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 164

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 164

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Henry T. Hart was but four years of age when his parents brought him to Connecticut, and in Ox- ford, Watertown and Seymour he received his pri- mary education; as he was only eight years old when he lost his father, his subsequent opportuni- ties for attending school were not altogether abun- dant or profuse, although he did attend three months in the year after he had been bound out, to an old farmer who had been a sea-faring man. With this man young Hart remained five or six

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years, receiving rather rough treatment, and being compensated with his board and clothes and the few months schooling already mentioned. His hours of labor were from 5:30 A. M. until 8:30 P. M. His first summer under this worthy was a memor- able one. The old fellow used to have his young apprentice thrash rye on the barn floor, setting a rapid pace and expecting the little lad to hold it. Though the apprentice used a boy's flail he naturally soon tired. At the first signs of letting up the captain would yell at him as though he was calling to a lookout in the foretop. This would spur the youngster for five minutes. As soon as he began to flag again the old skipper would shy a bundle of rye at him, knocking him out of the door. It was amid such Spartan training as this that young Hart passed his boyhood.

At the early age of sixteen years Mr. Hart be- gan learning the trade of joiner, receiving $48 per year besides instruction, and he remembers that, about this time, men would work a whole day for three pounds of salt pork. His first work was in New Haven, and some of the earliest was on the old State House, when the State had two capitals. He re- calls the advice of a fatherly overseer, who sought to direct his ambition correctly by saying : "Learn first to do work well, Henry, and then do it as fast as you've a mind to;" this has since been a motto with Mr. Hart. In 1848 he went to Enfield, Conn., to build the first Congregational church, and then he entered the employ of the Hazard Powder Co. as millwright. He stayed with Col. Hazard until 1856, in which year he came to Burnside to enter the employ of the Goodwins. About his first work was on the building of the house of George H. Goodwin. He also worked in the "Middle" mill, but this the Goodwins closed in 1857, when Mr. Hart went to Hartland to work on dairy farm land which he had just bought. Two years later he sold out, and went to Buckland to the Goodwin paper mill, to make repairs and take the position of mill- wright. He then followed his trade of joiner, and worked two summers with P. Garvan. Later he was millwright for Cheney Brothers, with whom he stayed until 1865. In that year he removed to Burnside, to take charge of the building of the lower mill for Hanmer & Forbes. With this firm he stayed as millwright until 1875, in which year he opened a general country store, continuing same until February, 1893. During this time business increased so as to require the services of five men instead of two, and three horses instead of one. His store was burglarized in all eight times, and in two months, by two other robberies, he lost a gold watch and $600. President Arthur appointed him postmaster in 1883, and the duties of this office he discharged at his store. In 1889 Mr. Ilart bought the Bliss farm, and has since added to it, his landed property now consisting of thirty-nine acres. In 1891 Mr. Ilart opened his commodious coal-yard. This is supplied by a spur track from Burnside

station, and in it he keeps a stock of the best Le- high Valley hard coal. His business is constantly increasing, as he delivers promptly the best coal at lowest prices.

The marriage of Mr. Hart took place Dec. 2, 1849, to Miss Harriet Emmons, a daughter of Warren and Harriet (Case) Emmons, highly-re- spected farming people of Hartland. This lady was born Aug. 24, 1825, and after a happy married life of nearly a half-century's duration was called to the better land Nov. 11, 1895, her remains now rest- ing in the cemetery at East Hartford. The mar- riage of Mr. and Mrs. Hart was blessed with four children : Martha Ella, born Nov. 25, 1852, in En- field, was married Sept. 25, 1895, to Osborne W. Moody, a native of New York, and is now living in Burnside; Orrin H., born Nov. 14, 1854, died Aug. 3, 1895, and is buried in East Hartford ; Hen- rietta Passmore, born Oct. 20, 1857, and Eva Har- riet, born Dec. 23, 1865. are single, and making their home with their father.

Fraternally Mr. Hart is an Odd Fellow, having joined the Somerville Lodge when a young man, and is also a Good Tempar. Politically he was a Democrat until the close of President Franklin Pierce's administration, then, in 1857, joined the Republican party, to which he has steadfastly ad- hered ever since. Although averse to office hold- ing he has served several terms as justice of the peace as a matter of public duty, as he felt it to be, the office, in fact, being thrust upon him; through similar incentives he served eight years as a member of the district school committee. Mr. Hart is truly a self-made man, from a business point of view, and his long and useful life sets an example well-worthy the emulation of the rising generation.

EDWARD T. THOMPSON is a leading mer- chant of Unionville, whose success in life is due to his own energy and the high ideal which his lofty and laudable ambition placed before him. Success in any walk of life is an indication of earnest en- deavor and persevering effort-characteristics that he possesses in an eminent degree.

A native of the county, Mr. Thompson was born in Avon June 1I, 1861, and is a son of Amon Thompson, who was also born there. The grand- father, Alson Thompson, was at one time one of the most prosperous farmers of Lovely street, Avon. He married Miss Sally Hart, of that town, and to them were born four children : Mary, deceased wife of a Mr. Peck; Amon; Sarah, deceased wife of John A. Merriman, of Unionville; and Emeline, wife of Charles Merriman, of Litchfield, Con- necticut.

Amon Thompson has spent all his life in his native town, engaged in agricultural pursuits, and now resides on the old David Hawley farm. He married Jane Woodruff, a daughter of Moses Wood- ruff, of Avon. She died in 1878. They had five children : Jennie, deceased; Emma, wife of Edson

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L. Perkins, of Litchfield; George, deceased; Ed- ward T., our subject ; and Leva, wife of Dr. H. Il. Fenn, of Litchfield.

In the pubic schools of Avon Edward T. Thomp- son acquired a good practical education. At tlie age of sixteen years he began his business career as a clerk for C. T. Georgia, in Unionville, and re- mained with him for four years. During the fol- lowing four years lie was similarly employed by A. S. Hart & Co .; then followed the carpenter's trade in Litchifield for about a year; and later clerked in the grocery store of C. S. Bunce, on North Main street, Hartford, for two years. Sub- sequently he had charge of the circulation of the Hartford Telegram for two years, and at the end of that time came to Unionville, where he was en- gaged in the grocery and fish business in the Mer- riman block for five years. For two years he worked for L. Sauer, in the meat business, and dur- ing the following three years was in the employ of M. C. Woodford, whom he succeeded in business March 28, 1899. He carries a large and well- selected stock of staple and fancy groceries, notions, etc., and is building up an excellent trade. At his present location his father's cousin, Marcus Thomp- son, was engaged in the general mercantile business for over thirty years. Socially Mr. Thompson is a member of the Ancient Order of United Work- men. He was married, in Avon, to Miss Nettie Rexroth, of Canton, Conn., and they have two chil- dren : Lucile and George Edward.

FRANK ROBERTS, a prominent and progres- sive farmer of East Hartford, and a descendant of one of the oldest families in Hartford county, was born Feb. 12, 1854, on the farm on which William Roberts now resides, and is a son of Ira and Char- lotte Corinthia (Cowles) Roberts, whose five chil- dren were born in the following order : Charles W., George (died in infancy), Martin, William, and Frank (the subject of this sketch).

Frank Roberts, after finishing his education in the public schools, returned to the farm where he was born, and a part of which he has ever since dili- gently and intelligently cultivated. On Aug. 22, 1876, he married Miss Ida F. Tefft, a native of New Haven, born March 2, 1856, daughter of Richard and Jennie Warner (Wolcott) Tefft, the former of whom is now deceased ; the latter makes her home with Mr. and Mrs. Roberts. One child, Frank T., was born to Mr. and Mrs. Roberts June 22, 1877, and still resides under the parental roof.

Mr. Roberts has a fine farm of thirty acres in Silver Lane, which he devotes chiefly to the culti- vation of tobacco, invariably realizing profitable crops. In politics he is a Republican, but has never been an office seeker, although very popular in his town, as well as elsewhere. He has, however, filled the office of past regent of East Hartford Council, No. 1237, Royal Arcanum, and has three times been master of East Hartford Grange. He is a

thorough business man, keen and far-sighted, is favorably and widely known, and stands very high in the esteem of his immediate community.

FREDERICK G. HUMPHREY, a leading agri- culturist at Canton Center, is thoroughly progressive in his methods, and has made a marked success in dairying and tobacco growing. Of late he has become interested in horticulture, also, and a fine peach orchard gives promise of a good reward for his efforts in this line.

Mr. Humphrey belongs to one of the well-known families of his locality, and other sketches in this volume give accounts of his ancestry. His father, Alfred Franklin Humphrey, was born in New Hart- ford, Oct. 8, 1826, a son of George Humphrey, and a half-brother of Deacon Henry Humphrey, of Canton Center. On Oct. 12, 1853, Alfred F. Ilumphrey was married at Canton Center to Mrs. Lydia Adams Mills ( widow of Anson Garner Mills), born Nov. 14, 1825, a daughter of Dr. Chauncey G. Griswold, and four children came of this union : George F., born Dec. 31, 1854, was inarried, in March, 1880, to Ida J. Burr, of Bloomfield; Fred- erick G., born Sept. 2, 1856; William G., born May 31, 1860; and Hattie L., born Feb. 17, 1864. The father died March 18, 1898; and the mother is still living.

Dr. Chauncey G. Griswold, who died in 1864, was a prominent citizen of Canton, and for many years was engaged in the manufacture of the well- known Griswold salve. He was a native of Bloom- field, and a son of Elijah and Lydia (Adams) Griswold. For some years of his early manhood he resided in New York State, but the greater por- tion of his life was spent in Canton. On Feb. 27, 1817, he married Ruth Mills, who was born Nov. 9, 1792, a daughter of Ephraim and Rosanna ( Foot) Mills, and a granddaughter of Deacon Joseph Mills, one of the first settlers at West Simsbury. They had the following children: Mortimer, born July 12, 1818, died in infancy; Chauncey Mills, born Sept. 12, 1819, died June 25, 1826; Edwin, born July 3, 1821 ; Theodore, born April 23, 1824; Lydia A., our subject's mother ; Augustus Dwight, born April 3, 1828; Harriet, born Jan. 6, 1831, died in infancy ; Mary Augusta, born May 3, 1832, and Eliza Hooker, born Aug. 2, 1835.

Our subject received a district-school education, and also for a time attended the Connecticut Lit- erary Institute, at Suffield. He learned the trade of carpenter and joiner with John E. Wheelock, of Collinsville, remaining with him a year and a half, but after following the trade for some time he de- cided to devote his attention to farming. For four years he rented the Lucia Case farm, and then bought the Ephraim Mills farm, of one hundred acres, upon which he has made many improvements. In addition to the management of his farm he works occasionally at his trade, building houses and barns in his locality, and he is also connected with the

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Canton Center Creamery as a stockholder and di- rector. As a citizen he is popular, and he has been elected to office on the Republican ticket, having served as assessor and justice of the peace. He and his family are identified with the Congregational Church, and socially he belongs to the Knights of the Maccabees at Collinsville, in which he has been commander, and to the Grange at Collinsville, in which he has served two years as master and two years as overseer.

On March 28, 1878, Mr. Humphrey was mar- ried to Miss Emma W. Bidwell, daughter of Sher- man and Betsey ( Wilcox) Bidwell, granddaughter of Sherman Bidwell, and great-granddaughter of Jasper Bidwell. Thomas Bidwell, Sr., with his wife, whose name was Ruhamah Pinney, came from Windsor about the year 1740, and settled in the east part of New Hartford (now Canton), on the prem- ises that fell to his son, Deacon Thomas Bidwell, and later to his grandson, Jasper Bidwell, and said premises remained in the possession of the Bidwell family until the year 1886. Of the children born to Mr. and Mrs. Humphrey, (1) Bessie Ruth, born July 21, 1879, married Lewis Case, and has one child, Esther; (2) Emma Louise, born April 12, 1881, is at home ; (3) Helen G., born June 22, 1884, is attending the high school at Collinsville; and (4) Laura B., born Feb. 6, 1886, died Sept. 27, 1886.

DANIEL BROWN GOLDSMITH, the lead- ing house and sign painter in Bristol, Conn., was born in Poughkeepsie, N. Y., May 17, 1829, and is a son of Frederick and Ruth (Brown) Gold- smith, of Connecticut nativity.

Frederick Goldsmith, the father, was a son of James Goldsmith, who once lived in Terryville, Conn., the cellar and foundation of his demolished residence being still visible. James Goldsmith was the father of four children: John, Frederick, Mar- tin and Oliver, and with one of these he passed his declining years in the West. Frederick Goldsmith was a stonemason and contractor and, in partner- ship with his brother John, carried on business in Waterbury, Conn., where his death took place. To his marriage with Miss Ruth Brown, daughter of Reuben Brown, of Waterbury, the following named family of children was born: Ransom Hobart, who lived and died in New Haven; William De Forest, who died in California; Daniel B., the subject of this sketch; Franklin E., in the painting business in New Haven; Lyman, who died in Taunton, Mass. ; Eliza, who died in Waterbury, the wife of Eli Perkins; Eveline, who died in Waterbury, the wife of James Adams; May, who became Mrs. Bradley, of Wolcott, and died in New Haven hos- pital ; Hattie Maria, who is married to B. H. Ball, of West Haven; Annie, who is the wife of James Hart, of Waterbury ; Ellen, now Mrs. Daniel W. Morrel, of New Haven; Emily, and two others, that died in infancy.

Daniel Brown Goldsmith was a mere child when

brought by his parents from Poughkeepsie, N. Y., to Bridgewater, Litchfield county, Conn., where he was permitted to attend school in winter, but was compelled to assist the family by working on a farm 111 summer. At the early age of ten years he left the parental roof and went out into the world to make a livelihood for himself. As a farmer's boy he secured position after position, in about the fol- lowing order: With the Widow Lockwood, in Bridgewater, two years; with Marcus B. Mallett, with whom he remained until sixteen years old, receiving meanwhile some education in the Bridge- water schools; with Deacon Timothy Balls, of Waterbury, for two years; with Deacon Edward Schofield, one year; he then worked for two years in the brass wire factory of Samuel Holmes, at Torrington ; next worked in Holmes' factory in Waterbury for a short time, after which he worked a year in a button factory for Sherman Bronson.

After being thus variously employed Mr. Gold- smith began to learn the painter's trade with Will- iam H. Mansfield, in Waterbury, with whom he re- mained about one year, working here and there for a while, and then for Henry Churchill, at Chicopee, Mass., for two years; then for Mason & Stone, Central Row, Hartford, about two years ; for Bailey & Blakeslee at Waterbury, about three years; for Abel Mason, in New Haven, two years, and for the following six years carried on business for himself i11 the same city, thence removing to Plymouth, where he conducted business on his own account for a while. In 1868 he came to Bristol, where he has since done the leading painting and decorat- ing work of the borough.

Mr. Goldsmith has twice been married, first, 111 1850, to Ellen M. Chandler, of Granby, Mass., who died in Bristol in 1883, and her remains were in- terred in New Haven. She was the mother of three children: Warren Henry, born April 26, 1853; Austin Cook, born March 10, 1857, died Sept. 3, 1864; and Olive Cook, born March 31, 1859, died Aug. 15, 1859. The second marriage of Mr. Gold- smith took place Nov. 27, 1889, to Miss Jennie A. Wilson, a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. John Wilson, who still reside in Bristol.

Warren Henry Goldsmith, the eldest child born to Daniel Brown and Ellen M. (Chandler) Gold- smith, is a printer by trade, and is at present a proof-reader on the Boston Globe. He first mar- ried Miss Dora Palmer, of Collinsville, Conn. : after her divorce he wedded Miss Sophia Smith, of Bridgeport. To this marriage have been born six children : Arthur Chandler (who died at the age of three years) ; Lottie, Warren, Frank, Rose and Everett.

Daniel B. Goldsmith is a member of the Pros- pect Methodist Episcopal Church of Bristol. In politics he is a Republican, but has never sought office. He has been a very hard working man during his whole life, but is now living in compar- ative retirement, having acquired a competency.

Damit B. Goudsmit

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Besides his own modern home, he owns six others, all located on Main street. Too much credit cannot be accorded him as he started in the world penni- less at the age of ten years.

HANNIBAL KENT WRIGHT, a prosperous and respected tobacco grower and general farmer of Mapleton, town of Suffield, was born at Crooked Lane, same town, Oct. 25, 1836, and descends from an old Connecticut family of English extraction.

John Wright, grandfather of our subject, was born in Hartland, Hartford county, June 12, 1766, grew to manhood in his native town, and in his carlier adult years followed the sea, sailing between the ports of the New England coast and Halifax, Nova Scotia, and for several years making his home in the latter city. Finally he returned to Connecti- cut and settled on the tract of 150 acres now owned by Edward Austin, in the town of Suffield, Hart- ford county, and there passed the remainder of his life in the successful pursuit of agriculture. He was a stanch supporter of the political doctrines of Thomas Jefferson, but never sought office. He married Dorothy Sears, who was born March 9, 1765, and they had a family of thirteen children, two of whom died in infancy. The names and dates of birth, etc., of the eleven who grew to maturity are as follows: John, Jan. 27, 1789 (was drowned at sea in 1815) ; Harvey, March 23, 1792; Henry, March 24, 1794; Annie, May 10, 1796 (she married a Mr. Fairfield, of New York State) ; Edward, Oct. 3, 1798 (was a member of the State militia during the war of 1812) ; Mahala H., May 10, 1803 (she became the wife of Horace Sheldon) ; Warren, Oct. 2, 1805; Cynthia, Jan. 13, 1808 (died single) ; Newell, Feb. 11, 1810; Halsie S., Sept. 1, 1812; Jewett, June 25, 1815. The father of this large family died May 12, 1839, a member of the Baptist Church, and his remains were interred in the Suf- field cemetery beside those of his wife.

Hon. Halsie S. Wright, father of Hannibal K. Wright, was born in the town of Suffield, Sept. I, 1812, and obtained a good English education, chiefly through self-instruction. For several years he fol- lowed the vocation of a school teacher, but finally settled on a tract of 120 acres in Suffield, and was one of the first to engage in the cultivation of to- bacco in the neighborhood. He was also quite suc- cessful in general farming, and became one of the well-to-do agriculturists of the town. He was strictly temperate in his habits, and upright in all his transactions. A Jacksonian Democrat in poli- tics, he attained a prominent position in his party, and at one time represented the people of Suffield in the State Legi. lature.

Mr. Wright was united in marriage, Dec. 5, 1832, at Suffield, with Miss Amy H. Kent, who was born July 21, 1813, a daughter of Comfort Kent, and to their union were born five children : Nelson J., who was born July 27, 1834, and died in Suf- field ; Hannibal K., the subject of this sketch ; Hal-

sie J., born Sept. 11, 1840, and now a resident of Kingston, N. M .; Cynthia Marie, born June 23, 1845, who died in 1866; and Charles H., born in 1847, and now farming in Suffield. Halsie S. Wright died on his farm Sept. 19, 1869, a member of the Baptist Church, and Mrs. Amy H. Wright sur- vived until June 15, 1880, when she passed away in the same faith ; her remains were laid to rest beside those of her husband in the Suffield cemetery.

Seth Kent, grandfather of the late Mrs. Amy II. Wright, was also a native of Suffield, and a mem- ber of one of the oldest families of the town. Hc was a land owner and farmer, and a citizen of con- siderable influence, was a representative Democrat in politics, and a pillar in the Baptist Church. He married Lucy Remington, to which union were born three sons, Seth, Luther and Comfort, the last named becoming the father of Mrs. Wright, and the grandfather of our subject. Comfort Kent was born on the old Kent homestead, in the town of Suffield, Conn., near the Massachusetts line, and there passed his entire life engaged in farming and stock raising on his tract of 150 acres, and was a citi- zen of considerable importance. In politics he was a Democrat. Although very liberal in religious views, he was a sincere Christian, and a strictly temperate and moral man. He married Tirzah Hastings, a native of Hasting's Hill, Conn., and a daughter of Abijah Hastings, and to this union were born eight children: Amy H., mother of our sub- ject ; James, deceased ; Adeline K., widow of Col. Simon P. Kendall; Mary A., who was married to IIenry Grosvener, and who, with her husband, is now deceased ; Maria L., married to Sanford Rising ; Charlotte, widow of Horace Halladay; Ambrose, who died in infancy; and Luther, now on the old homestead. The mother of this family passed away March 24, 1855, in the faith of the Baptist Church, and her husband died in the same faith Dec. 2, 1862, honored by all who knew them.

Hannibal Kent Wright, whose name stands at the opening of this article, was educated in the public schools of Suffield, in the Connecticut Lit- erary Institute, of the same town, and in the Wil- braham ( Mass.) Academy. After finishing his edu- cation he at once turned his attention to agriculture, now operating 104 acres in Suffield, Conn., and he also has landed interests in the town of Agawam, Hampden Co., Mass. General farming, dairying and tobacco-growing are the chief objects of his in- dustry, and he has been very prosperous in all his undertakings. On Dec. 6, 1859, Mr. Wright mar- ried, at Hackensack, N. J., Miss Salina Westervelt, a native of Tea Neck, that State, and a daughter of Garrett and Harriet Westervelt, of remote Holland descent. The marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Wright has been blessed with three children : Jewett, a stone mason of Suffield; Marie, unmarried and at home ; and Hattie W., wife of Van Delinda, of West Springfield, Mass. In religion Mr. Wright is a member of the Baptist Church, while Mrs. Wright

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adheres to the Presbyterian faith. In politics Mr. Wright is a sound Democrat, but has never been an office seeker. He is a member of the Grange at Suffield, takes a decided interest in the prosperity of his town, and socially, together with his amiable wife and family, stands very high in the esteem of his neighbors.

LUCIAN F. NORTH, one of the enterprising and prosperous farmer citizens of the town of Avon, is a scion of a family whosc members have for sev- eral generations been identified with the history and progress of this section, taking a leading part in public life, and maintaining a high reputation for integrity and strength of character. They are of Welsh descent.

Mr. North is a grandson of Joseph North, who was born in 1783 in what is now the town of Avon, a son of Deacon Isaiah and Ann North. Here he passed his entire life, making his home in Nod, where for many years he was engaged at the black- smith's trade, which he learned in his younger days, his shop being located on the Albany turn-pike, and he shod the horses that carried the mail and pas- sengers between Albany, Hartford and Boston. In 1832 he put up a fine stone shop, which is still stand- ing. In addition to blacksmithing Mr. North car- ried on agricultural pursuits, owning a farm in the town, and he was a successful man in a business way. He commanded the honest respect of all right-minded men, and was honorable and upright in all his dealings, earning the good-will of those with whom he came in contact. His political sup- port was given to the Democratic party, but he took no active interest in its workings. Joseph North married Rebecca Humphrey, who was born in 1783, daughter of David and Lucy ( Marshall) Humphrey, of Goshen, and granddaughter of Samuel Hum- phrey, and children as follows were born to their union : Persey, who married George Phelps ; Eme- line, wife of George Merrills (he died in Ohio) ; Edna, wife of Chauncey Ford, residents of Ohio; Lucy Ann, who married Nelson Ford, and had her home in Ohio; Isaiah, who married Harriet Thomp- on, of Avon; Joseph B., father of our subject ; and two sons who died in infancy May 23, 1821. The father of these died Oct. 2, 1847, the mother on April 12, 1864, and they sleep their last sleep in Avon cemetery. They were worthy Christian peo- ple, and in religious connection united with the Congregational Church.

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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 164

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