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 124

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 124

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On National and State issues Mr. Griswold's affiliations are with the Republican party. He is not, however, either an active politician or a violent partisan, and on local issues he is altogether inde- pendent. He is a member of Stanley Post, G. A. R., of New Britain and of Pequot Council, No. 24, Sr. O. U. A. M., of Berlin.

As an evidence of the patriotism of the Gris- wold family the State records show a long list of those who served their country during the Revolu- tionary war, and in subsequent wars they have re- sponded in goodly numbers to their country's call. The family are especially proud of the fact that from the arrival of the founders of the family to the present time, their record has been remarkable in that, so far is known, no member has ever brought disgrace upon the fair name of the family, and that in all the elements that go to make upright and honorable citizens they have, as a family, been pos- sessed in a remarkable degree.

EDWIN IVES CLARK, a prosperous and rep- resentative farmer and mechanic of Berlin, is a native of Hartford county. His ancestors for gen- erations past have lived and died in Connecticut, and for a third of a century the fortunate lot of Mr. Clark has been cast in the county of his birth. In early years he gave heed to a desire for travel, and his life away from his native place practically ended with the three years' gallant service which he rendered his country during the period of the Civil war.

Mr. Clark was born on what was known as the old Squire place, in Berlin, Nov. 15, 1841, son of Hiram Clark, and grandson of Linus Clark, the last named born in 1786, in Kensington. He was a farmer and miller, working at Moore's Mills, Kensington, grinding grain and manufacturing cement. He was a man of unblemished character and many noble traits. He married Polly Perkins,

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and to them were born thirteen children, of whom Linus, Henry, John, Russell, Hiram, Laura, Mary, Emily and Julia grew to maturity ; the others died young. Linus Clark died May 25, 1832, his wife surviving until May 3, 1843.

Hiram Clark, the father of our subject, was born in Kensington Feb. 25, 1814. His educa- tional advantages were meager, but he improved them all, and in later life added constantly to his fund of knowledge by careful and systematic read- ing. He acquired a knowledge of the shoemaker's trade with Mr. Stocking, and later worked for Samuel Bishop, in a shop which stood on the pres- ent lot of his son. At the completion of a four- years apprenticeship Hiram Clark was the posses- sor of a new suit of clothes and of twenty-five dol- lars. For several years he worked as a journey- man shoemaker, and then adopted a mode of mer- cantile trade which was not uncommon in those days, peddling Yankee notions from a wagon throughout the Southern States for a period of seven or eight years; he was very successful in this business. Mr. Clark then settled down and engaged in farming. He purchased the Bishop place, and land adjoining to the extent of about eight acres. Later he worked for some years in Brandegee's cotton factory, and then removed to East Berlin, where he assumed a contract in the shops and also conducted a boarding-house. In 1851 he returned to the farm, where he spent the remainder of his years. He was a stanch Republican in politics, and believed it the duty of American citizenship to give personal attention to the primaries, a belief which he conscientiously practiced. In religious faith he was a member of the Congregational Church. He married Jeannette Treat, who was born April 3, 1817, daughter of Abba Treat, of Crom- well, Conn., a farmer, who began life for himself as a poor young man and eventually amassed a large property. To Hiram and Jeannette Clark were born three children: Hiram, Edwin I. and Nancy Augusta. Hiram was born April 9, 1839, became a private in Company K, 16th Conn. V. I., was captured at the battle of Plymouth, and died at Andersonville Aug. 18, 1864. Nancy Au- gusta was born April 20, 1843, became the wife of Royal Bentley, a railroad man of Deep River, and is now deceased. The father died March 18, 1875, the mother surviving until Feb. 21, 1880.

Edwin I. Clark attended in his boyhood days the schools of Berlin and the academy in that town. Although an apt pupil and an active reader his mind turned to trade, and when about seven- teen years of age he began handling various lines of goods in New York State. He was thus travel- ing when the first call for 75,000 troops was made by President Lincoln, and returning to Hartford he there enlisted, in Company K, Third Conn. V. I., for three months. At the expiration of his term of service he re-enlisted, this time in Company G, First Heavy Artillery, Connecticut Volunteers, for

three years, rising to the rank of corporal and gunner. He participated in many of the sharp struggles during the memorable conflict, and was at Malvern Hill, Bull Run, siege of Yorktown, Golden's farm, Chickahominy Swamp, Seven Oaks, Hanover Courthouse, Harrison Landing and the seven-days' fight under Gen. McClellan during the Peninsular campaign. He was .t Petersburg, and was with the three batteries at Fredericksburg, serving under Gens. Burnside, Hooker and Meade. Ilis term of service expired while the regiment was in front of Petersburg, in 1864, and he was honorably discharged.

Returning home, Mr. Clark engaged in farm- ing for three years. He then embarked in the grocery business at Hartford, and selling out re- turned to the farm, where in connection with his agricultural work he has followed carpentry. He now owns the old home farm, and has also pur- chased the Elbert Clark place. Mr. Clark carries on dairy farming, and keeps from twenty to twen- ty-five cows. He has prospered, and the success he has attained is due to his own efforts. In poli- tics he has always been a Republican, and in the local affairs of his party he has taken an active interest. In the fall of 1893 he was elected to the board of selectmen, and has since been a mem- ber of that board continuously, serving during this time as chairman and for three years as first select- man. Socially Mr. Clark is a member of Merriam Post, G. A. R., at Meriden, of the American Me- chanics, the Order of United Friends, and of the Grange, of which latter he has been master for several years. In religious connection he and his wife belong to the Congregational Church.

Mr. Clark married, in 1866, Miss Annie N. Deming, who was born June 17, 1843, a daughter of George and Lura (Derby) Deming, of Elling- ton, and a granddaughter of Sylvester Deming, of Wethersfield, both her father and grandfather be- ing representative farmers,and descendants of an old Vermont family. She was one of a family of seven children : Roxcy, Martha, Annie, George, Charles, Lura and Fannie. To our subject and wife have been born four children: Lillian A .; Cora Augusta, wife of Everett Honiss; George Hiram; and Arthur Edwin.

WILLIAM WEBSTER STILLMAN. The subject of this sketch was clerk of the board of selectmen at Hartford for a period of twenty-five years, or until 1896, when the office was abolished, and he accepted the superintendency of the Board of Charity Commissioners. He is yet a young man, and to an unusual degree has evinced those sterling and engaging traits of character, which peculiarly fit one for public service. He is a son of Allyn S. Stillman, one of the most prominent citizens of Hartford a half-century ago, and a descendant in the sixth generation from George Stillman, of Had- ley, Mass., who about 1703-04 removed thence to

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Wethersfield, Conn., where he remained through life. The line of descent to our subject was through ( II) Nathaniel Stillman ; (III) Nathaniel Stillman; (IV) James Stillman, born Sept. 9, 1770, removed from Glastonbury to Wethersfield, and died in September, 1854; (V) Allyn S. Stillman, father of our subject.

(IV) James Stillman, the grandfather of our subject, married Elizabeth Webster, who was born in 1772, and died in 1845. She was of the seventh generation from John Webster, who was born in England, and in 1658 became governor of Con- necticut, serving three years. The line of descent is through (II) Robert Webster; (III) Jonathan Webster, deceased in 1694: (IV) Jonathan Web- ster, born 1682, died 1758; (V) Jonathan Webster, cleceased in 1789; and (VI) John Webster, who married in 1769.

Allyn S. Stillman was both in Wethersfield, Conn., April 28, 1800. He received only a com- mon-school education, and in 1818, at the age of eighteen years, removed to Hartford, where he learned the bookbinder's trade from Oliver D. Cook, whose establishment occupied the present site of Bullerstein's store. Mr. Stillman possessed a char- acter too strong to continue very long as a work- man in the employ of others. He soon started in business for himself, thus inaugurating a long and prominent business career. At one time he was senior member of the firm of Stillman & Parsons. He was the first photograph album manufacturer in the United States, and engaged extensively in the manufacture of blank books, etc., on the site of Mr, Talcott's present bindery, building up a reputation for most excellent work. Until Case, Brainard & Lockwood started in business, he owned and conducted the principal book bindery in Hart- ford county, if not in the State. His public career was fully as honorable and extended as his busi- ness achievements. For sixteen years he served as first selectman of Hartford, and in 1864 he was elected mayor of the city of Hartford. He was chief of the fire department for many years, and in his honor a hose company was named the Stillman Hose Co. He was also one of the fire commission- ers, and for twenty years was president of the Firemen's Benevolent Society. In politics he was a Whig and a Republican, and as an admirer of Horace Greeley he in 1872 became a liberal Re- publican. A man of strong, forceful character, with keen native ability, he was one of the leading men of the city. He served as first major of the Putnam Phalanx, succeeding Major Goodwin. In religious affiliations he was an attendant at Christ Church.

Mr. Stillman was married, Nov. 11, 1833, to Miss Cecilia Andrus, and to them were born the following children: Cecilia, widow of Samuel H. White : Charles A., of Winchester. Mass. ; Alice Webster; Allyn, of New York City; and William

Webster, our subject. Allyn S. Stillman died Jan. 28, 1880, his widow on Feb. 28, 1892.

William Webster Stillman, our subject, was born in Hartford Jan. 1, 1852. He was educated in the common schools of the city, attending the old Center school, and then took a course in the Osborne private school, and also one at Bryant & Stratton's Business College, in the Opera House block, graduating at the age of sixteen years. Mr. Stillman then began life as correspondent for J. B. Burr & Co., publishers of "Sunshine and Shadow," remaining with them for about two years. He filled the same position with S. S. Scranton, and later with the American Publisning Co.

In October, 1871, before he had reached his twentieth birthday, he was appointed clerk of the board of selectmen, holding the position contin- uously under the various selectmen until 1896, when the Board of Charity Commissioners was created, becoming operator on June 15, of that year. Mr. Stillman was at once appointed acting superintend- ent, continuing in that capacity until appointed superintendent of the board, in December, 1896. Mr. Stillman is a Democrat, but is not active in politics. He is a member of the South Baptist Church. Among the fraternal organizations he is a member of St. John's Lodge, F. & A. M., and has been a member of the Elks. He married Mary McRae Robins, daughter of Gurdon and Mary Robins, of Hartford. He is one of the successful younger men of Hartford.

HON. JOHN F. FITTS, who passed away July 7, 1899, was a well-known agriculturist of the town of East Windsor, a veteran of the Civil war, and as a citizen gave abundant proofs of his public spirit, having been always ready to assist in the various progressive movements of his locality.

Mr. Fitts was born in the town of East Windsor, Oct. 26, 1826, a son of Sylvester and Nancy ( Wells) Fitts. As the mother died when he was a mere infant, he was adopted by Capt. Daniel French, of East Windsor, with whom he remained until he reached the age of sixteen. For three years fol- lowing he was employed as a farm hand, but as he desired better educational privileges than had fallen to his lot he then went to East Hampton, Mass., and entered the Williston Seminary, where he con- tinued his studies for two terms. On his return, because of poor health, he engaged in teaching, being employed at East Windsor Hill for two years, and after that time he engaged in farming. He located first on a farm just across the road from the present homestead of the family, to which he removed in 1870, and in addition to general farm- ing he was interested in tobacco culture. His military service lasted from August, 1862, to Au- gust, 1863, when he was honorably discharged at Hartford. He enlisted in Company G, 25th Conn. V. I., for nine months, and during his term of active

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service took part in two engagements at Irish Bend, La., and spent seven weeks with the forces besieg- ing Port Hudson. Politically he was a Republican from the organization of the party, and in 1858 and 1860 he served as a member of the State Legisla- ture. His keen interest in educational advance- ment was shown by thirty years of service on the local school board, and he was a prominent worker in the First Congregational Church of East Wind- sor, in which he held the office of deacon for twenty years, and with which his family are now con- nected.

In 1870 Mr. Fitts married Mrs. Mary I. Skinner, widow of William W. Skinner, and daughter of Nelson S. Osborn, of East Windsor. The follow- ing children blessed the union: Edward B., a resident of New Lebanon Center, N. Y .; Elizabeth H .: John N .; a daughter died in infancy; and Charles S.

FRANKLIN GREENE COMSTOCK, one of the best-known citizens of East Hartford, is the eld- est son of William G. Comstock, a full biographical sketch of whom is given elsewhere. He is also the oldest representative of his generation, the ninth, descended from the founder of the family in Amer- ica, William Comstock, who came from England or Wales, in 1635, the line of descent being as follows : (I) William; (2) John; (3) John (2), born in 1676; (4) John (3); (5) Chrstopher, born n 1720; (6) Jabez, died March 23, 1812, aged fiftey-seven years ; (7) Franklin G., born March 17, 1790, died in 1845; (8) William G., born Oct. 11, 1810; and (9) Franklin G., the subject of this notice.

Franklin G. Comstock was born in Wethersfield, this county, May 27, 1838, attended the common schools and the academy of that town, Cooke Louns- bury being one of the teachers, and then at East Hampton, Mass., attended a private school taught by a Mr. Wright, who had formerly been principal . of Williston Seminary. Later he attended D. H. Chase's preparatory school for boys at Middletown, Conn., and at fourteen years of age entered Wilbra- ham College, where he studied one year, and then went to the old Hart school, at Farmington, under Simeon Hart, one of the foremost instructors of his day. Young Franklin G. then went to Madison, Wis., where he received a course of commercial in- struction and was also employed there, for two years as clerk in a mercantile house. He then accepted a situation at Providence, R. I., as bookkeeper with Orray, Taft & Co., cotton brokers, remained with the firm two years, and then returned to Wethers- field.

In 1858 Mr. Comistock came to East Hartford, where his parents had in the meantime made their home. From that time until 1865 he assisted his father in operating the home farm, and in the year last mentioned engaged in the manufacture of solid silver spoons, at East Hartford, under the firm name of E. M. Roberts & Co .; two years later the

safe of the firm was blown open by burglars and de- spoiled of a large quantity of solid silver stock. The partnership was then dissolved, and Mr. Comstock next engaged in the manufacture of agricultural in- plements, as a member of the firm of Comstock Brothers. The father was the patentee of an ex- cellent seed-sower and cultivator, and to the man- ufacture of this implement the brothers devoted their attention. It found a market in every part of the United States and various other countries, and the firm of Comstock Brothers became so well-known, through this implement, that mail matter addressed to the firm, with town and State omitted, invariably reached its destination. The manufacture of this extraordinary and ingenious invention was carried on for many years, but was finally discontinued, although "parts" are still made for replacing worn or broken parts to users throughout the civilized world. For some years afterward Mr. Comstock was engaged in the manufacture of cigar boxes, which he followed until in January, 1898, he finally retired from all active business, to rest in peace after so many years of enterprising, progressive and incessant industry.

Mr. Comstock was happily joined in matrimony May 28, 1862, with Miss Antoinette Deming, a native of East Hartford, and a daughter of Timothy and Eliza (Wing) Deming. Mr. Deming had served in the war of 1812, was a well-known citizen in his day, was quite a mechanical genius and the patentee of several useful and ingenious inventions, and lived to reach the patriarchal age of ninety-four years. To the felicitous union of Mr. and Mrs. Comstock were born three children : Annie T., born May 22, 1863, widow of Milton Ensign, of Hock- anum, and mother of two children, Louis M. and Ruth, the former of whom lives with Mr. Com- stock ; Amy, born March 23, 1866, is now Mrs. Wal- ter Ranney, of East Hartford, and has three chil- dren, Philip, Nettie and Pauline; and Harry F., born Aug. 29, 1876, who is head shipping clerk for Pratt & Whitney, of Hartford. The mother of this family was called away June 12, 1883, a faithful member of the Congregational Church, and beloved by all who knew her.

In politics Mr. Comstock has always been a Republican, and has shown his loyalty to the party by voting regularly, but has never sought office. Fraternally, he has been a member of Orient Lodge, No. 62, F. & A. M., at East Hartford, for thirty- seven years ; for fifteen years he was a member of "Putnam Phalanx," of Hartford, from which he retired with the rank of first lieutenant.

In his earlier manhood Mr. Comstock traveled over the greater part of the United States, and east of the Mississippi river has been in every State ex- cepting one or two in the South ; at the North, in his very early days, when traveling for Comstock, Ferre & Co., of Wethersfield, he once drove a team to Montreal, Canada, and back, taking in all the towns en route. This experience was of vast benefit to

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him in his later business career, as it amplified his knowledge of men and their ways in the various sections which he had visited, and assisted in making him one of the best-known men in the State, and one of the most substantial in Hartford county.

For some years Mr. Comstock has been a grower of tobacco, and still over-sees a twelve-acre tract which he owns and which is devoted to this line of industry. He has recently purchased a valuable plantation and orange grove in Orlando, Florida, where he intends to reside hereafter during the win- ter months. In 1891 he erected an excellent dwelling on Main street, East Hartford, and this is his present habitation. Notwithstanding his very active and arduous business life his health is some- thing remarkable, as he has never known a sick day, and has never suffered from any infirmity except a slight impairment of hearing. Mentally and phys- ically he is to-day as strongly constituted as most men of thirty-five years. Unassuming, plain and approachable, straightforward and honest, he is es- teemed by the entire community as no other man is, and his family share with him this high respect.

MARSHALL PARRISH NORTON is the senior member of the firm of Norton & Pierce, proprietors of Lake Compounce, one of the most popular pleasure resorts in Hartford county. This lake and its surroundings have been in the posses- sion of the Norton family since 1787.

Mr. Norton is the eldest son of Gad and Mary A. (Wiard) Norton, and was born in Southing- ton, June 10, 1842. He passed his boyhood and youth on the home farm, acquiring a good prac- tical education in the common schools and Lewis Academy, and since attaining his majority has been identified with the Lake Compounce resort, as its manager and one of its proprietors. He is an en- terprising and progressive citizen, and very pop- ular with the public.

The lineage of the Nortons, compiled in tabular and chart form, runs back to a remote ancestry in Russian, Saxon and Norman lines. The Norman line begins with Rollo, Duke of Normandy, about the year 900. The first representative of the name in England was La Seignor de Norville, who came over from Normandy as sheriff of William the Conqueror in September, 1066. He married into the house of Valois, which was afterward for a long period the royal family of France. The Saxon pedigree is carried back in direct line to Harderich, King of the Saxons, B. C. 90, through Lady Maud de Grey de Ruthven, who married Sir John de Norville de Norton (eighth in line from La Seignor de Norville). Their son, John de Norton, of Sharpenhoe, Bedfordshire, England, established the line called the "Sharpenhoe Nortons," from whom the Nortons of New England are descended. That the family thus early was numerous and influential is evidenced by the not infrequent application of the name to English hamlets and towns, as Chipping

Norton, Norton on the Yorkshire border, Norton Conyers and Kings Norton. Sharpenhoe Bury, the property of the Nortons for a long period, was a large estate about thirty miles from London, with a manor house and "ancient chapelle" in ex- istence in 1235. The moat surrounding the manor house and grounds remains to this day in perfect preservation, and the chapel font, restored when the chapel was demolished in 1775, still stands in the manor grounds, covered with ivy and filled with lilies, a memorial of the ancient Saxon times to which it belonged. There still exists a curious old deed of 1545, recording the sale of the Rectory and Church of Stretly (adjoining Sharpenhoe) by King Henry VIII to his "trusty and beloved Subject Thomas Norton of Sharpenhoe," which deed was "witnessed by Catherine ( Parr), Queen of England and General Regent thereof at West- minster."

Thomas Norton, son of Thomas, above, was a dramatic writer, and the author, with Sir Thomas Lockville, of "Gorboduc," the first English tragedy, which was also the first successful experiment in blank verse. He was the author also of important translations. He married (first) Margaret, only child and heir of Thomas Cranmer, Archbishop of Canterbury, and (second) Alice, daughter of Ed- ward Cranmer, brother of Thomas. The second wife was the mother of his five children. He died in 1584.

In 1686 Thomas Norton established and en- dowed for all time a free school in Sharpenhoe for eight poor children and a tutor, and, although the property was sold out of the family in 1708, the school is still maintained, by an annual rent charge provided for by its founder.

John Norton, the founder of the line known as the "Farmington Nortons," was born probably in London about 1620-24, and in or before 1646 came with his wife, Dorathy, to Branford, Conn., and was one of the "first planters" of that place. Early in 1659 he removed with his family to Farm- ington. At this time he was buying and selling land-"seven pieces of land and housing in Hart- ford upon the River of Connecticut." According to an old deed, "One parcel abuts on the old high- way leading from the ox-pasture to the mill on the west side of land appointed for a burying place," this burying place being the old Center church burying ground, lately restored, and the land being in what is now the heart of the city, near the old State House. John Norton was one of the eighty-four proprietors of Farmington, which included at that time Southington, New Britain, Berlin, Bristol, Burlington, Avon, Plain- ville and parts of Wolcott, Harwinton and Bloom- field. He died Nov. 5, 1709.

John Norton (2), son of John, above, was born at Branford Oct. 14, 1657, and married Ruth Moore, daughter of Isaac Moore. He died at Farming- ton April 25, 1725. His daughters intermarried

Marshall P. Norton

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with the Newells, of Farmington, and the Sey- mour, Catlin, Pantry and Pratt families, of Hart- ford. He was one of the committee for the division and distribution of Southington lands in 1722, and took as a part of his portion the "59th lot in the 3d tier," adjoining Lake Compounce, which has remained the property of his descendants through seven generations. He was a member of the Brook- field Garrison in 1675, and a representative in the General Court of Connecticut in 1680-81-82.

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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 124

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