Commemorative biographical record of Hartford County, Connecticut : containing biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens, and of many of the early settled families, Pt 1, Part 104

Author: J.H. Beers & Co
Publication date: 1901
Publisher: Chicago : J.H. Beers & Co.
Number of Pages: 1336

USA > Connecticut > Hartford County > Commemorative biographical record of Hartford County, Connecticut : containing biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens, and of many of the early settled families, Pt 1 > Part 104

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

454

COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

in this work he walked a mile and a half, night and morning, sometimes through snow drifts four feet high. Pay-days came three months apart, and once he had to wait six months for his wages, and as flour was eighteen dollars a barrel in those days he had to use close economy to get along at all. In the meantime he had purchased (in April, 1860)

a part of an acre of land from Guy Sampson, with a small one-room shanty upon it. Here he and his good wife began farming in a small way ; for a num- ber of years he would return from his day's work in some factory to toil on until dark on his little homestead, and rise early to secure a few precious hours in the morning. He built his present resi- dence and farm buildings, and enlarged the place by purchasing other tracts from time to time. Mr. Hutt's farm is now in an excellent state of cultiva- tion, and he gives especial attention to raising to- bacco, potatoes, corn and rye. Politically he is a stanch Democrat, and with his family attends the Congregational Church at Glastonbury, although he and his wife are both Lutherans, having been con- firmed in Germany in their youth.

I11 1853 Mr. Hutt was married in Glastonbury, by Rev. Mr. Smith, to Miss Fredericka Welsh, who was born in Wittenberg, Germany, Sept. 20, 1833. They were friends in childhood and came to Amer- ica on the same vessel, and during his days of dis- couragement and poverty she was a most efficient helper, working on their little farm whenever she could spare the time from the care of the house and children. Of their six children: (1) John G., who died in 1892, was a trusted and valued employe of Cheney Bros.' silk mill for twenty years. He mar- ried Julia Balch, of Manchester, and had three chil- dren, Herbert S .; Florence May, who died in 1895; and Julia M., who died in 1894. (2) Charles Fred- erick, Jr., married Henrietta S. Moser, of Glaston- bury, where he now resides. They have one son, Charles F. C. (3) Miss Emelia F., a refined and cultured lady, is at home. (4) Albert W., a butcher in Hartford, married Mary Fagan, of that city, and has four children, Albert, Ernest, Howard and Grace. (5) Paulena C. married Edmund S. Hor- ton, of Glastonbury, and resides in Saranac Lake, N. Y. They have had three children, Milton S., who died in 1891; Mildred and Edmund. (6) Bertha R. married Edward H. Gaines, of Glaston- bury, and resides in Hartford. They have one son, Milton T.

EARL COOLEY, a leading and representative farmer of Berlin, who takes a very prominent and active part in agricultural affairs, was born in Mid- dletown, this State, Sept. 19, 1851. He is a de- scendant of Earl Cooley, who came to America from Denmark, whither he had gone from England on account of the persecution that he and others were compelled to undergo on account of their religious belief. He held the title of Earl in England, and upon his arrival in this country was known as such.

The "Blue Book" of England states that the Cooley family was a very influential and a very wealthy one.

Earl Cooley, the son of the founder of the fam -. ily in America, was born in Springfield, Mass., and became a prominent citizen of that place, where he- owned considerable property, including the ground on which "Cooley's Hotel," the "Massasoit House" and the Springfield Armory now stand. He served as a soldier in the Revolutionary war, and partici- pated in the battle of Bunker Hill, while two of his brothers took part in the battles of Concord and Lexington, and another was with Arnold and Allen when Fort Ticonderoga was stormed. He mar- ried Elizabeth Stebbins, of Westfield, Massachusetts.

Earl Cooley, the son of Earl (2), and the grand- father of our subject, was born in Springfield, Mass., in 1784. In early life he engaged in agri- cultural pursuits, later learning the trade of gun- smith. At the age of twenty years he removed to Middletown, Conn., where he found employment in the factory of Capt. Oliver Bidwell, who manu- factured fire arms for the United States govern- ment. Later he was employed by the firm of R. & D. Johnson, who were also government contractors. He was a soldier in the war of 1812, and served with the rank of sergeant. In political affairs he was very prominent, was a member of the State Legislature from Middletown in 1848, and held various town offices. His support was always given to the men and measures of the Democratic party, and he was a leading and influential member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. He died about 1871, and was buried in Middletown. He married Rhoda Graves, of East Haddam, a daughter of Rev. Benjamin Graves, of that place, and to them were born nine children, of whom three are still living : Benjamin Graves, father of our subject ; Mrs. Mar- tha W. Allin, of Middletown ; and Mrs. Emma J. Ives, of Cromwell, Connecticut.

Benjamin Graves Cooley was born in Middle- town Nov. 9, 1818, and acquired his education in the common schools and the Middletown Academy. He began his business career as a clerk, and later learned the bookbinder's trade with E. Hunt, in Middletown, who also ran a book and stationery store. Subsequently he clerked in the dry-goods store of John Wing, in Hartford, and later was with T. R. & L. Case, as clerk in their dry-goods store. He then went to Amherst, Mass., as clerk for James Morris & Co., and had charge of the dry- goods department of their store until his return to Middletown, where he worked on the farm with his father for about three years. At the end of that time, about 1848, he entered the dry-goods store of Norman Smith, as clerk, and at the end of two years became a member of the firm of Smith & Cooley, which partnership existed for about six years. Selling out his interests, Mr. Cooley then purchased a farm in Westfield, Conn., which he op- erated for three years, but at the end of that time

455

COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

he returned to Middletown, where he engaged in the grocery business for two years. He was the original inventor of, and took out the patent for, the making of rubber belting, but later sold the same to the Russel Manufacturing Company, of Middletown. He then purchased another farm in Westfield, upon which he lived five years, but in 1864 he returned to Middletown, and engaged in farming there for a short time. He next purchased the Risley farm of 140 acres in Berlin, on the Meriden road, and has since given his time and attention to tobacco raising and market gardening, planting two or three acres of his land in tobacco until 1881, when he stopped raising it. While a resident of Middle- town he took an active part in political affairs, and was also prominent in military matters, serving for several years as captain of the 4th Company, 6th Regiment, Connecticut Infantry. In February, 1850, Mr. Cooley married Miss Elizabeth Clark Rust, of Middletown, a daughter of Spencer Rust, and to them were born two children, of whom our subject is the elder. Frederick, born Sept. 18, 1853, married Thankful Tryon, of Middletown, and is engaged in farming i11 Marlboro. The father was again married, March 29, 1871, his second union being with Jane F. Gridley, of Southington, a daughter of George Gridley. She died May I, 1879, and was buried in Southington.

Reared in Middletown, Earl Cooley acquired his early education in its'common schools, and later attended the Middletown Intitute, which is a pre- paratory school to the Wesleyan University. After leaving school he came to Berlin, in April, 1869, and has since devoted his energies to agricultural pursuits with most gratifying success, outdoor pur- uits being more beneficial to his health. He was one of the originators of the Berlin Board of Trade, and is at present treasurer of the same.

Mr. Cooley makes his home with his father. Both were formerly Democrats in political senti- ment, but in 1896 voted for William Mckinley, and now support the Republican party. Our subject has been a member of the board of relief and regis- trar of electors, and in 1898 was elected grand juror, which position he is now filling. In 1892 he was the Democratic candidate for State senator from the Second Senatorial District, which has always been strongly Republican, and the fact that he ran far ahead of his ticket, receiving 3,000 votes, while his opponent, Marcus H. Holcomb, received 3,541, plainly indicates his popularity throughout the county and district. In 1895 he was elected select- man on the same ticket, and most creditably filled that office one year. He has always been very prominent in all town affairs, and has taken an ac- tive interest in improvements in Berlin. In early life Mr. Cooley was an Episcopalian, and was in- strumental in founding Christ's Church, South Farm, Middletown, of which he was librarian. He is now an active and prominent member of the Second Congregational Church of Berlin, and is

also a member of the Christian Endeavor Society, of which he was president in 1895.

Mr. Cooley was chairman of the executive com- mittee of the Berlin Agricultural Society for nine consecutive years, from 1886 to 1895, resigning that position in the latter year, but in 1889 he was re- elected. He was also superintendent of the agri- cultural department of the Connecticut State Fair and the Grange exhibit for two years. He and his father were charter members of Berlin Grange, No. 24, of Berlin, and he was also one of the charter members of the Connecticut Pomological Society. He was elected first master of the Grange, which position he held for three years, and also assisted in organizing the Connecticut State Grange at South Glastonbury, June 20, 1885, at whichi time he was made steward and a member of the executive com- mittee. Later, in 1886, he was appointed deputy for Hartford county by the State master, J. HI. Hale, and has ever born an active and influential part in Grange work throughout the State. In May, 1900. Mr. Cooley received the appointment from the census office as one of the two enumerators of the twelfth census of the United States for the town of Berlin, which work he performed with entire success.

MRS. LUCY M. MORTON, a greatly-re- spected resident of the town of East Windsor, was born in Middlefield, Middlesex Co., Conn .. . Aug. 29, 1834, a daughter of Marvin and Mary ( Hayes ) Fuller, and received a sound district-school edu- cation.

While still a girl Mrs. Morton was taken by her parents to New Jersey, and later to Summit coun- ty, Ohio, but in a short time she returned to Con- necticut, and in this State was married. Dec. 26, 1852, to Aurelius B. Barber, who was born June 5, 1831, in the house in which Mrs. Morton now lives, and in which he passed his entire life. He was a thoroughly practical farmer and a prosperous one, and enjoyed the respect of the surrounding community. In politics he was a Whig, and in re- ligion a Methodist, in which faith he passed away Oct. 5, 1866, leaving to mourn him his widow and two children, to-wit: Ella Lavonne, born Nov. 25. 1855, is married to H. W. Hamilton, of East Windsor, and is the mother of one child, Howard Leslie. Herbert Eli, born April 1, 1865, is a wheel- wright by trade; he is unmarried, and. although he lost his right leg when eighteen years of age by the accidental discharge of a gun, he is able, with the aid of an artificial limb, to manage his mother's farm.

On Nov. 13, 1871, Mrs. Barber was united in marriage with Samuel Morton, a native of Wind- sorville, and a farmer, and two children also came to this union : Lucy Mabel, who was born Nov. I. 1873, and died March 20, 1875; and Rutherford E., who was born Sept. 20, 1876, and is now at- tending the Hartford Business College. Mr. Mor-

456

COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

ton was a Republican in politics, and was a Method- ist in religion. He died April 21, 1891, his re- mains being interred, as were those of Mr. Barber, in the Windsorville cemetery.

Mrs. Morton, by an accident and resultant sick- ness, has had her hearing considerably impaired. She is a most pleasant lady, is genial in disposi- tion, and is beloved by all who know her.

CHELSEA CRANDALL VINTON. If Con- necticut has fame it is mainly for her industrial activity and supremacy. Generations ago her sons turned from agriculture to the making of goods for her neighbors, and the transition still continues. In the history of South Windsor, famous now for her cultivation of tobacco and other plants, an in- dividual has seized an opportunity and converted into a modern and thriving business a primitive in- dustry. around which cluster memories of two cent- uries, but which enjoyed but indifferent success until modern energy and methods awoke its dormant possibilities.

The town mill of South Windsor, tradition says, was first erected in 1734, as a sawmill, and was then the first of its Kind on the east side of the Con- necticut river, between Springfield and Middletown. For six generations it performed an important func- tion in the life of this and neighboring commu- nities. sawing lumber and grinding grain, but in 1868 it was scarcely more than a memory. Oc- casionally a farmer brought to the mill a load of corn or rye and himself set the wheel till the creak- ing machinery had converted his grain into meal. The mill had run down and degenerated into an almost ruinous condition. It was then that Chelsea C. Vinton, with others, purchased the privilege and placed modern machinery into it, and converted it into a thing of power and profit.

Mr. Vinton was born in the town of South Windsor, Hartford county, June 19, 1826, son of William and Esther ( Crandall) Vinton. The fan- ily is of carly Colonial history and of Huguenot extraction. Religious persecution had driven many early Protestants from France to England, and among the Puritans they found sympathy and aid. John Vinton was one of the religious refugees who early in the seventeenth century sought liberty of belief in the Colony of Massachusetts Bay. Our subject is of the seventh generation in descent from that ancestor, the line consisting of (1) John; (2) John, of Woburn: (3) Samuel: (4) David; (5) Seth: (6) William; and (7) Chelsea C.

Seth Vinton, the grandfather of our subject. was the father of twelve children. To William and Esther ( Crandall) Vinton, parents of our subject, were born eight children, as follows: William, who was a farmer of South Windsor, died in 1896: Seth is mentioned elsewhere: Chelsea is the third : Samuel served gallantly as a soldier in the Civil war for nearly three years, was twice wounded in battle, and died in hospital from his injuries; Esther

E. married Horatio Little, of Columbia, Conn .; Clarissa became the wife of Levi Wilson, of Mans- field, and is deceased; Mary C. married Henry A. Page, of South Windsor, and is also deceased; and John Randolph, who was also a soldier in the Civil war, was wounded at the battle of James Island, and died in hospital.

Chelsea C. Vinton was educated in his early boyhood at the old Seventh District school, trudg- ing faithfully to its portals, a distance of two miles from home, through the snows of winter or the heat of summer. At the early age of eleven years he started out for himself in the battle of life, hiring out by the month to work on neighboring farms, though he remained with his father until nineteen years of age. At that time the farmers of Hartford county were employed to a three-fold greater de- gree than now in the raising of grain. In 1843, to the best of Mr. Vinton's recollection, tobacco began to assume prominence as a paying crop in South Windsor. In those early years it was often raised as a second crop. after peas.

When he attained his majority Mr. Vinton en- tered the mill of the New England Co., at Rock- ville, to learn the trade of wool sorting. He re- mained with that company for twelve years, and was then employed six years continuously at the Hockanum Mills, except for a six-months interval, which he spent in the front as a member of the "Fighting Fourteenth." Mr. Vinton enlisted, in July, 1862, in Company D, 14th Conn. V. I., and was commissioned a second lieutenant. The regi- ment was a part of Gen. E. V. Sumner's Second Army Corps, later commanded by Gen. Hancock Mr. Vinton was with Gen. McClellan at the battle of Antietam, and with Burnside at the fierce en- gagement at Fredericksburg. He was discharged for disability . in December, 1862.

After leaving the service Mr. Vinton continued in his employ until 1868, when he came to th. Rockwell mill on Podunk brook, at Pleasant Val ley, at once making extensive repairs and operating the mill. In the spring of 1869 he became a men ber of the firm of Maynard. Gardner & Vinton buyers and dealers in wool at Talcottville, which partnership continued about a year and a half During the freshet of the fall of 1869 a part of hi mill at Pleasant Valley was carried away by th flood, but was immediately rebuilt, and they ha their sawmill in operation in four weeks, from tha time doing an increasing business.

In politics Mr. Vinton is a Republican, and hi interest in the welfare of the party has led him t give time and influence to its local success. In 187 he was elected a representative to the State Legis lature, and has filled various local offices. Fc twenty-one years he has acted as town clerk an town treasurer, and he has been school committee man for District No. 5 and acting school visito. Mr. Vinton has also been actively interested i church work, being a member of the Second Cor

Ele binton 1

457

COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

gregational Church and of the Second Ecclesiastical Society. For many years he has been superintend- ent of the Sunday-school of that church.

Mr. Vinton was married, in 1850, to Miss Fidelia Loomis, daughter of Samuel Loomis, of Coventry, Tolland Co., Conn., and to this union two children were born: Lillian A., now Mrs. C. M. Benja- min, of South Windsor; and H. Wilbur. Mrs. Vinton died in 1859, and in 1862 he married Miss Eveline Johnson, of Rockville. The four children born to this marriage are Mabel, Eva Roselle (now Mrs. Frederick H. Avery, of South Windsor), Cora C. and Louis E. In his business affairs Mr. Vin- ton has been eminently successful, and by his pub- lic spirit and the services which he has ever been ready to generously contribute to the general good he has impressed his personality deeply upon the life and progress of the town.

CLARENCE S. FORBES, a respected young farmer and tobacco-grower on Brewer street, in that part of the town of East Hartford known as Hockanum, descends from good old Connecticut families, paternally and maternally.

Anson Forbes, grandfather of our subject, mar- ried Lucy Porter, and to their union were born four children: Stephen, father of our subject ; El- lery S., of Willow Brook; Emerline; and Esther, who was married to the late Deacon Franklin Brewer, a sketch of whom appears elsewhere.

Stephen Forbes was born May 26, 1833, in the house now occupied by Ellery S. Forbes, was edu- cated in the district schools, and later at the East Hartford Academy, under Prof. J. O. Hurlburt. After leaving school he was employed by a Mr. Goodwin as clerk in a shoe store at Hartford, but after a short time quit the store and learned the boot-making trade in a shop on his father's farm. At the beginning of the Civil war he was employed in Colt's Armory at Hartford, but after the de- struction of that factory by fire he worked at his trade as a bootmaker until 1867, then came to Brewer Street, Hockanum, and began farming. In 1867 he bought a tract of twenty acres from George Walley, which he cultivated until his death, on May 6, 1889. ITe had married, Mav 26, 1858, Miss Sarah A. Wadsworth, a native of Hockanum, born April 2, 1836, and a daughter of Solomon and Sarah (Dow) Wadsworth, and next to the youngest of four children, Rufus, Stanley, Sarah A. and Urania. To Stephen and Sarah A. Forbes .came three children: Clarence S., born Sept. 4. 1860 ; Emma U., born Aug. 24, 1862, who was ed- ucated in Glastonbury Academy, and was married to Frank Hollister, of East Hartford ; Ella L., born July 22, 1867, who was educated in the Hartford Public High School, was married to De Forest Blinn, and is also living in East Hartford.

Clarence S. Forbes was born in the house in East Hartford that stood where Mrs. Franklin Brewer now lives, and was eight years of age when

brought to his present home. He attended school until eighteen years of age, since when he has lived on his farm, on which were erected his pres- ent dwelling in 1888 by his father, and substantial barns and other outbuildings.

Mr. Forbes is a member of the Congregational Church, an earnest worker in the society, and also contributes his full share to the church expenses. In politics he is a Republican, but has never been an office seeker, preferring to devote his energies to the cultivation of his farm, which is yielding him a sure and comfortable income. Ile is filially caring for his venerable mother, who is passing her declining years with him and keeping his house for him, as he has never married.

ENOCH WATSON PELTON, one of the honored and prosperous old residents of South Windsor, and the owner of 300 acres of land which for many years he has successfully tilled, was born in the town of East Windsor (now South Windsor), Feb. 7. 1813, son of James and Sophia (Gaylord) Pelton.

Mr. Pelton's father, who was also a native of East Windsor, followed brickmaking and farming through life. He was married three times, first to Clarissa Watson, by whom he had one daughter, Clarissa. By his second marriage, to Sophia Gay- lord, he had five children : Enoch Watson, Harriet Frances, Henry Thompson, James Bennett, and Martha Sophia. Ilis third marriage, to Elizabeth Wolcott, daughter of Ephraim Wolcott, of Con- necticut, was blessed with two children : James Ben- nett and Charles Nathan.

Enoch W. Pelton remained with his father until he reached the age of eighteen years, when he be- gan life for himself. In 1835, at the age of twenty- two, he left Connecticut for Pennsylvania, and spent the next four years of his life in that State with Milford as the initial point of his residence, remaining there several months. In Pennsylvania he followed the business of raising broom corn and making brooms. From that State he traveled to Kentucky, where he remained a short time, then proceeding to Illinois spent the summer traveling in that State, paying taxes on military land for an acquaintance. Returning to Wilkes Barre, Penn., he remained there for a time, came back and soon went South, again spending two years in Tennes- see. He also spent two years in Georgia before returning to Connecticut, where he began raising broom corn, tobacco and other products. He first purchased 108 acres of land, and added to this from time to time until his landed possessions reached 300 acres. A part of the farm he now occupies is known as the old Gov. Wolcott home- stead, having formerly been owned and occupied by Gov. Wolcott.

Mr. Pelton was married, in April, 1856, to Miss Harriet E. King, daughter of Roderick King, and to our subject and wife have been born four chil-

458

COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

dren : Bavard, born April 15, 1858, who died April 7, 1880; Elizabeth, who for some months was en- gaged in teaching, but who relinquished that pro- fession on account of her mother's ill health ; Roder- ick K., who is now at home; and Oliver Newberry, who has charge of the home farm. The mother, who was born Aug. 6, 1820, died Oct. 13, 1897.

In politics Mr. Pelton is a Republican. He now lives, in the afternoon of his life, in his pleas- ant home, located about seven miles from Hartford, enjoying the requital of his many years of faithful and well-directed effort.

FRANCIS TAYLOR, of South Glastonbury, is one of the oldest and most highly-respected citi- zens of that locality. Born in the village Nov. 2, 1814. he has passed much of his life there, taking an interest in business, social, religious and polit- ical affairs, and his reminiscences of the past are Loth instructive and entertaining. He is well pre- served for one of his age, his memory being re- markable, while his genial disposition has kept him young at heart, notwithstanding the lapse of years.

Mr. Taylor is a son of Samuel Taylor, who was born in England in 1777, and came to America in early manhood with his brother Joseph and an uncle Benjamin, their voyage in a sailing vessel being long and tedious. They landed at New York in 1794, and he went to East Haddam, Conn., and learned the sailmaker's trade, later locating in South Glastonbury, where he passed the rest of his life with the exception of three years, from 1816 to 1819, when he resided in Hartford. At that time many vessels were built in South Glastonbury, and Mr. Taylor carried on the business of sailmaking in Hartford for about forty years. Before his re- mioval to Hartford he built the house now occupied by Miss Mary Dayton, in which our subject was born, but on his return he purchased the "Gilder place," where Watson Kinne now resides. He died in December, 1857, and was buried in South Glas- tonbury. Mr. Taylor was a most ardent Episco- palian, and "read service" several times in the church in South Glastonbury, of which he was senior warden many years. His portrait now hangs in the church. He was a very bright man, being quite successful in business, and would have ac- cumulated more but for his great generosity. He never aspired to office, but did a citizen's duty by casting his vote regularly, first for the Whig and later for the Republican ticket. Samuel Taylor married Sarah Pembleton, a native of Chatham, Conn., and had eleven children, all of whom lived to adult age: (1) Benjamin, born Jan. 18, 1799, mar- ried (first) Mary Ann Hale, who died leaving seven children, and on Nov. 25, 1862, he married Mary Tinker Clark, born March 29, 1820. He was a prominent citizen of Glastonbury, where he conducted a general store and served many years as postmaster. (2) Sophia, born March 7. 1801, died unmarried. (3) George, born April 26, 1803,

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

Commemorative biographical record of Hartford County, Connecticut : containing biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens, and of many of the early settled families, Pt 1, Part 104

Author: J.H. Beers & Co Publication date: 1901 Publisher: Chicago : J.H. Beers & Co. Number of Pages: 1336

Author: J.H. Beers & Co
Publication date: 1901
Publisher: Chicago : J.H. Beers & Co.
Number of Pages: 1336