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 110

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 110

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(II) Samuel (Sergt.) Wilcox first located at Meadow Plains in 1667, coming from Stratford. He had three sons, Samuel, William, and Joseph. (III) Deacon William (2), son of Samuel, had four sons, John, Lieut. William (3), Amos, and Azariah.

(IV) Lieut. William (3) was born in 1727, left Simsbury for Lexington at the breaking out of the Revolutionary war, and died in 1775. (V) Dan, son of the Lieutenant, was born March 25, 1772, and married Esther Merritt, who was born March 8, 1771, and died Nov. 10, 1860, at Weatogue. She was a daughter of James and Hannah ( Phelps) Merritt, the latter a daughter of Thomas and Margaret ( Watson) Phelps, who were born in Au- gust, 1712, and May, 1714, respectively. Dan Wil- cox spent the latter part of his life in Weatogue. He had a large family : Averil, born Jan. 25, 1793, was a farmer, and died at Simsbury Jan. 23, 1866; Newton, born Dec. 22, 1794, was a shoemaker, and died in Simsbury Sept. 25, 1841; Aurelia, born April 22, 1796, died Oct. 11, 1803; Timothy, born Jan. 19, 1799, died Oct. 13, 1820, in Bangor, Maine, while studying for the ministry; Harmon, born Sept. 17, 1800, died Aug. 29, 1867, in Sandusky, Ohio; Watson, born Aug. 7, 1802, was a wealthy merchant in Alabama, married Miss Cordelia Eno, and died in Simsbury Feb. 15, 1879, leaving one daughter, Adelaide, now residing in Philadelphia ; James, born June 28, 1805, was a farmer in Sims- bury, and died Oct. 5, 1858; (VI) Judson ( father

of Mrs. Pattison) was born at Barkhamsted March 18, 1808, and died in Simsbury June 6, 1879; Jury, born Aug. 10, 1809, died in Simsbury June 29, 1881 ; Lucy, born Oct. 23, 1811, was married to Decius Lattimer, and died in Simsbury Oct. 25, 1876; and Lucius, born May 27, 1814, was at one time a merchant in Alabama, and died Aug. 28, 1885, in Canandaigua, N. Y. Of these,

(VI) Judson Wilcox, father of Mrs. Pattison, came to Simsbury when quite a youth, but he was in poor health, and his school advantages were some- what neglected. His parents were not wealthy, and he learned the carpenter's trade, at which he worked several years, and erected a number of houses in Simsbury and Collinsville. He married in Simsbury, April 20, 1831, Miss Ruth Tuller, and a few years later removed to Illinois, then to Ohio, engaging in farming, but chills and fever com- pelled his return to the East. His wife died in Simsbury Dec. 19, 1860, and Oct. 9, 1861, he mar- ried Miss Nancy S. Chapman, who was born April 21, 1830, a daughter of Julius and Nancy ( Davis) Chapman. Julius Chapman, in his younger days, was a blacksmith, and came to Simsbury from Southampton, Mass., after his marriage, at Avon, N. Y. To the second marriage of Judson Wilcox was born one child, (VII) Ella Ruth, now Mrs. A. T. Pattison.

After his return from the West, Judson Wilcox engaged in peddling and other work, until he had realized sufficient capital to start (in 1851) the first successful mercantile establishment in Simsbury Center. By close attention to business he prospered, and when he found success assured he began paying off debts that had accrued against him in years gone by, and lquidated them all. He had but a small room to start with, but from it the largest mercan- tile concern in the town eventuated. In addi- tion he was for some years agent for the North- ampton railway at Simsbury, but this in no way distracted his attention from his·legitimate pursuit.

While in the West Mr. Wilcox became a mem- ber of the Masonic Fraternity. He was a sincere Christian, a devout Methodist, and for years was trustee and steward in his church, besides holding several minor offices therein. He was a man of the strictest integrity, as was evidenced by the fact that, at the age of forty-three years, he had cancelled all the indebtedness which he had incurred in his earlier years. He stood high in the esteem of his fellow citizens. His widow now resides with her daughter, Mrs. A. T. Pattison.

MERIT NEWELL WOODRUFF. There are few men in Southington in the last half-century who have done more for its industrial interests and its growth and prosperity, than the man whose name initiates this review. He is one of the lead- ing and successful business men of the town, and his upright course in life commands the respect and commendation of everyone.

I & North

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COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

Mr. Woodruff was born in Candor, Tioga Co., N. Y., Feb. 22, 1826, and traces his ancestry back to Matthew Woodruff, who removed from Hart- ford to Farmington, Conn., in 1640, and was ad- mitted as a freeman in 1657. He was one of the eighty-four proprietors of the town in 1672, and died in 1682, at an advanced age. His son, Samuel Woodruff, was born in Farmington Aug. 26, 1661, and married Rebecca, daughter of John Clark. In 1698 he removed to the eastern part of the town, and was the first settler in what is now the town of Southington. He is said to have been quite large, to have possessed great physical strength, was of excellent disposition, and always on friendly terms with the Indians. He died Jan. 8, 1742. His son, Samuel Woodruff (2), was born in Farm- ington Jan. 20, 1686, and was married, July 10, 1718, to Esther, daughter of Samuel and Esther (Woodford) Bird. He died in Southington in February, 1766. He held the military rank of cap- tain, and his commission is now in the hands of his descendants. Samuel Woodruff (3), son of the Captain, was born Oct. 3, 1734, served as a private in the war of the Revolution, and died July 7, 1816. He was married, Feb. 2, 1758, to Ruth Lyman, daughter of Moses and Ruth (Hickox) Lyman, of Wallingford. Their son, Jason Wood- ruff, grandfather of our subject, was born Aug. 21, 1758, and was married, May 10, 1781, to Mary Newell, daughter of Josiah and Mary (Upson) Newell. He followed the occupation of farming throughout life, and died Sept. 14, 1836.

Sheldon Woodruff, father of our subject, was born in Southington April 15, 1798, and in early life followed farming for some years, but subse- quently engaged in mercantile business in New York City. Later he returned to Southington, Conn., where he died in 1884. On May 19, 1818, he mar- ried Levea Lewis, daughter of Asahel and Lois (Lee) Lewis, and granddaughter of Nathan and Mary (Gridley) Lewis. The grandfather was a son of Samuel and Elizabeth ( Black) Lewis. The father of Samuel, William Lewis, came from Eng- land in the ship "Lion," landing in Boston Sept. 16, 1632. Four years later he came with a com- pany to Hartford, but in 1659 he returned to Mas- sachusetts, becoming one of the founders of Had- ley, which town he represented in the General Court in 1662. In 1677 he removed to Farming- ton, Conn., where he died Aug. 2, 1683.

From the age of ten years our subject was reared in Southington, and his education was ob- tained in private schools of Peekskill, N. Y., the public schools of New York City, and Lewis Acad- emy, Southington. On leaving school, at the age of eighteen years, he went to New York as assist- ant in the lumber yard of his uncle, the late Anson Lewis, and on his return to Southington entered the employ of Amon Bradley, as clerk. Several years later he was admitted as a partner in the business, under the firm name of Amon Bradley

& Co., and they did a successful and prosperous business as general merchants, both laying the foun- dations of the fortunes which they to-day enjoy. In 1865 they dissolved partnership, and after a season of rest Mr. Woodruff, with Norman A. Barnes as a partner, opened a store and tailoring establishment, which they conducted for two years. He then retired, and later accepted a position as bookkeeper with the late J. B. Savage, with whom he remained six years. In 1878 he was chosen president of the Atwater Manufacturing Co., a po- sition he still fills. When he became connected with the company it was at a low ebb financially, but owing to his good judgment and ability it now stands among the best manufacturing concerns in the State, and has the reputation of making re- liable goods in the market of this country.

On Oct. 2, 1856, Mr. Woodruff was united in marriage with Miss Mary A. Smith, a daughter of Willis and Emily ( Barnes) Smith, of Southington, and to them were born two children : Arthur, deceased ; and Edna L., who is a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution. The wife and mother died in 1882, and Mr. Woodruff erected a handsome fountain which he presented to the Oak Hill Cemetery Association as a memorial to his wife and son.

Since attaining his majority Mr. Woodruff has been a stanch supporter of the Democratic party, and has never missed voting at any National, State or town election, a record seldom equalled. He has always declined political office, but during the winter of 1893, while at Hot Springs, he was nom- inated and elected warden of his borough, much to his regret, and the following year he declined the renomination. Since 1871 he has been an active and influential member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, during which time he has held several church offices. He is sympathic and generous, ex- tending a helping hand to the poor and needy, and is always ready to aid those less fortunate than himself, but his charities are always performed in a most unostentatious manner. He is pleasant and genial, and all who know him esteem him highly for his genuine worth.

CHARLES MARCUS BIDWELL. One of the best features of town and country life, as com- pared with the more feverish existence in cities, is the large reserve force that always exists there, usually in a latent or undeveloped form. There are individuals, resident in the smaller centers of population, who possess all the requisites for posi- tions of great trust and responsibility, but who are content to live the quieter, more normal life "near to nature's heart." If this thought were voiced in East Hartford, the mind of the well-informed resi- dent would probably turn to the subject of this sketch, who in his earlier years checked an impulse to enter the busier scenes of human endeavor be- cause he felt he was needed at home. In the chosen

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sphere of his activities and usefulness Mr. Bidwell has been prominent in business and agriculture, and his keen intellect, sage judgment and public enter- prise have lastingly benefited the community in which he lives.

It is noteworthy that Mr. Bidwell occupies land which was first occupied by his ancestors, and which for seven generations has been uninterrupt- edly in the possession of his family. The founder of the family in America was John Bidwell, the pioneer tanner of the Connecticut Colony. John Bidwell was one of Rev. Hooker's party who first settled at Hartford. His original house lot was located on the east side of Trumbull street, near Pearl, and was granted him before 1640. He with Joseph Bull built a sawmill on "Sawmill river" (now Hockanum river). They were granted 240 acres-in the next commons for timber for their mill-in 1671. John Bidwell shared with three others in a tract of 270 acres, in the distribution of 1666. His portion was along what was known as "Bidwell's Lane" (now Burnside Avenue), and portions of this land have been owned by the family ever since, part of it being now owned and occupied by our subject. John Bidwell became a freeman in 1669. He married Sarah Wilcox. They were members of the First Church of Hartford, and when the Second Church was organized they became members thereof. He and his sons did the milling and tanning for the Colony, his old tannery standing in the north end of what is now Bashnell Park. This tannery was in the family for many genera- tions, and various members of the family owned mills in many portions of the Colony. The town from time to time voted land from the commons to "John Bidwell and sons, nearest to their mills as their needs may require."

We give the direct line of descent from the pro- genitor of the family in Connecticut to our subject : (I) John Bidwell. (2) Daniel, his youngest son, whose wife was Elizabeth. (3) Daniel, their son, who married Esther Buckland. (4) Daniel, their son, who married Mary, daughter of Thomas Ells- worth. (5) Daniel, their son, who married Asenatlı Burnham. (6) Daniel, their son, who married Mary White, and (7) Charles M., their son, subject of this sketch.

Daniel Bidwell, the grandfather of our sub- ject, was born July 10, 1748. He married Asenath Burnham, and was a young man when the Revolu- tionary struggle began. He enlisted as a patriot, and was in the Long Island campaign. When the army reached Westchester county, N. Y., he was taken sick, and was sent home. He died within a month after his arrival there, leaving a widow and one child: Mary, born Dec. 18, 1771, married to Jolin Gains, and raised a large family ; Daniel, the father of our subject, was a posthumous child.

Daniel Bidwell, the father, was born Feb. 13, 1777, on the home now occupied by our subject, a short time after the death of his father, the Revolu-

tionary soldier. . The school he attended stood near the present North Division school, but nearer the street. He was reared as a farmer's boy, and as the only son of his widowed mother the work on the farm fell mainly upon his shoulders. He inherited agriculture as his vocation, and remained through life on the farm of his birth, where his son, our subject, now lives. Daniel Bidwell married in Glastonbury, Mary, daughter of James and Eunice (Rowley) White, members of an old Connecticut family. The four children of Daniel and Mary (White) Bidwell who reached adult life were as follows: Daniel L. died unmarried, in 1853; Miss Mary W., of Glastonbury; Charles M., our sub- ject ; and Martha B., wife of C. N. Carter, a retired merchant and manufacturer of Glastonbury. The father was a Whig in politics. He was a large and active man physically, weighing about two hundred pounds. He was widely and well-known, and was always devoted to home and family. He died in 1852, aged seventy-five years. His wife, who was an' energetic, active woman, deeply interested in current events, and in the education of her children, was a member of the Baptist Church. She sur- vived her husband several years, dying at the age of seventy-two. They are buried at East Hartford.

Charles M. Bidwell, our subject, was born Sept. II, 1829. He attended in his boyhood the school where his father before him conned his lessons, and where his children and grandchildren since have received their early instruction. He also at- tended East Hartford high school under Salmon Phelps, and later took a course in the East Hartford Academy, under Prof. M. L. Rogers. He was a quick student, and was on the highway to a career of wider proportions than that bounded by four lines, but his parents needed his services, and with his at- tendance at the East Hartford Academy he ended his school education and assumed the management of the farm. As a student he was especially apt in mathematics, and when a young man he received many tempting offers to go West and fill positions of responsibility and great promise, but his regard for the wishes of his parents kept him on the farm. He took care of the latter and also assisted his brother who carried on a successful business in Hartford, and was a pioneer in the construction of water works, steam-heating and gas plants, having introduced the first steam heat in the State. After his death a partnership was entered into by our sub- ject and A. P. Pitkin, who had also been an assistant in the business, and the concern was then conducted for eight or ten years by the firm, under the name of Bidwell & Pitkin. Mr. Bidwell then sold out his interest. In recent years he has devoted consider- able attention to real estate, and now owns several blocks of very desirable building lots on Burnside avenue.

Mr. Bidwell has been twice married. His first wife was Miss Emma Brewer, of Hockanum, daugh- ter of Selden and Marietta (Galpin) Brewer. His

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econd wife was Mrs. Mary (Sumner) Newcomb, vidow of J. W. Newcomb. By her first marriage he was the mother of Warren Putnam Newcomb, vho graduated from West Point Academy in the lass of '82 as the sixth in his class, and has since erved in various government posts, including the professorship of modern languages at West Point. Warren Putnam Newcomb is the only living male lescendant of Gen. Joseph Warren. The children of our subject by his first marriage are as follows : Adele Emma, at home; Daniel D., a graduate of Yale University, and a journalist by profession, who married Edith Mines, of Brooklyn, N. Y., and has one child, Pauline ; and Mary A., who married Rev. Burr M. Weeden, an Episcopal minister, and died it East Hartford, while on a visit to her parents, caving one child, Agnes Almira.

In politics Mr. Bidwell has usually in the past affiliated with the Republican party. He is a mem- er of St. John's Episcopal Church at East Hartford, und has been vestryman and warden of the church. He is a keen, shrewd business man, of natural in- cellect, commanding presence, and ranks as one of the most substantial men of his town. He has a remarkable memory, is well informed upon the ssues of the day, and has a wide acuaintance throughout the county.

AUGUSTUS HENRY FUNCK, at the head of the largest furniture house in Bristol, Conn., was porn July 22, 1836, in Neuhaus, Hanover, Germany, and is a son of Christian F. and Johanna ( Stamm) Funck, natives, respectively, of Neuhaus and Ham- burg.

Christian F. Funck, who was born April 9, 1810, was a cabinetmaker by trade. In 1846 he came to America, and in 1849 he brought his family to Bristol, Conn., where he had found employment making cases in the Brewster & Ingraham clock shop, which position ne held until ready to go into the furniture and cabinet-making business on his own account. In 1865 he and his son, Augustus Henry, entered the furniture and undertaking busi- ness on the Northside, at Doolittle's corner, in 1867 removed to the corner of South Elm and Main streets, and the next spring moved to the town hall, conducting the business at that stand until 1889, when they returned to the property at the corner of Main and South Elm streets, where they erected a fine brick building, and where Mr. Funck now re- sides.

To the marriage of Christian F. Funck with Johanna Stamm, about 1830, were born six children : Dora, born Feb. 3, 1833, is the wife of Conrad Haupt, of St. Paul, Minn .: William F., born in April, 1834, was a joiner by trade, married Mar- garet Rathburn, and died in Mankato, Minn., in No- vember, 1892; Augustus Henry is next in order of birth ; Sophia is the wife of George W. Schubert, of Bristol; Charles Christian is living in Norwalk, Ohio, and has a family ; Henry Jacob, born in 1843,

was a member of Company K, 16th Conn. Vol. Inf., and died in Florence prison, in South Carolina, in February, 1865. Christian F. Funck never joined a secret society, and, although for many years a Democrat, never aspired to public office. He lost his wife in June, 1873, and he himself entered into rest Nov. 14, 1888, in the faith of the Protestant Episcopal Church.

Augustus Henry Funck attended school in his native town until he came to America in 1849; then attended the Bristol (Conn.) schools until about 1851 during the winter months, and worked on Lockwood Tuttle's farm, his next work being in Brewster & Ingraham's movement department for clocks until 1855. In 1856 he went to St. Paul, Minn., and worked with a brother at carpentering until the fall of 1860 when he returned to Bristol, and there worked at the same trade for Edward Hall until July 22, 1862, when he enlisted in Company K, 16th C. V. I. His first fight was at Antietanı; where he was wounded in the foot ; he was at the battles of Fredericksburg, Newport News, and Suf- folk, went through the Peninsula to Yorktown, White House, Taylor's Farm, and Portsmouth, Va., then at Plymouth, N. C., where he was taken pris- oner and for five months underwent all the hor- rors of the prison pen at Andersonville, and for five months longer at Florence, whence he was ex- changed, in February, 1865. After being ex- changed Mr. Funck lay in a convalescent camp for some time and later was sent to a hospital in Balti- more, Md., where he was confined with typhoid fever more than four weeks. He was then granted a furlough home for thirty days, but before its expi- ration Gen. Lee surrendered, and Mr. Funck was honorably discharged at Hartford, and mustered out June 15, 1865.

On his recuperation, Mr. Funck went into the furniture business with his father, which has been alluded to quite fully above, and which culminated in 1886 in the commencement of the erection of the mammoth four-story building on Prospect street, opposite the railroad depot, to which they removed in 1890, but still continue to occupy their block at the corner of Main and South Elm streets, the firm name standing the same as at the beginning, viz : C. Funck & Son.

The first marriage of Augustus H. Funck took place Sept. 1, 1865, to Miss Maria Harcke, who was born in Neuhaus, Germany, in 1840, and came to America with her parents about 1865. She died Dec. 16, 1883, the mother of the following named children : Henry, who died at the age of twelve years ; Augusta, born July 17, 1867, is married to Frank L. Muzzy, and has one child, Dorothy ; Sophia, born Nov. 19, 1868, is the wife of Harry Landers, of Waterbury, and has one child, Leroy ; Annie J., born April 3, 1870, married Marshall Smith, of Terryville, and has two daughters, Rachel and Ruth M .; George, born Aug. 29, 1872, married Nellie Parsons of Waterbury, and has had born to

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him two children, Marie and Frances; Minnie, born Oct. 13, 1875, teaches the kindergarten in Bristol ; Emil, born Sept. 12, 1877, married Jessie Hull, daughter of Dr. George S. Hull, and is now asso- ciated with his father in business; and Louis E., born March 17, 1881, is also associated with his father. The second marriage of Mr. Funck was solemnized Sept. 1, 1885, with Mrs. Annie (Siegler) Fell, of Bristol, and this union has been crowned by the birth of one child, Harold A., born Aug. 15, 1888, who is attending school. For over thirty years Mr. Funck has belonged to the Masonic fra- ternity, and is still a member of Franklin Lodge, No. 56, F. & A. M., at Bristol, and he and wife are identified with the Order of the Eastern Star. Mr. Funck is also affiliated with G. W. Thompson Post, No. 13, G. A. R., while Mrs. Funck is a mem- ber of the Woman's Relief Corps attached to that organization. They are consistent members of the Episcopal Church, in which for a number of years he has been a vestryman, treasurer and senior warden.

LUTHER SELDEN WEBSTER, an honored and highly-respected citizen of Berlin, was born in what is known as the Beckley Quarter Sept. 20, 1825, and is a representative of one of the most influential and prominent families of Hart- ford county.

Jonathan Webster, his father, was born in New- ington about 1800, and died about 1885. He al- ways followed the occupation of farming and be- came quite well-to-do. Physically he was short and heavy-set, and in disposition was rather strict, compelling his children to work hard. His polit- ical support was first given to the Whig and later to the Democratic party, and he took considerable interest in church work. He was married to Rox- anna Selden, who was born in East Haddam, a daughter of Jonathan Selden. Both were laid to rest in the Beckley Quarter cemetery.

Upon the home farm in the northern part of Berlin Luther S. Webster grew to manhood, and pursued his studies in the Beckley Quarter school under the direction of a Mr. Porter. He received rather a meager education, as he was compelled to work on the farm most of the year, and has often regretted that he did not have better advantages along that line. He continued to attend school through the winter months until sixteen years of age, and then gave his entire time to the work of the farm.

On Jan. 14, 1857, Mr. Webster married Miss Susan Pratt Richards, who was born July 9, 1832, and is still living, but is divorced. Her parents were Amon and Betsey (Pratt) Richards, who died and were buried in Beckley. By this union Mr. Webster had one daughter, Fannie, born Nov. 5, 1861, who was married, May 1, 1883, to Simeon Mckay, born March 24, 1855, and now engaged in farming in Berlin. To them were born six chil-

dren: Luther Webster, born Oct. 7, 1883, is now in the employ of P. & P. Corbin, New Britain; Clayton North, born June 2, 1885, died Dec. 22, 1887; Grace Emily, born Nov. 2, 1886, died July 2, 1887; Helen Louise, born July 17, 1888, Alice Evelyn, born July 11, 1890, and John William, born Oct. 16, 1892, are still living. For his sec- ond wife Mr. Webster married Mrs. Emily (North) Mckay, who was born in 1824, and died Jan. 9, 1888, her remains being interred in the South burying-ground, Berlin. Since her death his daughter and family have made their home with him.

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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 110

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