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 108

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 108

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James Monroe Griswold was born Aug. 11, 1818, and as he was but six years old when his mother died, he was taken to the home of his aunt, Lucinda Bates, with whom he remained, inheriting her farm of 160 acres. His education was obtained in the

local schools, and from early manhood he was en- gaged in agricultural pursuits, in which he was very successful. His attention was largely devoted to stock raising and tobacco growing, and he was one of the first in his locality to cultivate the latter crop. The improvements made by him upon the estate were of a substantial nature, including good barns, and his enterprise and thrift were shown in numerous ways. Politically he was a Democrat ; his wife was a devout member of the Congrega- tional Church. His death occurred May 28, 1852, from brain fever, and his remains rest in East Granby cemetery. He married Miss Catharine Phelps, who was born March 7, 1816, in Granby (now East Granby), the daughter of Gaylord Phelps, a well-to-do farmer, and they had three children : Mary, wife of George Whiton, of Haz- ardville, this county; Sarah (deceased), who mar- ried Dr. E. E. Case, of Hartford ; and James A., our subject. The mother married ( second) R. M. Weller, of Hartford, but her last days were spent at the homestead of our subject, where she died March 16, 1875.

James A. Griswold was born Feb. 18, 1848, on the homestead where he now resides, and as he was but a boy when his father died his mother's gentle influence was the main factor in his early training. His course of study in the public schools of the town was supplemented by an attendance at the Connecticut Literary Institute at Suffield, and since leaving school he has devoted his time to the man- agement of his farm, a fine estate, now comprising about one hundred acres. He is one of the leading tobacco growers of the town, and as a general farmer has met with marked success, being thoroughly prac- tical and scientific in his methods. In politics he is a Democrat "dyed in the wool," and while he does not crave for official honors he has served two terms as tax collector. For many years he has been active in the work of the East Granby Grange, in which he holds the office of chaplain.

In 1875 Mr. Griswold was married, in Suffield, to Miss Sarah E. Warner, and four clever and attrac- tive children have blessed the union : Miss Frances C. and Miss Martha E. Griswold are successful teach- ers ; and Emily W. and Ethel S. are at home, the latter being still in school. The family are identi- fied with the Congregational Church at East Granby, and with the best social circles of the neighborhood. Mrs. Griswold, whose refinement and amiability are reflected in her daughters, is well-educated, and her mental gifts and strength of character give her much influence among her associates. She was born in Suffield, and belongs to an old and respected family of that town, being one of three children born to William W. and Emily L. ( Phelps) Warner, natives of Suffield, where both spent their entire lives. Mrs. Warner died Jan. 19, 1859, and Mr. Warner passed away Jan. 4, 1873. Further men- tion is made of the family in the sketch of Isaac W. Warner, elsewhere.

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COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

NORRIS BAILEY, a prominent citizen of New Britain, was the first to establish a regular cloth- ier's business in that city, and for many years he has been a leading business man of that locality. He attributes his success to his close attention to business and his prudent, conservative management, and his sound judgment is often called into the ser- vice of others as administrator and executor in the settlement of estates.

Mr. Bailey has maintained his health and vigor beyond the age at which most men retire. He was born March 8, 1822. He comes of good old Colo- nial stock, his ancestors having settled in Connecti- cut at an early day, and his grandfather. Caleb Bailey, was born in Haddam, Conn., son of Caleb Bailey (1). In early life he was a farmer. He was an active, energetic man, prominent in local affairs, and was a soldier during the Revolution- ary war, enlisting at the age of sixteen. He was captured and imprisoned on board the noted "Jer- sey" prison ship, but near the close of the war lie was stricken with yellow fever and taken on shore, with two others, to die. Strange to say, he re- covered. and in his later years he received a pension from the United States Government in recognition of his services. He married a Miss Tewell, of Middletown, and had three children: Horace: Al- fred ; and Almira, who married William Bowers.

Horace Bailey, our subject's father, was born Jan. 20, 1795, in Cromwell, Conn., where he grew to manhood. As a young man he engaged in busi- ness as a butcher in Middletown, but his last years were spent upon a small farm at Berlin. As a business man he was successful, while his public spirit made him a valued citizen. In religious faith he was a Baptist, and politically he affiliated with the Democratic party, although never espe- cially active in partisan work. His death occurred Dec. 24, 1867, when he was aged seventy-two, and his wife, Mary Bunnell, who was born Oct. 21, 1794, died July 7. 1883, aged eighty-nine years. She was a member of an old and well-known family of South- ington. To Horace and Mary Bailey the following children were born : Aurelia A., born Nov. 22. 1815, married Eli B. Kelsey, of East Berlin, Conn .. and died March 3, 1871; Norris, our subject, is mentioned more fully below; Horace, twin of our subject, was born March 8, 1822, and engaged in business as a butcher and later as a liveryman in New Britain, where he died Dec. 19, 1888; Amariah C., born Oct. 22, 1828, was a farmer in East Ber- lin, where he died April 4, 1896.

Our subject was born at Middletown, then called Newfield, and was educated in the district schools of East Berlin town, Hartford county, his attend- ance being limited to the winter season as he grew older. At sixteen he left school altogether, and be- gan to learn the tailor's trade with Timothy Board- man, on Berlin street, Berlin, with whom he re- mained five years as an apprentice. In 1843 he went into business in Bristol, continuing about a

vear and a half. About 1845 he located in New Britain and opened a store in partnership with David Webster, under the firm name of Webster & Bailey. This was the first clothing store in New Britain. Later A. P. Collins joined the firm, which became Webster, Bailey & Co., and on the death of Mr. Webster it became Bailey & Collins. The business was first conducted at the site of Mr. Damon's present store, but the firm bought the block known as Booth's Corner, which they held for some time. In 1872 Mr. Bailey sold his interest, and he has since engaged in no regular business, although for about five years he was president and treasurer of the Woven Wire Bed Co., of New Britain. Po- litically he is a steadfast Republican, but he has not sought or held office. For forty-five years he has been a member of the Episcopal Church, and in former years he was an active worker in the I. O. O. F.

On Sept. 26, 1843, Mr. Bailey married Miss Cornelia L. Parmelee, daughter of Nathaniel Parme- lee, of East Berlin. She died May 19, 1848, and none of the children of this union lived to maturity. On April 1, 1849, Mr. Bailey married Roxey D. Bulkeley, daughter of William Bulkeley, of Berlin. She died April 16, 1883, leaving no children, and le was married Sept. 30, 1886, to Miss Ella L. Fow- ler, daughter of Richard Fowler, of New Haven, Conn., who was killed in the battle of Fredericks- burg.

OLIVER CROMWELL TULLER. To the visitor of Simsbury town who is interested in pic- turesque beauty, and in the indexes of prosperity, the broad acres of the successful merchant and farmer whose name appears above, and his imposing resi- dence, would doubtless be pointed out. Mr. Tuller is one of the largest land owners in the town. He conducted for many years a successful mercantile business, and is among the foremost of the town in enterprise and progressive thrift. He was born at West Simsbury Nov. 26, 1844.

The Tuller family are among the oldest citizens of Simsbury, and are numbered among its best peo- ple. Our subject is of the sixth generation from John Tuller, or Tulloe, who was the first of that name in Hartford county. The line of descent is . as follows :

(11) Jacob Tuller, son of John Tuller, was born in Simsbury May 22, 1694. He married, Jan. 27, 1721, Mary Moses, and settled in East Weatogue, where he engaged in farming. His four children were: Mary, born Jan. 16, 1723-24: Elisha, born Feb. 22, 1726; and Sarah and Jacob, twins, born Aug. 13, 1727.

(III) Elisha Tuller, son of Jacob and Mary (Moses) Tuller, was through life a farmer of West Simsbury. He married Sarah Case, daugh- ter of Jacob Case. He removed in 1768 to Case's farm, in West Simsbury, where he remained until his death, Feb. 7, 1814. His wife died Dec. 20,

Norris Bailey

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COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

1798. Their eight children were as follows: Sarah, born Nov. 24, 1752, married Phineas Case ; Ehjah, born Feb. 20, 1754, died in infancy; Elijah, born March 21, 1757, married Polly Eno April 30, 1782, and died Jan. 29, 1819; Joel, born Nov. 15, 1758, married Dec. 22, 1787, Mary, daughter of Noah Case, and died Jan. 22, 1826; Rosana, born Jan. 31, 1763, married Daniel Olmstead; Abigail, born in 1767, married Thomas Case (3), and died Jan. 27, 1844; Asaph, grandfather of our subject, was born in 1774, and died Nov. 5, 1853; Lettice mar- ried Jerdiah Case.

(IV) Asaph Tuller, grandfather of our sub- ject, was a farmer and stock raiser of Simsbury. He married Ruth Case, daughter of Bartholomew Case, and to them were born the following children : Amelia, who married Thomas Vining; Electa, who married David Reed; Serena, who married Dwight Leonard; Orsmond; Ruth, who married Judson Wilcox; Homer, who died unmarried; Delinda, who married George Vining; Jeremiah, father of our subject ; Nancy, who married Sylvanus Sex- ton, and Harriet, who died young. For his second wife Asaph Tuller married Rhoda Hart.

(V) Jeremiah Tuller, the father of our subject, was born on a farm in West Simsbury in 1808. He acquired a good education, and followed farm- ing all his life in West Simsbury, where he was a land owner, and was also engaged as a manu- facturer. He was elected to the State Legislature at New Haven, and locally he served as selectman and filled many other offices. He was also a colonel in the State militia. He died on the farm in West Simsbury in 1872, and was buried in Simsbury. He was liberal in church views, and attended the Methodist Episcopal Church. He married, Jan. 25, 1832, Luranna E. Phelps, a native of East Weatogue, and a representative of one of the oldest families in the State of Connecticut, being a daugh- ter of Oliver C. Phelps, and great-granddaughter of Lieut. David Phelps, of Simsbury. William Phelps, the first who settled in America, was a na- tive of Somersetshire, or Dorsetshire, England. He settled in Windsor. His son Joseph was born about 1629 in England. . He married, Sept. 20, 1660, Hannah, daughter of Roger Newton, and sister of John Newton. She died in Simsbury

in 1675. The children of Joseph and Hannah Phelps were Joseph, born Aug. 20, 1667; Hannah, born Feb. 2, 1669, who died young; Timothy, born in 1671; Sarah, born in 1672, who married John Hill; and William, born in 1674, who died Oct. 8, 1689. Joseph married for his second wife, Jan. 9, 1676, Mary Salmon, widow of Thomas Salmon. He was made a freeman in 1664, and died in 1684 at Simsbury, where he was buried.

Joseph Phelps, his son, born in Simsbury, en- gaged in farming. He represented the town of Simsbury in the General Assembly in 1709 and 1727. He married first Mary Collier, who died in 1697, and for his second wife Sarah, daughter of

John and Sarah ( Spencer) Case, Nov. 9, 1699. She was born Aug. 14, 1676, and died May 2, 1704. For his third wife he married Mary Case, daughter of Richard and Elizabeth Case. He died Jan. 20, 1750. The children of Joseph Phelps by his first wife were Joseph, born Oct. 9, 1689; Hannah, born Oct. 25, 1693, who married Samuel Humphrey ; Mary, born Oct. 17, 1696, who died Jan. 9, 1713. By his second wife the children of Joseph Phelps were Sarah, born Aug. 11, 1700, who died Jan. 14, 1714; and Damaris, born March 5, 1703, who married John Mills. By his third wife his children were John, born Feb. 14, 1707, who died Jan. 5, 1713 : Amos, born in 1708, who married Sarah Pettibone ; Elizabeth, born April 7, 1709, who mar- ried July 23, 1725, Daniel Hoskins ; and David, born in 1710.

David Phelps, born in 1710, in Simsbury, was an ensign and later a lieutenant in the militia. On April 25, 1731, he married Abigail Pettibone, who married for her second husband Deacon David Strong, of Bolton, Conn. David died April 9, 1760. The children of David and Abigail Phelps were David, born May 7, 1732, died in July, 1732; David, born March 26, 1733; Abigail, born Nov. 5. 1735, married Edward Griswold, and for her second husband Deacon Amasa Case ; Elisha, born Oct. 17, 1737; Noah, born Jan. 22, 1740; Rachel, born Dec. 11, 1741, married David Humphrey, of Simsbury ; Ruth, born Sept. 15, 1743, married Jonah Case ; Sarah, born Oct. 15, 1745; Susannah, born Jan. 4, 1748, married William Nash : and Lois, born March 4, 1750, married Samuel Hayden, of Har- winton, Connecticut.

David Phelps, born March 26, 1733, was a sol- dier during the Revolution. He died in Simsbury. He married for his first wife, April 7, 1753, Abigail Griswold, born at Windsor May 6, 1732, died May 16, 1795. For his second wife he married Harriet, widow of Sergt. Noah Humphrey. The children born to David and Abigail Phelps were: Abigail, born Nov. 16, 1754, married Jared Merrill; Ozias, born May 1, 1756, married Sally Judson ; David, born Nov. 13, 1759, married Asenath Humphrey ; Elizabeth, twin of David, married Samuel Terey ; Rhoda, born Sept. 22, 1765, married Abel Tilley ; Roswell, born Oct. 31, 1767, married Dorcas Petti- bone ; Alexander, born Feb. 26, 1769 ; Susanna, born Dec. 27, 1773, married Frederick Phelps; Oliver Cromwell, born Dec. 22, 1774, married Susan En- sign, of Simsbury, and they were the parents of Mrs. Luranna E. (Phelps) Tuller.

The children born to Jeremiah and Luranna E. (Phelps) Tuller were as follows: Asaph (de- ceased) ; Cornelia, who married Jarvis Harrington, of Collinsville, Conn., and is now deceased ; Georgie (deceased) was the wife of Charles Raymond, of New York : Phelps (deceased), who married Lizzie MI. Bulkley (deceased) ; Oliver C., our subject : Hattie, who married Joseph Layton, of Providence, R. I. The mother died at the home of our subject,

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COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

at the age of eighty-nine years. She was a mem- ber of the Methodist Episcopal Church and a devout Christian, a woman of education, in earlier life a school teacher, a good mother and wife, and of high moral character.

Our subject attended the district schools of West Simsbury, also the New Britain high school. He was reared on the home farm in West Simsbury, and when a young man he embarked in the mercan- tile business in West Simsbury in partnership with his brother under the name of Tuller Brothers. The business was most profitably conducted until the death of his brother, after which our subject sold his interest and has since engaged extensively in dairy and general farming and tobacco growing. Mr. Tuller is the owner of 500 acres of land, and is one of the largest land holders in Simsbury. He is a stockholder in the Simsbury Creamery. He has made many improvements on his farm, and has re- modeled his home, which is one of the finest in West Simsbury.

Mr. Tuller married, in 1884, at Stamford, Conn., Julia Dibble, a native of that city, daughter of Capt. William Henry Dibble. She was educated in the district schools and in the high schools of Stam- ford, the State Normal School at New Britain, and also the State Normal School at New York City, and was a successful school teacher, for two years teach- ing in West Simsbury. Mrs. Tuller is a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution, Abigail Phelps Chapter, Simsbury, a lady of refine- ment and culture, and devoted to her home and family. She is a consistent member of the Metho- dist Episcopal Church.

Capt. William Henry Dibble, her father, was born in New York City April 20, 1820, son of David Dibble, and grandson of John Dibble, who was a soldier in the Revolutionary war, and lived in Fair- field county, Conn. The Dibble family was one of the oldest in Darien, Fairfield county. John Dibble died there in 1646, leaving two sons, Samuel and Zachariah Dibble. For two and a half centuries the family has been prominent in the local history of Darien. David, the father of Capt. Dibble, was born in Darien, Fairfield Co., Conn., and removed to New York City, where he was employed on mu- nicipal work. He died in New York in 1826, and was buried there. In politics he was a Democrat. He married Margaret Smoke, who bore him four children : David; Mary, who married Joseph Han- nabel; John and Capt. William H.

Capt. Dibble, from early boyhood, was engaged in coasting in the local trade, and at the age of twenty-one he was captain of a coaster along the Atlantic. For twelve years he commanded a vessel, after which he returned to Stamford, Fairfield Co., Conn., where he engaged in farming. In June, 1862, he enlisted at Stamford in Company B, 17th Conn. V. I., under Col. Noble and Capt. Hobbie, and participated in several engagements. He was discharged in 1864, and returned home. For the

past thirty years he has been blind, losing his eye- sight as the effect of injuries sustained during his army life, and since 1894 he has made his home at the residence of Oliver C. Tuller, West Sims- bury. Capt. Dibble married, in New York City, Harriet N. Lockwood, daughter of Josiah A. Lock- wood, and to them six children were born, as fol- lows : Harriet, who married Daniel Hall, of Ver- mont, and is now deceased; William Henry, of Stamford; Julia, wife of Oliver C. Tuller, our sub- ject; Josiah, of Denver, Colo .; Mary, who married Louis J. Fox and is now deceased ; and Martha, de- ceased. The wife of Capt. Dibble died in 1895 at West Simsbury, and was buried in Stamford. In politics the Captain is a Republican.

To Oliver C. Tuller and wife have been born five children: Oliver, William, Martiemae, Ray- mond and David. In politics Mr. Tuller is a Demo- crat. He is liberal in church views, and is a man of intelligence, good judgment and success. He is genial, well known, popular, and in general ability and public spirit is among the foremost citizens of Simsbury.

JULIUS WILCOX BURR. While many peo- ple are devoting their entire life and energies to accumulating vast fortunes by selfish and unscrupu- lous means, there is nothing more worthy of praise than the quiet and steady pursuit of some honest calling, and the determined exercise of the industry, economy and sagacity which enable a man to acquire a home and competence. The subject of this bio- graphy, now a prosperous citizen of Berlin, is a man who, through his own well-directed efforts, has secured a competence without the sacrifice of prin- ciples.

Mr. Burr was born in Haddam, Conn., June 21, 1822, and is descended from a family of English origin, one branch of which located in Hartford, another in Wethersfield, and the third in the west- ern part of the State. (I) Benjamin Burr (or Burre, as he spelled the name), the founder of the Hartford branch, first appeared as one of the orig- inal settlers of Hartford in 1635. His name, which appears in the land division of Hartford in 1639 as an original proprietor and settler, is the first evi- dence we have of his presence in America, but as we are told that the first settlers of Hartford were from Watertown, Newtown, and other places near Boston, it is certain that he was in Massachusetts some time before his appearance in Hartford, and he may have been one of the eight hundred who came to America with Winthrop's fleet, in June, 1630. He seems to have been an active, energetic, thorough business man, and mingled but little in public affairs, hence but brief mention is made of him in the records of the Colony. He was the first of his name in Connecticut, and was admitted a freeman in 1658. His allotment in the land division of Hartford in 1639 was six acres, and he also drew eighteen acres in the land division of East Hart-

Julius Mr. Bur

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COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

ford, in 1666. He died in Hartford March 31, 1681, and was buried probably in one of the hillside cemeteries long since obliterated, in which rests the dust of many of Hartford's early settlers. He gave his name to one of Hartford's streets, known as Burr street, which ran west from Main street, near the present Asylum street, if indeed it was not identical with that thoroughfare.

(II) Samuel Burr, a son of Benjamin, was born in England, and was made a freeman in Hartford in May, 1658. He had five children. He died Sept. 29, 1682, and seems to have been a man of great energy and business ability, at his death leaving quite a large estate.

(III) Jonathan Burr, son of Samuel, was born in 1679, and was an early settler of Middletown, Conn. He married Abigail Hubbard, who was born in 1686, a daughter of Nathaniel Hubbard and granddaughter of George Hubbard, of Middletown, and by this union eight children were born. He died Jan. 1, 1735.

(IV) Nathaniel Burr, son of Jonathan, removed to Haddam, Conn., six miles from his native town of Middletown, and his house stood on the site of the present Methodist church, near the residence of his grandson, Sylvester Burr. He was a man of athletic frame, and capable of enduring great hard- ships, and was a farmer by occupation. He died in Haddam Sept. 12, 1802, aged eighty-six years, and was laid to rest in the old burying-ground. His wife, Sarah, died May 21, 1799, aged seventy-six years, and was buried near her husband.

(V) Capt. Jonathan Burr, son of Nathaniel Burr, and grandfather of our subject, was a farmer and prominent man of Haddam, and was captain of a company of Continental soldiers in the Revolu- tionary war. He married Lydia Bailey, of Haddam, and they had eleven children. He died in that town Feb. 10, 1804, aged forty-eight years, and his re- mains were interred near those of his father, in. the old burying-ground, in Haddam.

(VI) Daniel Burr, father of our subject, fol- lowed farming in Haddam throughout life, and was also engaged in contracting for several years. He died when our subject was but eleven years old. He married Betsey Wilcox, of Haddam, and to them were born eight children : Clarissa, Albert and Bet- sey H., all deceased : Julius W., our subject ; Dio- date, a resident of Bristol, Coun .; Daniel A., de- ceased ; Clarinda A. and Theodore J., both resi- dents of Minnesota.

(VII) Julius W. Burr passed his boyhood on the home farm in Haddam, and attended the com- mon schools, and also a select school. As his fa- ther died when he was quite young, he was early compelled to start out in life for himself, and at the age of sixteen, after leaving school, he com- menced learning the blacksmith's trade with Day- ton Burr, a distant cousin, who failed after Julius had been with him a little over a year. He then went to work for Crandall & Cornwell, of Middle-

town, where he remained about two years, and after working in Hartford for a month or two he came to Berlin, and entered the employ of Ferdi- nand Dickenson. Here he did the iron work on wagons for one year, and was then in partnership with Mr. Dickenson for about two years. Subse- quently he was for six or seven years in the employ of J. & E. North. On the death of Jedediah North the company was re-organized, and the firm, then known as Edmund North & Co .. was composed of Edmund North, Levi North, Frederick M. North and Julius W. Burr, the three last named having purchased Jedediah North's interest in the business. Three years later the firm consolidated with the Roys & Wilcox Co., and subsequently became the Peck, Stow & Wilcox Co., in which Mr. Burr is still a stockholder. He was also one of the con- tractors of that company until the spring of 1898, in the finishing or shear department : was a director in the Berlin Iron Bridge Co., for fifteen years, until January, 1897; and was also a director of the Roys & Wilcox Co. He is still a large stockholder in the Berlin Iron Bridge Co., and the Peck, Stow & Wilcox Co., but is now practically living retired from active business on account of ill health. When the J. O. Smith Co., of Westfield, was in financial trouble several years ago, he came to its relief with his capital and excellent business ability, and as president of the company placed the concern in a prosperous condition. His son-in-law is now sec- retary and treasurer of that company.

On Oct. 1, 1845, Mr. Burr married Miss Julia Ellen Cornwell, of Middletown, who was born Nov. 21, 1823, a daughter of Joseph and Lucinda (Miller) Cornwell. To them were born three chil- dren : (1) Emma Estella, born Oct. 16, 1847, is the wife of Roderick Loveland, a merchant of Middle- town, and they now make their home with our subject. (2) Ella Julia, born May 14, 1849, was the wife of Herbert E. Smith, secretary and treas- urer of the J. O. Smith Manufacturing Co., of which our subject has been president. They manu- facture tin cash-boxes, small hardware, and do a great deal of wood japanning. She died Jan. 26, 1899. (3) Lucy Etta, born Aug. 23, 1859, is the wife of Percy F. Hickcock, who is employed as superintendent of the shipping department of the Schofield Manufacturing Co. The mother of these, who was a consistent member of the Congregational Church of Westfield, died March 30, 1890, and was laid to rest in the Westfield cemetery.

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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 108

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