built the early manufactories in Thomaston in this county. His death occurred in Litchfield, in Novem- ber, 1894, at the advanced age of eighty-two. His wife, Caroline A. Canfield, was a daugh- ter of Nathaniel Canfield, a clothier, born in Remsen, N. Y., and was one of a large family. Her mother, formerly Urania Green, was a cousin of Chief Justice Church, of Connecti- cut. Mr. and Mrs. William P. Kilbourn reared two children, namely: Dwight C., whose name appears at the head of this sketch ; and Jane, who married Andrew D. Smith, a successful and prominent farmer of the town of Litchfield. The mother died in November, 1894, within five days of her husband, aged eighty-one years, having well fulfilled her part in life. She was a member of the Baptist church.
Dwight C. Kilbourn attended the common schools of his native town, supplementing his studies by attendance at the normal school during the winters. He remained in Litch- field until the age of twenty-one, and was
DWIGHT C. KILBOURN.
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engaged for some time in teaching. On at- taining his majority he went to Ohio and taught school at College Hill, not far from Cincinnati, remaining there some three years, and benefiting by a course of private instruc- tion during this period. In 1860 he returned home and began the study of law with Origen S. Seymour, afterward Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Connecticut. Soon after the breaking out of the Civil War he relin- quished his studies for a time and enlisted in Company A, Second Connecticut Heavy Artil- lery. He saw active service under Grant and Sheridan, taking part in the famous Shenan- doah Valley campaign. He was wounded while in the discharge of duty at the battle of Opequan, and sent to the hospital, after his recovery receiving promotion to the rank of First Lieutenant. Toward the close of the war he had charge of a detachment engaged on the fortifications around Washington and Alex- andria, and dismantled several forts. Having been honorably discharged after three years of service, he came back to Litchfield and re- sumed his study of the law, being admitted to the bar in 1866. Going to New York City he remained a short time engaged in the practice of his profession, but soon took advantage of a favorable offer to accept a position as travel- ling salesman in Pennsylvania and the Middle States. After some practical experience on the road he engaged in the mercantile business in East Litchfield, and was variously occupied, holding the position of station agent for nine- teen years, also practising law for some time in company with Chief Justice Andrews, and later independently, until 1887, when he was burned out and lost a valuable library.
In 1888 he was appointed Clerk of the Supe- rior Court of Litchfield County, which position he has ably filled to the present time. He is also prominent in educational affairs, having
been secretary of the School Board for twenty years. He is Commander of the Seth F. Plumb Post, Grand Army of the Republic : Secretary of the Second Artillery Veteran Association ; and President of the Veterans' State Association. He is also a member of the Army and Navy Club. In the Masonic Order he is a member of St. Paul's Lodge, No. II, A. F. & A. M., and Darius Chapter, No. 16. In politics he is a Republican.
Mr. Kilbourn was married July 5, 1866, to Sarah M. Hopkins, a daughter of Edward Hopkins, a well-known citizen, who died in this town at the age of eighty years. On the maternal side Mrs. Kilbourn is descended from Joseph Harris, one of the earliest settlers of Litchfield. She is a member of the Congre- gational church.
Mr. Kilbourn is a gentleman of cultivated mind and wide intelligence. He takes much interest in historical and genealogical matters, and, having at his command a large fund of valuable information, has come to be recog- nized as an authority on these subjects. In 1881 he delivered the historical address at Litchfield, on the occasion of the centennial celebration of St. Paul's Lodge, No. 11. A. F. & A. M. In religion Mr. Kilbourn is of the liberal faith. His personal character is above reproach, his conduct in the affairs of every-day life being so guided as to win the respect of those whose good opinion is most to be desired. Both he and his wife are promi nent in the best society of Litchfield.
A portrait of this influential citizen is placed on a preceding page.
LISHA J. STEELE, superintendent of the wire rod and tubing department of the Coe Brass Manufacturing Com pany, of Torrington, was born in this town
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June 29, 1843, a son of William S. Steele, a native of Derby, New Haven County. His grandfather, Norman Steele, was a well-to-do manufacturer of New Haven County, and, pre- sumably, spent the entire forty-two years of his life in the town of Derby. He married Hannah Spencer, who bore him seven chil- dren, none of whom are now living.
William S. Steele, the father of Elisha J. Steele, was educated and reared to manhood in the village of Waterbury. There he learned the trade of soldering brass, and for many years followed that occupation in the button factory. In 1838 he removed to Torrington, then called Wolcottville, and went to work as a button solderer in the manufactory of Wad- hams & Webster. In this employment he rose to the position of superintendent of the works, which in time became one of the most promi- nent establishments in the place. He worked here until his decease, at the age of forty-two years. William S. Steele had much natural ability, was a clever mechanic, and a man of considerable executive force. He also pos- sessed a fine musical taste, took much interest in musical enterprises, and was for ten years chorister at the Third Congregational Church. He was also influential in religious work, and widely and favorably known in political circles, having been one of the founders of the Republican party. His wife, in maidenhood Caroline Jones, was the daughter of Darius Jones, of Cheshire, New Haven County. Mr. Jones was a farmer by occupation, and spent his entire life in Cheshire, dying at the good old age of seventy-five years. He married Abigail Bristol, a native of Wallingford, who had one other child besides Caroline. She was the mother of seven children, three still living, namely : Abigail, wife of Florimand D. Fyler; Elisha J. ; and George B. She survived her husband, spending her last days at
Torrington. Both she and her husband were prominent members of the Third Congregational Church, and very active in denominational work.
Elisha J. Steele began working with his father in the button factory when a boy of twelve years. Subsequently he took up the papier-maché business, and was employed thereat when the Civil War began. At the first war meeting held in this town his was the first name enrolled of those of the eleven men who enlisted at that time. He became a member of Company I, Fourth Connecticut Volunteer Infantry, subsequently changed to the First Connecticut Heavy Artillery, and served as a private four years and three months. His regiment was one of the best organized and commanded of any in the State, and won a grand record for bravery and fidel- ity. Mr. Steele participated in many engage- ments. He served all through the Peninsular campaign, including the siege of Yorktown, was with Grant in the engagements before Richmond and Petersburg, and assisted in the defence of Washington. After his discharge at New Haven, August 12, 1865, Mr. Steele went back to his native town and entered the employment of Turner & Clark, of the Sey- mour Manufacturing Company. He worked for this firm until 1875, when he engaged with the Coe Brass Company as superintendent of the press department. From this position after four years he was promoted to the super- intendency of the wire and rod department, and in 1889 he was given the additional responsibility of directing the brazed and seamless tube department. In these capacities he has control of about three hundred men.
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