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 143

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 143

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One of the public institutions which Deacon Al- fred North established at Berlin was the Berlin Savings Bank. As town clerk of Berlin there came to him one day to be recorded four mortgages held by outside parties. The thought occurred to him that a savings bank should be established at Berlin, and the interest money thus kept at home. Lead- ing men of the town, whom he consulted, dis- couraged the enterprise, but he persevered in his efforts and applied to S. C. Wilcox, then repre- senting the town in the State Legislature, to secure a charter. He expressed the belief that he would live to see the day when the deposits would amount to $100,000. The bank was incorporated June 19,

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1873. Deacon North was elected its first presi- dent, and continued to hold that position until fail- ing health, in Julv. 1893, compelled him to retire. He was the first depositor of the bank, opening an account in the name of a grandson; when he at- tended his last meeting with the directors the de- posits exceeded $200,000.

With the Second Congregational Church Dea- con North was connected for sixty-five years. This church was organized in 1775, and at the head of the members stands the name of Deacon Isaac North, the great-great-grandfather of our subject. The latter was received as a member in 1829. at the age of eighteen years, by Rev. Samuel Good- rich, and in 1836 he was elected deacon, resigning that office at the age of seventy. It is related, as an instance of the prevailing confidence in his good sense and knowledge of affairs, that when the new church was to be built at Berlin he was appointed to prepare a statement of the amount each member of the congregation ought to give. It was a dif- ficult task. Yet the sum which he placed after each name was cheerfully paid, and the church was built. He also held the offices of clerk and treasurer of the Worthington Ecclesiastical Society, as well as that of school treasurer. For twenty years he served faithfully as superintendent of the Sunday- school, and in the church music he took an active interest. In his boyhood days our subject was known as a lad of kindly disposition and generous acts. He thus early won many friends who clung to him through life. He was general counselor and referee of the town. Its people came to him in their perplexities. He was the trusted friend of the poor, and his liberality was greater than his means would well allow. He was very fond of children, and many of the residents of Berlin re- member him as one of their warmest childhood friends.

To our subject and wife were born two chil- dren, Francis Augustus and Catharine Melinda. The former was born June 4, 1835, and married, at Philadelphia, Oct. 10, 1867, Elizabeth W. Moore- head, who was born Dec. 16, 1836. When young Francis assisted in his father's store, he studied music with Prof. Barnett, of Hartford. Later he accepted a position with Andre & Co., publishers of music, at Philadelphia, and eventually became a member of the firm. Still later he started in busi- ness for himself, selling out to Ditson & Co., and he has since engaged in the manufacture of the "Lester" piano. He has two children-Alfred Moorehead, born Feb. 20, 1872, and Robert Lorton, born Nov. 19, 1873, both of whom have been stu- dents at Princeton College. Catharine M., the daughter of our subject, was born March 1, 180. She assisted her father in his affairs during his declining years, since then continuing as agent for several fire insurance companies which he repre- sented.

The death of Deacon North, Jan. 14, 1894, was

mourned by a wide circle of friends in Berlin, where for more than half a century he was known as one of its kindest, truest, most widely beloved citizens. Death resulted from pneumonia, following an at- tack of the "grip." For several days prior to his death he lay unconscious, and the end came peace- fully at the dawn of a bright Sunday morning. The funeral obsequies were held in the Congrega- tional Church, and were unusually well attended. One beautiful incident in connection with the serv- ices was the placing of flowers on the casket by young children of the Sabbath-school. The in- terment was at Berlin, in the South cemetery.

JEFFERSON HOMER GRIFFIN is an enter- prising and successful agriculturist of West Suf- field, and is deserving of special mention in this vol- ume, not only because of his personal worth but as a representative of a well-known family.

Our subject was born June 27, 1848, in what is now the town of East Granby, on a farm near the Suffield line, the old homestead of his parents, Homer and Susan J. Griffin. Homer Griffin was born April 21, 1822, a son of Oliver and Achsah Griffin, the former of whom was a son of Stephen, whose father was also named Stephen. Homer married Susan J. Griffin, of Granby, Nov. 16, 1843, and settled on his uncle's (the Horace Viets) prop- erty. He died July 14, 1893. He had one sister, Betsy, born Sept. 27, 1813. who died Sept. 21, 1882; also had a brother, Imri, who died when about a year old. To Homer and Susan J. Griffin were born five children: Jefferson Homer, the subject proper of this sketch; Flora S., born June 28, 1852, married Lewis Spring, April 24, 1872; Martin W., born March 8, 1854, is a professor in Portland (Conn.) High School (he married June 30, 1880, Mary Richardson) ; Martha, born Nov. 20, 1861, died Dec. 8, 1864; and Burton L., born June 25, 1866, lives on the old homestead (he mar- ried, Oct. 20, 1891, Bertha Beman).

Jefferson H. Griffin, our subject, remained at home until he reached the age of twenty-five, his education being obtained in the local schools, and in 1873 settled in West Suffield upon the Horace Viets property, a tract of seventy-one acres near Copper Hill. For twenty-five years he has devoted his attention to general farming, dairying, stock-rais- ing and tobacco culture, meeting with good results. His honesty and good-will have made him many friends, and he and his family are active in religious work as members of the Methodist Church at Copper Hill. Politically he is a Democrat, but he has never sought or held office. On Oct. 29, 1873, he was mar- ried, in Copper Hill, to Miss Amanda Louise Spring, of Granby, and six children have blessed the union : Gerie L. ; Bertha M. ; Birney E .; Clayton W., who died in childhood; Mabel C., and Gladys M.

The SPRING family is of good Colonial stock. and John Spring, the first of the name in this count-

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try, came from the West of England in 17-, and located upon a farm at Uxbridge, Mass., where his remaining years were spent.

Ephraim Spring, son of the pioneer, was born Jan. 9, 1708, and settled in early manhood at Reho- both, Mass., where he engaged in farming. IIe married Mary Bowen, daughter of Mary Davis, daughter of Jonathan Davis, who once held a com- mission as a justice of the peace under the Eng- lish Crown. They had four children: Sarah and Ephraim, both of whom were burned to death ; Thomas and Lavina.

Thomas Spring, the next in the line of descent, was born at Rehoboth, Mass., June 3, 1737, and when a young man removed to this section, locat- ing upon a farm in the town of Granby, then a part of the town of Simsbury. On April 30, 1761, he was married there to Mary Gozzard (now spelled Goddard), who was born in that locality Oct. I, 1739, daughter of Aaron and Mary (Huckley) Gozzard. She died April 6, 1789, he on March 24, 1825, and the remains of both now rest in Granby, Conn. Of their children, the eldest, Mary, born Feb. 1, 1762, married Albert Reed, and was the mother of thirteen children. Ephraim, born Jan. 2, 1764, died in June, 1833. Thomas (Mrs. Griffin's grandfather ) is mentioned more fully below. Syl- vester, born June 26, 1767, married Sarah Dibble in 1789. Sarah S., born Dec. 15, 1769, married Elihu Burr, of Ohio, and died April 4, 1839. A child born March 21, 1772, died in infancy. Aurelia, born Sept. 2, 1774, married Nathan Goddard. Cyril born Sept. II, 1776, married Rosetta Dibble, of Granby. Samuel, born June 5, 1780, married Cleopatra God- dard, of Granby.

Thomas Spring, grandfather of Mrs. Griffin, was born in Granby Oct. 15, 1765, and followed farming there throughout his life, being the owner of a fine homestead. Politically he was a Demo- crat, and as a citizen he was much esteemed. On July 9, 1795, he married Jerusha Pomeroy. Of his ten children, Aurora, born May 29, 1796, mar- ried Josiah Searles Jan. 29, 1818. Thomas, born May 13, 1798, was crippled for life by a cut from an axe; he was married Feb. 4, 1824, to Candace Holcomb, daughter of Ebenezer and Chloe Holcomb. She was born June 20, 1804, and died June 25, 1869, and his death occurred June 5, 1868. Jerusha, born March 23, 1800, died young. Jerusha (2), born March 14, 1801, died Oct. 27, 1844. Maria, born June 14, 1803, died Jan. 7, 1804. Maria (2), born Nov. 29, 1804, married Riley Dibble Nov. 26, 1826, and died Aug. 29, 1893. Albert, born Sept. 15, 1807, died Sept. 13, 1813. George, father of Mrs. Griffin, was the eighth in order of birth. Rox- anna, born Aug. 8, 1812, married May 21, 1850, Seth Gillet, born July 22, 1805, son of Rudolph and Eunice (Cushman) Gillet. Albert, born June 9, 1816, died Oct. 10, 1850. in California.

George Spring, Mrs. Griffin's father, was born Feb. 20, 1810, at the old homestead in Granby, and

received a common-school education. He learned the trade of carpenter and joiner, but after following it some years successfully engaged in farming on a tract of one hundred acres in his native town. He was liberal in his religious views, and in politics he was a lifelong Democrat. His habits were strictly temperate, and his excellent qualities of character won for him the respect of his fellow citizens, who frequently elected him to local office. On Nov. 10, 1835, he married Mahala Holcomb, who was born May 22, 18II, and died May 3, 1894. His death occurred June 12, 1883, and the mortal remains of both are interred in Copper Hill cemetery. They had a family of six children, of whom (1) Cor- delia Elmira, born Nov. 17, 1836, is now living in Southwick, Mass. She married Edward Steer, who was born May 20, 1820, a son of Abel and Alma Steer, and died Nov. 17, 1889. (2) Amanda Louise, born April 1, 1841, died Jan. 21, 1844. (3) Monroe George, born May 22, 1845, resides in Southwick, Mass. He was married May 3, 1871, to Anna Philips, who died in May, 1887. (4) Thomas Madison, born Feb. 20, 1847, died Dec. 21, 1888. On June 9, 1869, he married Nora Ruick, who died Aug. 7, 1873, and subsequently, in Nov- ember, 1874, he wedded Laura Bradt, who passed away in May, 1886. (5) Lewis Cass, born Jan. 21, 1851, is a farmer in Granby, Conn. On April 24, 1872, he married Flora Susan Griffin, sister of our subject. (6) Amanda Louise (Mrs. Griffin) was born June 5, 1854.

CHARLES R. GRISWOLD, a leading druggist of Hartford, was born Nov. 5, 1852, in Bloomfield, Hartford county, of a well-known family mentioned elsewhere.

Noah Griswold, the father of our subject, was born in Bloomfield, at the old homestead now occu !- pied by Timothy E. Griswold. Throughout his lite he was engaged in farming in that town, and at his death his remains were interred there. In politics he was first a Whig, then a Republican, and for many years he was an active member of the Baptist Church. His wife, Ruth R. Loomis (now deceased), was a daughter of Ira Loomis, of Windsor, Conn. Of their four children our subject was the youngest. (1) Noah Loomis died in 1863, while serving as a member of the 24th Wis. V. I .; (2) Rhoda A. mar- ried Wiliam H. Harvey, of Windsor ; and (3) Frank W., a resident of Bloomfield, married Miss Mary S. Goodrich, of Windsor.

Charles R. Griswold began his education in the public schools of Bloomfield. later atending the Bloomfield Academy. In 1869 he went to Hartford as clerk for S. G. Moses & Co., with whom he re- mained eleven years, his home being with Mr. Moses during that time. In 1880 he engaged in business with F. P. Dickinson, at No. 555 Main street, under the firm name of F. P. Dickinson & Co., and in 1882 they removed to the present store at No. 1129 Main, the firm being reorganized as Dickinson & Gris-

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wold. In 1885 Mr. Griswold purchased his part- ner's interest, and he has since continued alone, giving special attention to work as a botanic drug- gist in addition to the general features of his business.

In 1880 Mr. Griswold was married in Hartford to Miss Eva M. Fisher, daughter of Charles F. Fisher, and four children have blessed the union : Alice R .; Harriet Ethel; Robert Noah (I), who died in infancy ; and Robert Noah (2). Mr. Gris- wold and his family are popular in social life, and he is a member of the Knights of Pythias, and B. H. Webb Council, R. A. For five years he was con- nected with the Governor's Foot Guard, and his standing in his calling makes him a valued member of the State and City Pharmaceutical Associations.

HENRY WEBSTER CHARTER. The suc- cessful lives of such men as the one whose name opens this sketch afford the best refutation to the slanderous statement that "New England offers no opportunity for poor boys to attain wealth and dis- stinction." Self-made, and to no inconsiderable de- gree self-educated, he has climbed the ladder of success rung by rung, wholly through his own pluck and pertinacity.

Henry W. Charter is the youngest of the ten children of Samuel Charter, and was born in the town of Tolland, Tolland county, July 7, 1837. His father was drowned when our subject was an in- fant of a year, and the necessities of the family obliged him to begin life's battles for himself when he had scarcely passed his tenth birthday. His

first employment was on a farm, and for his serv- ices he was boarded and clothed, being permitted. however, to attend the district school during the winter term. After two years so spent he began working in the woolen mills, but this proved. too laborious for his strength, and within a few months he again sought work upon a farm. Later he opened a grocery store at Hartford, which he con- ducted for a year or more, and at the end of that time went to live on the farm of his father-in-law, Dan Warner, where he remained for four years. He then purchased land in the town of Tolland, on which he remained only a year. His next pur- chase was in the town of Vernon, and after twelve months' residence he disposed of that property and bought the old "Talcott" farm, on which he lived for four years. His next (and last) move was to Manchester. The farm which he bought there proved a very valuable investment, a considerable portion of the land having been sold as building lots.

Mr. Charter was married, Jan. 20, 1858, to Jane Elizabeth Warner, by whom he has had seven chil- dren, only four of whom are living: Minnie, the eldest, married J. J. Strickland, of Manchester. Addie is the wife of Wilbert S. Lothrop, of Cli- cago. Henry married Jennie M. Belmer, of Rock- ville, and resides in Manchester. Rose is the wife

of Louis S. Fitch, and resides in California. Po- litically Mr. Charter is a Prohibitionist, and in re- ligious connection he is an active member of the Second Congregational Church.

This sketch would be incomplete without some mention of Mrs. Charter, who has proved an in- valuable helpmeet to her husband, and by her frugal and industrious habits has done her full share toward aiding in his success. She was born Jan. 22, 1840, in Ellington, Tolland county, daughter of Dan and Mary ( Chaffee) Warner, both of whom were natives of Connecticut. The mother died in Ellington in 1858, the father in 1880. Their chil- dren were> Lydia, who died in childhood ; George R., a clergyman, of Hartford ; Jane Elizabeth, Mrs. Charter; Lemuel, now a resident of Brooklyn, N. Y. (he served during the Civil war in the IIth Conn. V. I. ) ; Dan, a traveling salesman ; and Mary, who was drowned when seventeen years old.

FRANK E. CORBIN was born Dec. 13, 1849, at Hartford, a son of Hezekiah H. Corbin, and a de- tailed statement of his genealogical line may be found in the sketch of his brother, Willis P. Corbin, elsewhere. His early educational advantages were such as were obtainable at the common schools, also at the public high school, of which Prof. Peck was principal, graduating from the latter in the spring of 1867. While his scholastic training was not lib- eral, he was thoroughly grounded in those branches which form the basis of a practical, business training.

On leaving school Mr. Corbin went to work upon his grandfather's farm, at West Hartford, where he remained for about eighteen months. Tiring of a farm life he came to New Britain, and entered his father's paper box manufactory as a common work- man. On Jan. 1, 1870, he was taken into partner- ship, the firm name being H. H. Corbin & Son. In February, 1890, he withdrew from partnershp with his father, and, in connection with John B. Minor. formed a corporation known as the Minor & Corbin Box Co., to carry on the same line of business. A portion of the plant had originally belonged to James H. Minor, and its capacity has been more than doubled since Mr. Corbin gave to the enterprise the benefit of his business skill and experience. The output is readily taken by the manufacturers of New Britain, and the trade of the company is con- stantly increasing. On Jan. 1, 1900, Mr. Corbin sold out his share in the Minor & Corbin Box Co. to Mr. Minor (the firm name is still Minor & Cor- bin), Mr. Corbin retiring on account of poor health.

Mr Corbin's political affiliation has always been with the Republican party, in the advancement of whose interests he has ever taken a keen interest. While never seeking office, his fellow townsmen, recognizing his integrity and capability, have vir- tually thrust official honor upon him. He has twice represented the Third ward of New Britain in the Common Council, in which body he has served as chairman of the committee on Finance, and he

Mas H. T. Charter

A. W. Charter

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COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

is a director of the Y. M. C. A. He is a Thirty- second-degree Mason, and has always been active in the work of the Masonic Fraternity not only in Hart- ford county but also in the State at large. He was master of Centennial Lodge, and is connected with Gidding Chapter, Doric Council, Washington Com- mandery, and Sphinx Temple. He is also a member of the Knights of Pythias and of the Royal Arca- num, as well as of the New England Order of Pro- tection, the Sons of the Revolution, and the New Britain Club. He was one of the charter members of the New England Order of Protection, and is a past regent of the Royal Arcanum.

In religious faith Mr. Corbin is a Baptist. and he is chairman of the finance committee of the church of that denomination in New Britain. On Sept. 18, 1872, he was married to Miss Mary Ann Whiting, who was born on Sept. 2, 1850, a daughter of George N. Whiting, of West Hartford. A brief mention of the children born to them will be found of interest. (1) Minnie, born July 20, 1873, graduated from the Normal School in 1892; on Oct. 14, 1897 she became the wife of James T. Powell, of New Britain, son of the late Rev. James Powell; Mr. Powell is now a salesman for the Stanley Rule & Level Co. (2) Wilbur R., was born Jan. 17, 1875, graduated in 1896 from Yale College with the degree of Mechan- ical Engineer, and is now in the employ of the P. & F. Corbin Lock Co. On June 13, 1899, he married Rebekah Howe Morse, daughter of Gardner Morse, of New Haven, and July 3, 1900, a son, Gardner Morse Corbin, was born to them. (3) Bertha E., born May 19, 1877,completed her education at Rye Sem- inary, Rye, N. Y. ; she is at present living at home. (4) George L., born June 28, 1878, graduated in 1897 from the New Britain High School. He went tu Worcester Academy a year, in the following summer enering the employ of the Corbin Cabinet Co., and is now a traveling salesman in the South for that firm. (5) Mary Ann, born Dec. 22, 1879, grad- uated from the New Britain Iligh School in 1898, and in 1899 from the Ossining School at Sing Sing, New York.

FRANKLIN DWIGHT JONES, a leading ag- riculturist of Berlin, is a native of Hartford county, born in Avon, Sept. 28, 1830, a son of Benjamin and Ursula (Thurston) Jones. The mother died when our subject was between five and six years of age, and was buried in Hartford. For his second wife the father married Philinda C. Loomis, of Glas- tonbury, who died about sixteen years ago, and was buried at that place. In early life he worked at the mason's trade, and later followed farming. He died in Glastonbury thirty years ago, at the age of sixty-eight.

When six years old our subject left home and spent one summer with his grandmother in Avon. He then went to Hopkinton, Mass., where the fol- lowing four years were passed in farm work during the summer, and in attending school during the win-

ter. He next lived with his father in Springfield for two years, and then worked on different farms in Windsor, Hartford Co., Conn., until sixteen years of age. Going to Worcester, Mass., he worked in a wire mill for one winter, and on his return to Windsor made a contract with Morgan Stratton to work for him until attaining his majority, and to receive one hundred dollars in money, board, schooling, etc. At the end of two years, however, his employer changed his business, and our subject received forty dollars for his labor-the first money he had ever made, though at that time he was nineteen years of age. He next worked for Leverett Ellsworth, of Wind- sor, for seven months, receiving eleven dollars per month. His aunt gave him a bank book and five dollars in money, and he put fifty dollars of the last amount and his first forty dollars in the bank. To this he subsequently added until, at the age of twen- ty-one, he had saved $200. In October, 1852, he went to Ohio, and lived in the town of Fowler, Trumbull Co .. but in the following March he re- turned to Windsor. In December, 1854, he went with some friends to Iowa, and spent four years farming in that State and in Missouri. On his re- turn to Windsor he was employed as brakeman on freight and passenger trains on the New York, New Haven & Hartford railroad for three years, but since then his time and attention have been devoted to agricultural pursuits. He has made his home in Berlin since 1867. Mr. Jones is also a director in the Mattabessett Canning Co., of Berlin.

On Oct. 5. 1852, Mr. Jones married Miss Clar- issa King, who was born in Windsor, Feb. 16, 1831, and died March 15, 1885. By this union two chil- dren were born: (1) Cornelia Elizabeth, born in Lewis county, Mo., Sept. 24, 1856, married David Clark Webster, of Newington, Conn., and they now live in Berlin. They have two children, Ada M., born July 30, 1878, is a stenographer for the Amer- ican Paper Goods Co., of Berlin ; and Edith, born April 7, 1885, is at home. (2) George Benjamin, born in Missouri, Feb. 6, 1859, is postmaster and station agent at Beckley, Hartford county. He married Kate Andrus, and a brief record of their children is as follows: Mabel, born May 1, 1880, married William J. Seibert, of Beckley, Conn., Aug. 20, 1900, and they reside in Beckley. Franklyn S., born Oct. 17, 1881, is in the employ of the Adams Express Co. at New Britain. Benjamin C., born May 22, 1883, is em- ployed in the office of the P. & T. Corbin Co., New Britain. Harry H., born Feb. 22, 1884, died Nov. 4, 1898. Arthur L., born Nov. 11, 1886, and William HI., born Aug. 17, 1889, are both attending school.

For his second wife Mr. Jones married, Dec. 4, 1885, Mrs. Caroline Elizabeth ( Porter) Steele, who was born July 26, 1834, in the house where they now live, in the Beckley Quarter of Berlin, and is one of a family of eight children. She was first married, July 8, 1861, to Charles Edward Steele, of West Hartford, a painter by trade, who was a member of

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Company H, 12th Conn. V. I., and was killed in a battle near Pattersonville, La. By that union there was one child, Clarence Burt Steele, born Nov. 3, 1862, and died May 9, 1889.

Lotan Porter, Mrs. Jones' father, was born Nov. 19, 1799, and died in 1858. He was a surveyor by profession, but for twenty terms he engaged in school teaching, and spent his last days in farming. He always took an active and prominent part in local politics and public affairs, and served as tax collec- tor in his town. On Oct. 28, 1822, he married Miss Clarissa Porter Beckley, who was born Dec. 9, 1799, in the house where our subject and his wife now live, it having been built in 1787. Mrs. Jones' paternal grandfather, Moses Porter, was also a native of the Beckley Quarter, and died May 28, 1850, at the age of seventy-three years. He was a very modest man, of a mild disposition, and was a farmer by occupation. He married Rhoda Smith, who died in 1848, at the age of seventy-one years. His father, Aaron Porter, died Nov. 14, 1820, at the advanced age of ninety-one. He was a deacon in the Congre- gational Church of Berlin. His wife, Rhoda, died March 25, 1807, at the age of seventy-three years, and was buried in Berlin.

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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 143

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