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 127

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 127

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Mr. Cook has been twice married, first time, in April, 1866, to Emily Seymour Beach, of Plymouth, Conn., who died Feb. 19, 1881, in New Britain, Conn. He wedded (second), Dec. 14, 1886, Edith Maria Pease, who was born Jan. 10, 1860, in Enfield, Conn., daughter of Samuel R. and Lovina (Boy- ington.) Pease. There are no children by either marriage.

Our subject and his wife are members of the

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Prospect M. E. Church at Bristol, Mrs. Cook be- ing identified with the Ladies Aid Society, and Mr. Cook with the Church Extension committee. So- cially he is affiliated with Phoenix Lodge, No. 52, I. O. O. F., of New Britain, has passed the chairs therein, and he and his wife are members of Ruth Lodge, No. 24, Ladies Auxiliary to the I. O. O. F., wherein Mrs. Cook has passed the chairs. He is affiliated with Gilbert W. Thompson Post, No. 13. G. A. R., at Bristol, Mrs. Cook being presi- dent of Gilbert W. Thompson Relief Corps, No. 4, of Bristol, of which she has served as junior and senior vice-president. Mr. Cook is also an ad- vanced member of Nathan Hale Lodge, O. U. A. M., at Bristol. In politics he is a stanch Republican, but takes no active interest in the affairs of the party. The confidence and trust reposed in both Mr. and Mrs. Cook has never been misplaced, and to-day their many friends have for them the highest re- gard.

GEORGE WASHINGTON LADD, the pres- ent first selectman of Bloomfield, is a native of Duanesburg, Schenectady Co., N. Y., born Oct. 18, 1848, and is a son of Elijah and Harriet ( Bentley ) Ladd, also natives of Duanesburg, and of English descent.

Elijah Ladd was a son of Lemuel and Phebe (Herrick) Ladd, and was reared on his father's farm. To him and his wife the following named children were born: Susan, who is now deceased; Mary Ann, married to John Slawson, of Duanes- burg; Eva, wife of Ashel B. Morey, of the same town; Harriet, now Mrs. Dewitt Empie, of Scho- harie, N. Y .; and George W., whose name opens this biographical notice. Elijah Ladd and his wife died some years ago, in their native town.

George W. Ladd, following in the footsteps of his immediate ancestors, passed his youth and early manhood on the home farm. At Rensselaer- ville, N. Y., he married Miss Millie N. Johnson, daughter of Rev. J. S. Johnson, of the first Baptist Church at Rensselaerville, and to this union have been born three children: Raymond L., Fannie M. and LeRoy A. Of these, Raymond L. married Miss Nellie Goodwin, of Bloomfield. Fannie M. is married to George B. Ashwell, of Hartford, Conn., and to their marriage has been born one child, Gladys.

In May, 1891, George W. Ladd came to Bloom- field, locating on West street, and engaged in dairying, which he still follows. He is very promi- nent in the management of the affairs of the town, has been a member of the board of selectmen four years, and at this writing (1900) is serving his third year as first selectman ; he is also a member of the board of education. He was once elected a justice of the peace, on the Republican ticket, but de- clining to qualify. He adheres faithfully to that party. Fraternally he is a member of Hiram Lodge, No. 98, F. & A. M., at Bloomfield, and also of the

Grange, of the same town. He and wife are mem- bers of the Baptist Church, and, socially, enjoy the respect of the entire community.

WILLIAM E. LATHAM is a son of Amos B. Latham, and grandson of William Latham, the for- mer a native of Hebron, and the latter of Groton, Conn. His grandfather, who was for many years a farmer in the town of Hebron, married Betsey Barnes, by whom he was the father of eleven chil- dren : Isaac, Joel, Joseph, Avery, Darius, William, Amos B., and four who died in childhood. William Latham, the elder, died Dec. 31, 1836, and his wife Feb. 12, 1849.

Amos B. Latham learned the trade of a car- penter and joiner in his youth, and spent his early years in Hebron. His natural inclination was toward mechanical work, and he acquired a thorough knowledge of cornicemaking through his own ef- forts, and with very little instruction, following it successfully for many years. About 1840 or '41 he removed to Marlboro, where he passed the re- mainder of his life. He was fairly successful in business, and reared a family which reflected credit upon himself and the mother to whose tender care they owed their early training. He was a public- spirited citizen, always ready to render aid and support to every movement looking toward the ad- vantage of the community of which he was a highly- respected member. He was a man of earnest con- victions, as appears from the course of his political affiliations. Prior to 1856 he was a Democrat, but in that year the agitation of the Free-soil issue brought him into the Republican party, and he cast his presidential vote for John C. Fremont. He continued to act with the Republicans until the re- nomination of Gen. Grant, in 1872, when he returned to the fold to which he had originally belonged. In other words, his adherence to principle, joined to his native independence, caused principle to ap- pear to him in a higher, purer light than mere partisanship.

Mr. Latham's townsmen honored him by elec- tion to various offices. He was selectman, trial jus- tice, town treasurer, a representative in the Legis- lature, judge of probate, and, at the time of his demise, town clerk. His early education may be said to have been of a rudimentary character, but his early disadvantages were, in a large measure, overcome by a course of well-selected reading dur- ing later life. He was an unusually well informed man on all general topics, and generally more than able to hold his own in any discussion upon any topic with which he was familiar. He was noted for his activity, energy and probity, and, although not a professed member of any church, was a regular attendant upon the services of the Congregational Church in the place of his residence, and for many years chairman of the business committee of the society. He married Caroline M. Loomis, daughter of Elias Loomis, of Colchester, and granddaughter

George Of Lader

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of Samuel Loomis, who was a soldier during the war of the Revolution. The family of Loomis is one of the oldest in Colchester. Mr. Latham died July 22, 1893. Children were born to this mar- riage as follows: Harriet J., who married Stanley Wadsworth, of Hockanum ( East Hartford) ; Bet- sey M., who has been married three times, her first husband having been Joseph Alvord, her second Gamaliel Waldo, and her third William Burland ; William E .; Joel E., a farmer and blacksmith in South Dakota; Amos M., whose home is in Sears- boro, near Grinnell, Iowa, also a farmer and black- smith ; and Imogene C., the widow of Hawley Skin- ner, of East Hampton, Conn. After the death of his first wife, which occurred Sept. 17, 1858, Mr. Latham married Eliza A. McEva, who bore him two children. The elder of these, Charles A., is living in Elyria, Ohio, and the younger, Ernest B., in the city of New York, where he is engaged in the business of manufacturing and selling electrical sup- plies.

William E. Latham received his early educa- tion in the common schools, supplementing it by a partial course at the State Normal School at New Britain. The outbreak of the Civil war interrupted his course of study, and in August, 1862, he en- listed in Company C, 20th Conn. V. I. He con- tinued in the service until mustered out, in June, 1865, participating in the battles of Chancellors- ville, Gettysburg. Resaca, Peach Tree Creek, Averysboro and Bentonville. After receiving his honorable discharge he returned to New Britain, and entered the bolt department of the Stanley Works. He remained with that concern for fifteen years, although between 1868 and 1880 his work was done under contract, he employing from five to twelve men. In the year last named ill health compelled him to abandon active shop work, and he retired to private life. He had, however, al- ways been an active political worker, in the interests of the Republican party, of which he was a stanch member. On his withdrawal from the Stanley Works he was elected tax collector on his party ticket, and re-elected again and again, holding the position for nine years, during which he also held he office of tax collector for the city of New Brit- tin, which latter he filled altogether eleven years, vith satisfaction to the tax-payers and with honor o himself. He has also been registrar of voters nd justice of the peace. In 1892 he embarked in he real estate and insurance business at New Brit- in.

Mr. Latham is a prominent and active member f the G. A. R., having once held the office of djutant, and being now (1899) junior vice-com- ander of Stanley Post, No. 11. He has also been rominent in the councils of the Order of United american Mechanics, having held the office of coun- illor, and being now a trustee. He belongs to the outh Congregational Church, and is a liberal con- ibutor toward its work.

In 1867 Mr. Latham was married to Nettie B., daughter of Henry C. Flagg, of New Britain, and granddaughter of Abijah Flagg, of the same place. Mrs. Latham's father was for many years a proml- inent furniture dealer and undertaker. Their mar- riage was blessed with one daughter, Florence M., who resides at home. Mrs. Latham died July 17, 1894.

CHRISTIAN TREPP, of Addison, is one of the men who have won success in life with no cap- ital except their native ability and strength of will.

Mr. Trepp is a native of Grobenton, Switzer- land, and a son of John Martin and Christina (Bailey) Trepp, lifelong residents of that town. His father was a farmer and teamster by occupa- tion, and before the days of railroads in Italy and Switzerland would haul silks and other merchandise from place to place, this business sometimes oblig- ing him to work all night. Our subject was one of a large family of children, as follows: George, a farmer in Switzerland; Christian, the second in order of birth; John Martin, a skilled horseman, who was killed in Switzerland by the kick of a horse; Michael, who came to America and located in Canton, Mont., where he is a successful ranch- man; David, who died in Canton, Mont .; Martin, who located in Canton, Mont., and followed gold digging and later stock raising, and was drowned near there, while attempting to ford a swollen stream on horseback; Christina, who died young ; Susannah, Mrs. Memper, who resides in Switzer- land; and Elizabeth, who remained in Switzerland.

Our subject was born Nov. 1, 1831, and as a boy attended the schools near his home, his oppor- tunities being in sharp contrast with those of Amer- ican children of to-day. The room was small and the high-backed seats uncomfortable, while the methods of teaching were primitive. His first teacher was less efficient than the average, as, ac- cording to Mr. Trepp, he was a "bachelor who sparked at night and slept in school," but his later instructors were better, and he remembers one in particular from whom he learned much. He learned quickly, and on completing his common-school course went to Italy to familiarize himself with the language of that country, eight months sufficing for this. He returned home, but soon afterward went to Koslin, Prussia, to learn the confectioners' trade, which he followed there for four years, and at Dresden, Saxony, for about six months. On Oct. 30, 1854, he sailed from Hamburg for New York, making the voyage in an old-fashioned sailing ves- sel which occupied seven weeks on the trip, arriving Dec. 19. The weather was warm and pleasant most of the way. On his way over he met Edward Paul- man, who, a quarter of a century later, has become his neighbor in Addison.

After Mr. Trepp had paid his fare to Hartford he had but three gold pieces left, and as he was un- able to find work during the following winter he

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would have fared ill had he not secured credit with a German, who knew that he could trust one of his honest face and demeanor, and whom Mr. Trepp promptly repaid as soon as he could. In the spring he was employed for two weeks in a bakery, to fill a vacancy, and then he went to East Glastonbury to work for Leonard E. Hale, at $10 a month, re- maining one year. The next six months he spent with Mr. Sellew, on Main street, Glastonbury, at $14 per month, and for nine years he was employed on a farm by Sydney Smith, of Glastonbury, his marriage occurring in the meantime. He then spent a summer on the river, as a hand on a stone-boat owned by Elizur Smith, and this experience led to a fortunate change in his business life. As he was very economical he had saved a neat little sum of money, invested in government bonds, and these he paid in as his portion in the purchase, with several others, of a share in a tug boat, the "Col. E. B. Grubb." This venture proved a profitable one, and stimulated by his success Mr. Trepp purchased two stone-boats, one of which was the "George C. Bloom." He was one of the company who built the "A. M. Smith," costing $12,000, our subject paying his quarter-interest in cash. When the river traffic began to decline he moved to his present farm, purchased in 1869 from a Mr. Barrows, and he has since followed farming, chiefly raising to- bacco, in which he has been successful. The tract then contained eleven acres, but Mr. Trepp has added more from time to time, and has now about twenty acres of choice land, in a good state of cul- tivation, besides considerable meadow and wood- land. In 1899 he erected a nice modern dwelling house, which he will enjoy in his declining years, and the other buildings on the place have been re- built by him.

On May 19, 1863, Mr. Trepp married Jane Rob- inson, a native of Ireland, and they have two chil- dren : George W. and Emma. George W. assists in the management of the farm; he married Miss Lena Tanner, and has two children, Edna and Louis. Emma lives at home. In the spring of 1883 Mr. Trepp, with his wife and family, took a trip through some of the Western States and Terri- tories, visiting all the principal cities and places of interest, and finally reaching Montana, where he visited with his brothers for over a month. His brothers were engaged in gold digging, which in- terested the visitors greatly. They found many things to interest them, but Mr. Trepp prefers the East for a home. The family is identified with the Congregational Church, and politically Mr. Trepp is a stanch Republican, his attachment to the party being free from any desire for official rewards and honors.

RICHARD MURRAY, a prominent and es- teemed citizen of Berlin, was born in County Water- ford, Ireland, in 1845. His early life was one of constant devotion to work, and he has made his

life successful through resolute pertinac ty, fixed purpose, earnest determination and tireless in- dustry.

Mr. Murray's parents, Thomas and Ellen (Flynn) Murray, are now both at rest in St. Peter's cemetery, at Haverstraw, N. Y. The fa- ther was a tenant farmer in Ireland, with but a small holding of sixty or seventy acres, who found the hardest of hard work scarcely yielded a bare support for himself and his family. The parents came to America first, and passage was made to the children in turn, which fact accounts for the younger children (Richard and Thomas) coming later than the others. Richard was but a youth when he came to America, at which time he was totally unacquainted with the usages of the country which was to be his future home. But he had in- born intelligence and the native courage of his race, not to mention its innate savoir-faire. He soon found employment at "edging" on a brick yard on the Hudson, in the neighborhood of New York City, in accepting which employment (as the nearest which presented itself) he unwittingly cast the mold of his whole future life. For four decades he de- voted himself to brickmaking. From the insig- nificant position of a boy, at everyone's beck and call, he rose to fill the position of superintendent and ultimately became a partner in the firm. Withir a few years the firm name of Peck & Murray gave way to that of Murray & Morrissey, and in 1892 Richard Murray, the erstwhile Celtic emigrant, be came through purchase the sole owner of the busi- ness. He removed the plant to Berlin, Conn. where he established the Murray Brick Works where an average force of fifty men is employed and every detail of the work is under Mr. Murray' personal supervision.

Our subject's residence is one of the larges in Berlin, he having purchased the property com monly spoken of as the "Norman Porter place,' formerly owned by a Mr. Porter, a gentleman fron the South, and originally costing $30,000. Hi domestic life has been as happy as his busines career has been successful. On Oct. 29, 1865, h married Miss Ellen Butler, of Haverstraw, N. Y who was born in County Waterford, Ireland daughter of Mathew Butler, a farmer, and his wif Ellen, whose father was also a farmer. Mrs. Murra died May 16, 1899, after a short illness, and i buried in the cemetery at New Britain. She wa deeply and sincerely mourned, not only by he husband, to whom she was in every sense of th word a "helpmeet," but by her friends and neigl bors as well, for whom she always had a kin. word, and by the many beneficiaries of her uno: tentatious charity. Mrs. Murray was well educate in her native county, and for many years acte as bookkeeper for her husband, who attributes h success in life largely to her business capacity.

Mr. and Mrs. Murray became the parents ( eight children, a brief mention of whom will 1

Can R. Array

Richard Murray

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found of interest. (1) Mary Ellen, born Sept. 16, 1867, was educated at the schools of Haver- straw and at St. Peter's Convent, graduating from the latter institution. On Sept. 20, 1887, she be- came the wife of William Fisher, who is in Mr. Murray's employ, and three children have been born to them. (2) Alice Aloysius, born July 23, 1869, was also educated at the public schools of Haver- straw and St. Peter's Convent, and subsequently graduated from the Eastman Business College, Poughkeepsie, N. Y. She married, Oct. 25, 1894, Edward Roche, of Berlin, and has borne her hus- band two children. (3) Kathryn Ophelia, born Sept. 16, 1871, also attended St. Peter's Convent, and later the Convent of Notre Dame, at Putnam, Conn. She remains at home, unmarried. (4) Adelia, born Nov. 29, 1873, died Feb. 19, 1881. (5) Josephine Mercedes was born Dec. 23, 1875. After leaving St. Peter's Convent she attended the New Britain high school, and later the State Nor- mal School, but was obliged to abandon her studies because of illness. She, too, lives at home. (6) Thomas Francis, born July 18, 1877, received his primary education at St. Peter's Convent, and afterward attended the grammar schools of New Britain, and the Academy of the Holy Cross, at Worcester, Mass. He is associated with his fa- ther as business manager. (7) Adelia Dolores, born Feb. 20, 1881, lives at home. She passed through the grammar and high schools of New Britain, and is at present a teacher in the centre school of Berlin. (8) Richard Butler, the youngest of the family, born Aug. 22, 1882, is a student at Manhattan College, New York. All Mr. Murray's children have enjoyed excellent educational ad- vantages. Conscious of his own meager oppor- tunities, he has been ever ready to make any sac- rifice for their benefit.

The religious faith of Mr. Murray and his fam- ily is that of the Catholic Church. His life has been too full of work and business cares to permit him to take an active part in politics; on National and State issues, however, his sympathies are with the Democratic party, while in local matters he looks to men rather than partisanship.

S. P. TURNER. Though eminently success- ful as a business man, the true measure of this prom- inent resident of Glastonbury should be taken as a citizen, and not merely as a merchant. He is scarcely yet in middle life, yet he has for years been one of that town's most aggressive and wide-awake men, active to every public enterprise, a factor in shaping political affairs, and a citizen whose in- fluence, while wide, is of that silent character which impresses the more deeply. He is unosten- tatious, courteous and accommodating, and is held in high esteem.

William H. Turner, the great-grandfather of our subject, was born in 1764, and as a bright- eyed boy in Boston attracted the attention of Elizur

Hubbard, a merchant of East Glastonbury, who was visiting in Boston, and whose liking for the viva- cious youngster was followed by a proposition to the boy's mother to give him a good business education. She consented, and the Massachusetts boy became identified with the interests of Glastonbury. IIe became a sailor, and married Mercy Wrisley, born in East Glastonbury in 1771, and to them were born nine children, of whom the eldest, William H., born in 1788, was the grandfather of our subject. The grandfather was a shipbuilder, and master of a coasting vessel. In 1812 he married Mary Nichol- son, who died in 1813, leaving one child, who died in infancy. For his second wife William H. Tur- ner married Bathsheba Brewster Wrisley, a native of Marlboro, daughter of Samuel and Mary ( Hux- ford) Wrisley. Samuel Wrisley was a Revolution- ary soldier, a "conductor of teams" and a captain in his regiment.

The third child and the second son of William H. and Bathsheba Turner was Welles Turner, fa- ther of our subject, born Nov. 13, 1828, on the Tur- ner homestead on the west side of Main street, Glastonbury, near station No. 45 of the trolley line. Welles Turner received a good academic educa- tion, attending the South Glastonbury Academy un- der Orange Judd, who gave $50,000 to Wesleyan University, and also under Henry L. Wells, later a millionaire of Minneapolis, Minn. Leaving school, the father of our subject began his career as a cierk in the dry-goods store of H. B .. Chaffee & Co., which stood on the ground in Hartford now occupied by Sage, Allen & Co. E. S. Cleveland, postmaster at Hartford under Presidents Lincoln and Johnson, was a fellow clerk in that store. Later Mr. Turner clerked for two years in the store of J. Gordon Smith, and then in 1852 moved to South Glastonbury and opened a general store, which he conducted for four years. He married, Oct. 2, 1854, Miss Isabelle P. Benton, born in Glastonbury in March, 1830, daughter of Henry and Elizabeth (Plummer) Benton. To them was born one son, Sturgis P., our subject, Oct. 16, 1856. The wife and mother died Nov. 8, 1856, and after her death the bereaved husband gave up his mercantile busi- ness and retired to the old homestead, where he has since resided, a highly-esteemed citizen of Glaston- bury. He is a Democrat in politics, and was the first registrar of voters at Glastonbury. Fraternally he is a veteran member of Columbia Lodge, No. 25, F. & A. M., of South Glastonbury, which in 1896 celebrated its 100th anniversary. He is a well- preserved man.

Sturgis P. Turner, our subject, was but a few weeks old when his mother died. He was reared from infancy at the home of Dudley Lee and wife, at Glastonbury, remaining there until twenty-one years of age. As a boy he worked on the farm and attended the Third district school of his native town, his first teacher being Miss House. He also attended school to Mrs. Cook and Mrs. Noyes, and

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later attended the academy at Glastonbury, when L. S. Brown was principal.

In May, 1878, our subject went to New Britain, and entered the employ of the New Britain Knitting Co. as general helper. He worked until October of the same year at $1.25 per day, then returned to his home in Glastonbury, and the following spring leased his father's farm. This he managed four years, and while so engaged, in the fall of 1879, he married Miss Hattie A. Welles, who was born Sept. 21, 1856, youngest daughter of Frederick and Cath- erine (Saltonstal) Welles. To our subject and wife has been born one daughter, Isabella Benton.

The mercantile career of our subject began March 15, 1883, when he purchased the store of P. H. Goodrich, at Glastonbury. This he has ever since conducted most successfully, and has from time to time added extensively to the stock, intro- ducing among other lines boots and shoes and drugs. Mr. Turner is one of the wide-awake and pros- perous business men of the town. He was one of the incorporators, and the first president, of the Eagle Sterling Co., was later treasurer for a time, and was prominently identified with the company until February, 1898.

In politics Mr. Turner is a stanch Republican, and he is one of the most active workers for the success of that party. It was through his efforts and those of others that the town, which was for- merly Democratic, joined the column of Repub- lican towns. He represented Glastonbury in the State Legislature in 1884, and again in 1888, and was one of the youngest men who ever represented the town. Politically he is one of the leaders in Glastonbury. He is a prominent member of Das- com Lodge, No. 86, F. & A. M., at Glastonbury. Mrs. Turner is a member of the Congregational Church. Their home, erected in 1888, is one of the finest and most modern in Glastonbury.

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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 127

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