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 172

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 172

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Mr. Ward married Ruth Butler, a daughter of Johnathan Butler, of Hartford, and a sister of Fred- erick Butler, and their marriage was blest with five children : ( I) Roswell Butler, of whose life a some- what extended account is given in the succeeding paragraph. (2) James H., mentioned farther on. (3) Frances Elizabeth married Isaac T. Smyth, of New York. (4) William Andrew married Miss Ann Elizabeth Porter, of Hartford, daughter of Col. Solomon Porter, of that city. (5) Harriet Maria became the wife of Henry Hall, of Port- land, Connecticut.

ROSWELL BUTLER WARD was educated in the public schools of Hartford, one of the old "Hartford Grammar School ;" was then sent to Y'ale College, but left after two years and went to the Military Academy at Norwich, Vt., where he was graduated with honor. For a number of years he was en- gaged in general mercantile business, his first part- ner being Daniel P. Hopkins. Later he formed a partnership with his brother, William, the firm name being R. B. & W. A. Ward. They dealt wholesale in paints, oils and dyes, their store be- ing in State street. In 1840 Roswell B. withdrew to engage in the book business in Hartford, con- tinuing in this line for a few years only, till about 1848 [the family continued to reside in Hartford until 1868], when they removed to New London, Conn., where he died Sept. 8, 1883. He now rests in the old North cemetery, at Hartford. He was always keenly interested in military affairs, and was one of the organizers of the old "Hartford Light Guard," of which he was made first captain by official commission from Washington, D. C. He

was also active in church work, and was one of the vestrymen of St. John's Episcopal Church, Hart- ford, from 1840 to 1850. His life was earnest and all his impulses were noble. He was an upright citizen and a sincere Christian. He married Cath- erine Mary Webb, a daughter of Charles L. Webb, of Litchfield, Conn., and granddaughter of Capt. Nathaniel Webb, of Windham, Conn., who was an officer in the army of the Revolution, and fought at Bunker Hill. Mrs. Ward, who was born in Pomfret, Conn., died at her home in New London, Sept. 2, 1870, and sleeps by the side of her husband in Old North cemetery, Hartford. Her religious faith was the same as his, she being a devout com- municant in the Episcopal Church. Two children were born to them: Catharine Webb and Mary Clement. The elder daughter, Miss Catherine Webb Ward, is unmarried, and resides at Wethers- field. She is endowed with mental powers of a rare order, which have been cultivated, and she in- herits her father's kindliness of heart, and her mother's refinement and amiability. She is a mem- ber of Ruth Wyllis Chapter, Daughters of the American Revolution, of Hartford, Conn. Mary Clement Ward, the younger daughter, married Alexander F. Maison, a prominent business man of Poughkeepsie, N. Y., and a son of Judge Maison ; is now residing in New York City, New York.

JAMES H. WARD graduated from the Military School at Norwich, Vt., and afterward received a cadetship in the United States navy. He first served on the old "Constitution, "under Commander McDon- ough, U. S. N., and at his death, June 27, 1861, first year of the war of the Rebellion, had risen to the rank of commander U. S. N. He fell in action while bombarding a position of the enemy off Matthias Point, on the Potomac river, below Washington, D. C., at the time being in command of the gun- boat "Thomas Freeborn." The gunner was shot down, and Commander Ward bravely stepped for- ward, took his place, and soon received his death wound, a minie ball striking him in the chest. His remains were wrapped in the flag of the "Freeborn," placed in a casket and forwarded to Washington, D. C., eventually to Hartford, Conn., where, after imposing funeral ceremonies, they were. interred in the Old North cemetery beside those of his fa- ther and mother. A short time after Commander Ward's death his brother, Roswell B., received a letter from Hon. Gideon Wells, Secretary of the United States Navy, informing him that Com- mander Ward's name as proposed commodore of the United States Navy had already been recorded on the books of the Navy Department, and had he been living but a few days after the date of his death he would have been made known to the world at large as "Commodore James H. Ward." About the year 1832 Commander Ward was married to Miss Sarah Whittemore, daughter of Samuel Whittemore, of New York, and they had four sons and one daugh- ter, none of whom are now living. Mrs. Ward died some years since.

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The Butler family, from whom Miss Ward and Mrs. Maison are descended, through their pa- ternal grandmother, is one of the oldest and most respected in Connecticut. Its first American pro- genitor was Richard Butler, who came to Hartford with the Thomas Hooker company and became an extensive land owner, the present site of Bushnell Park having been once a part of his holdings, and where was the home of Johnathan Butler, father of Mrs. James Ward. His son, Johnathan, the great- grandfather of Miss Ward, was born at Hartford, and married Ruth Benton. Their son, Frederick, was also born at Hartford, and graduated from Yale College. He was distinguished for his scholar- ly attainments and literary ability, and achieved a high reputation as an educator, being for many years an instructor in the Wethersfield Academy. He was the author of several works on United States history, as well as on other subjects. In Jan- uary, 1787, he married Miss Polly Belden, whose father belonged to an old family of Wethersfield, the members of which have been prominently identi- fied with the town's history. Mr. and Mrs. Fred- erick Butler were the parents of eight children : (1) Mary Porter, born April 10, 1788, died Nov. 15, 1832; (2) Charlotte, born Feb. 16, 1790: (3) Frederick Augustus, born July 17, 1792, died Sept. 20, 1815; (4) Roswell, born April 24, 1795: (5) Abigail Porter, born Feb. 26, 1798, died Feb. 6, 1832; (6) Elizabeth, born Aug. 7, 1802, died March 12, 1835; (7) Julia Ann, born July 30, 1804; and (8) Thomas, born Aug. 22, 1806. Abigail Porter Butler, the fifth child, married James Bidwell, of Utica, N. Y., by whom she became the mother of two children, both daughters: (1) Esther, who in her later years has resided at the home of her grand- father in Wethersfield, a lady of culture and re- finement ; (2) Abby Butler, who married Charles F. Cozzens, of Utica, now a prominent bank offi- cer in New York, and with his family a resident of Yonkers, N. Y. (Frederick Butler Cozzens, son of Charles F. and Abby B. Cozzens, died at the age of twelve months).

Thomas Butler, who became an eminent jurist, received his early education from his father. He attended lectures at the Medical School of Yale College, and completed his course in medicine at Philadelphia. He was a successful practitioner at Norwalk for eight years, when he determined to abandon medicine for the law. In 1835 he be- gan reading in the office of Judge Bissell, and two years later was admitted to the Bar of Fairfield county, Conn. His success as a lawyer was im- mediate and remarkable. His mind was essential- ly judicial, his perceptions clear and quick, his rea- soning and analytic powers extraordinary. In 1855 he was elected Judge of the Superior Court, and in 1861 elevated to the Bench of the Supreme Court through election by the Legislature, and was ap- pointed Chief Justice in 1870. He was a Republi- can in politics, and prior to his assuming the judicial ermine served as a member in both houses of the

Legislature, and represented his district in Con- gress.

Frederick Butler died at Wethersfield, in No- vember, 1840, his wife having preceded him to the grave June 17, 18II. Both are buried at Wethers- held, in the family lot near the old Congregational church ("meeting house," as it was once called ), built from the proceeds of the sale of, as now would be stated, the "Onion Market," which was in for- mer times a notable and most thriving industry of Wethersfield, Conn. The church still stands strong and well preserved and counts two hundred years since its first erection.

JUDGE LYMAN S. BURR. of New Britain, Judge of the City and Police Court, ranks among the leading public and professional men of that city. He is a native of Litchfield county, Conn., and his American ancestry dates back through seven gen- erations to Benjamin Burr, who was the founder of the Hartford branch of the Burr family.

Benjamin Burr first appears as one of the orig- inal settlers of Hartford in 1635. His name is in the land division of Hartford in 1639 as an orig- inal proprietor and settler. As the early settlers of Hartford were collected from Watertown, Newtown and other places near Boston, it is evident that Ben- jamin Burr had been a resident of Massachusetts some time before his appearance at Hartford. It is not unlikely that he was one of the eight hundred who came to America with Winthrop's fleet, in June, 1630. He seems to have been an active, ener- getic business man, who mingled little in public affairs, hence brief mention is made of him in the records of the Colony. He was admitted a free- man in 1658. His allotment in the Hartford land division of 1663 was six acres, and in the land division of East Hartford in 1666 he drew eighteen acres. His house lot in 1640 was bounded northeast by Stephen Hart, northwest by John Warner, south- west by the road to the cow pasture, and southeast by Samuel Hale's lot. His name is perpetuated in one of the city streets. He died at Hartford March 31, 1681, and was buried probably in one of the Hillside cemeteries long since obliterated, in which rest the ashes of so many of Hartford's early set .. tlers. The first name of his wife was Annie, and their four children were Samuel, the eldest, who was born in England; Thomas, born in Hartford, Jan. 26, 1645 ; Mary, born Jan. 15. 1656; and Han- nah, who married Mr. Hillyer, of Windsor, Con- necticut.

(II) Samuel Burr, son of Benjamin Burr, was made a freeman of Hartford in May, 1658. His children were as follows : Samuel, born in 1663; John, born in 1670; Mary, born in 1673 ; Elizabeth, born in 1675; and Jonathan, born in 1679.

(III) John Burr, son of Samuel, settled at Far- mington, Conn., about 1712. He had a large family of children, as follows: Ebenezer, born in 1712; Thankful, born in 1713; Lucy, baptized March 21, 1714; Gideon, born Nov. 16, 1715; Salmon, born

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Sept. 25, 1723; John, born in May, 1726; Stephen ; Noahdiah; Nathaniel; Sarah; Lunice; Miriam; Mary, born June 14, 1729; Ruth, born Oct. 26, 1732; and Amos, born June 25, 1734.

(IV) John Burr, son of John Burr, was born at West Hartford in May, 1726. In December, 1747, he married Tabitha Loomis, who was born in 1730. Their children were John, born in Farmington July 19, 1750; Reuben, born Jan. 13, 1752; Tabitha, born June 23, 1754; Jehiel, born April 11, 1757; Russell, born Oct. 19, 1761 ; Chloe, born Sept. 27, 1764. In 1772 John Burr purchased land east of Burrville, and for many years the place was known as " Burr's Tavern." He died at Torringford, Aug. 6, 1788, and his widow survived until Sept. 19, 1828.

(V) Reuben Burr, born Jan. 13, 1752, set- tled at Torrington, and married Mehitable Stanley at that place on July 2, 1772. She was born in 1748. Their children were Reuben, born Aug. 15, 1773; Salmon, born May 26, 1775; Mehitable, born Nov. 27, 1777; Allen, born Feb. 15, 1780; Chloe, born May 15, 1786; and Sally, born Aug. 4, 1789. Mehitable, wife of Reuben Burr, died Sept. 29. 1793, and for his second wife he, in 1794, married Martha Wilson, who was born in 1759. The chil- dren born to this union were Uriel, May 19, 1795 ; Milo, Jan. 1, 1797; Fanny, Dec. 4, 1798; Eliza, Jan. 16, 1801 ; and Harriet, Jan. 13, 1803. Reuben Burr died Dec. 20, 1827, aged seventy-five years ; his wife, Martha, on March 29, 1835.

(VI) Salmon Burr, son of Reuben and Mehit- able Burr, settled in Winsted, Conn. He married Mary Ensign, of South Farms, near Litchfield, who was born Sept. 8, 1776, and died Dec. 29, 1846. Salmon Burr died Dec. 19, 1851, aged sev- enty-seven years. The children of Salmon and Mary Burr, with dates of birth, are as follows: Maria, Feb. 17, 1799; Rufus, Dec. 17, 1800: Samuel, Sept. 22, 1802; Wilson; April 11, 1804; Mary, Jan. 12, 1806; Rhoda, Jan. II, 1808; Sarah, March 2, 1810; Willard, Feb. 8, 1812; Huldah, May 21, 1814; Harmon E., Nov. 13, 1818; Charlotte, Oct. 3, 1820. Salmon Burr was one of the early brickmakers, and followed that vocation through life. His home was at Torrington Hill.

(VII) Samuel Burr, son of Salmon and Mary Burr, settled at Torrington, Conn. For his first wife he married, on Feb. 22, 1831, Louisa Flower, and by her he had two children, Sarah Jane, born Jan. 6, 1832, who married Andrew E. Hull, of Burlington, and died Jan. 23, 1862, leaving two daughters; and Mary E., born Oct. 2, 1839, who was married April 20, 1861, to Edwin Barber, of Wolcottville. Louisa, wife of Samuel Burr, died July 20, 1847, aged thirty-eight years, and for his second wife he married Mrs. Rhoda A. Taylor, nce Parmelee, of Cornwall, Litchfield Co., Conn., by whom he had one child, Lyman S., the subject proper of this sketch, born Aug. 24, 1851. Mrs. Rhoda A. Burr died Oct. 17, 1860, aged forty- six years. For his third wife Samuel Burr mar-

ried Mary J. Robertson, of Wolcottville, Conn., who survived him. Mr. Burr was a natural mechanic. In his early years he manufactured the old-fash- ioned hand rakes at Torrington, and carried them thence, overland, to Hartford. He was also a school teacher in early life, teaching in and about Torringford. His brothers were also school teach- ers. For many years in later life he was an em- ploye of the Coe Brass Co. He was a man of strong convictions and keen intelligence, a great reader, and thoroughly conversant with the polit- ical issues of his day. He was a strong temper- ance advocate, and thoroughly upright and honest in his actions. Though a regular attendant at di- vine services throughout life he did not become a member of church until 1870, two years prior to his death.

Lyman S. Burr owes his success in life to his own efforts. Struggle and victory sweeten the after life of any man, and the experience of our subject has been no exception to the rule. He at- tended school at Wolcottville, now Torrington, and at the age of sixteen his opportunity arrived to gain, at personal discomfort and sacrifice, an education. In 1869 he left home for Oberlin, Ohio, where an uncle was preaching at that time. In the fall of the year he entered the preparatory department of Ob- erlin College, and except for a brief interval, when he attended the funeral of his father, he remained continuously at the college until 1872. During this time, to meet his modest expenses, he sawed wood and did chores for ten cents per hour, and, during the winter of 1870, he taught one term of district school. For about a year, from 1872 to 1873, he worked in a factory in Torrington, and then, at the suggestion of Hudson Burr, a cousin and noted lawyer at Bloomington, Ill., he entered the latter's office as a student. He was admitted to the Bar at Ottawa, Ill., Sept. 25, 1875, completing in two years the three-years course prescribed, and pass- ing a rigid examination. Returning to Connecti- cut, he entered the office of Mitchell & Hungerford at New Britain, and was with them for about nine years, or until 18844, when he opened an office for himself. Except for a period of nine months, dur- ing which a partnership existed between him and Fred. B. Mitchell, he has since followed his pro- fession alone. He has ever been a careful student of law, and has acquired a successful practice.

Mr. Burr has also been prominent in public life. In 1883 he was appointed clerk of the Police Court. and in that capacity served for about nine years. He then resigned the position upon his appoint- ment as city attorney by the common council. A year later, a change in the political administra- tion, from Republican to Democratic, changed the personnel of the attorneyship also. Later on, to fill a vacancy caused by the resignation of Julius H. Pease, who had been appointed postmaster, Mr. Burr was again appointed city attorney, and in the spring of 1896 he was honored with election as first prosecuting attorney under the new city char-

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ter of New Britain. He has twice been re-elected to the same office, which has jurisdiction over the entire city of New Britain. In the spring of 1899 he was appointed Judge of the City and Po- lice Court of New Britain, which position he now holds.

Mr. Burr has always been a stanch Republican and taken an active part in local political matters. He was for several years chairman of the Republi- can town committee. He is a member of Cen- tennial Lodge, No. 118, F. & A. M .; Giddings Chapter, No. 25, and Doric Council, No. 24, and has taken quite an active interest in Masonry. He was senior deacon of Centennial Lodge for three years. He is also a member of Phoenix Lodge, No. 52, and of Comstock Encampment, No. 29, I. O. O. F., and has been through all of the elective offices of both the lodge and encampment, having served in the highest office in each. In 1888 he was elected grand patriarch of the State of Connecticut, I. O. O. F. On Oct. 15, 1889, Mr. Burr was presented with a jewel by the Grand Encampment of the State of Connecticut, and in that year he was elected grand representative of Connecticut to the Sovereign Grand Lodge of the United States, receiving the same honor again in 1890 and 1891. In the patriarchal branch (the military branch) he was appointed judge advocate on Gen. Foster's staff, of New Haven, and held the position for several years. He is a member of the K. of P., Royal Arcanum, O. U. A. M., and also of the Red Men, of which he is past chief. In August, 1890, Mr. Burr organized and was elected captain of Company I, Ist Regiment, Connecticut National Guard, serving in that capacity until June, 1891, when Gov. Bulkeley, of Connecticut, appointed him judge advocate of the Ist Regimental District, a position in which he continued until 1893, when the office was abolished by legislative enactment. He has also been judge advocate of the Putnam Phalanx, of Hartford, for two years, retiring from this office in the spring of 1896, until again apointed to that position, April 4, 1900.

Mr. Burr was married to Miss Isabella V. Love- land, daughter of Ezra and Mary A. Loveland, of Berlin, and they have two children, Harry W. and Stewart L.

1 .

ELI PHELPS. This section attracted at an early day a superior class of settlers, and their de- scendants are now among the leading citizens of Hartford county, the enterprising and progressive spirit of their pioneer ancestry being combined in them with the culture and refinement of more modern times. From the first settlement in Wind- sor town the Phelps family has held a prominent place in its history, its members in every genera- tion showing unwavering loyalty to the American ideal, and during the Revolutionary war no less than twenty of the name enlisted from that locality. Eli Phelps, for many years a prosperous agricult- urist of Windsor, was of the fifth generation in di-

rect descent from Samuel Phelps, son of William, the head of the family in this country. Samuel Phelps was born in England, and received a large grant of land in Windsor from the Crown. Much of this tract is still in the possession of his descendants, and a portion of it is now occupied by our subject as a homestead. This worthy pioneer married Sarah Griswold, daughter of Edward Griswold, and had a son, William.

(II) William Phelps, son of Samuel, was born in 1669, married Hannah Hayden in 1693, and died Nov. 21, 17II. He had a son ( III) William, born March 13, 1698.

(IV) Eli Phelps, son of William (III), was born Aug. 16, 1746, and made his home on a farm near Poquonock, being one of the most highly re- spected residents of that locality in his time. He married (first) Ruth Case, who died leaving no children. His second wife Mariam (Case) Adams, was the widow of Joseph Adams, by whom she had three children : Luke, Rosannah and Richard. By her union with Eli Phelps she had six children : Ruth, who married (first) Fredus Case, and (sec- ond) Rev. Phelps Ellsworth ; Eli, our subject ; Mary (Mrs. Jonathan Colton) ; Mariam, wife of Elihu Holcomb; Mindwell, who married Manly Snow; and Miss Sarah, who resides in Poquonock.

(V) Hon. Eli Phelps was born at Poquonock, Sept, 1, 1807, and had only such educational ad- vantages as the local schools of that day provided. He was but a young man when his father died, and as the only son the care of the estate fell to him be- fore he had a chance to acquire business experience, vet he managed affairs with conspicuous ability and became one of the most successful farmers of the town, obtaining good results under all circum- stances. For some years after his marriage he re- sided at his father's old home, later locating at the farm now occupied by our subject. While he left a handsome estate to his children, he was never grasping or unduly economical, and many worthy enterprises were helped forward by his liberality. He was a man of fine physique, six feet tall, weighing 200 pounds, and his mental ability was above the average, his reading and observation en- abling him to gain a wide range of practical knowl- edge. He took an active interest in religious work, serving as treasurer of the Ecclesiastical Society of his town for a long time, and politically he was prominent as a member of the local Democratic organization. At various times he held offices in his town, and for several years he was a member of the General Assembly. He died Sept. 1, 1879, and his remains now rest in the cemetery at Poquonock.

On May 27, 1846, Mr. Phelps married Miss Abigail Humphrey, who was born March 7, 1820, at Norfolk, Conn., daughter of James and Rox- alana (North) Humphrey. Her family has been well known in America from an early period, and an extensive genealogical record has been com- piled and published. She is still living at the home- stead, in excellent health, for one of her age, and

Eli Phelps

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COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

surrounded by a large circle of friends whom her intelligence and high character have won her. William is the eldest of a family of five children ; James and Emily died in infancy; Miss Maria resides at the old homestead, and is highly esteemed in the best social circles, being an active member of the society of the Daughters of the American Revolution ; and Charlotte A. is the wife of David E. Marshall, of Windsor town.

(V1) WILLIAM PHELPS was born Nov. 23, 1847, and was reared at the homestead, his educa- tion being obtained in the schools of District No. 8, of Windsor town, at the academy in Windsor village, and the Connecticut Literary Institute, at Suffield. He has always resided on the old home farm, which he manages in a thoroughly scientific manner. While he is an excellent business man he is of a very quiet disposition, deliberate speech and lack of ostentation being among his marked characteristics. His integrity is never questioned, while he has a high reputation for intellectual ability, being extremely fond of reading. In early life he was a Democrat, but of late years he has been an earnest advocate of the principles of the Prohibition party. Mr. Phelps married Miss Mari- ette Dickinson, of Haddam, Conn., who was a daughter of Nathan and Jemimah ( Brainard) Dick- inson. She died June 23, 1899.

HON HORACE KELSEY FORD, who passed away Aug. 5, 1899, was a well-known tobacco grower of Suffield, and president of the Tobacco Growers Experiment Co., of Windsor, Conn. He was born in Salisbury, this State, Oct. 10, 1829, of English descent. Daniel Ford, his grandfather, was a native of Plymouth, Conn., was a landholder and a farmer all his life, and to his marriage with a Miss Gridly were born seven children: Willis, Melliset, Stephen, Daniel, Betsey, Amorett and Abigail. Both parents of this family died in Ply- mouth, edvout members of the Methodist Episco- pal Church.

Willis Ford, the father of the subject of this bio- graphical notice, also a native of Plymouth, Conn .. was born June 16, 1806, learned blacksmithing when young, and in early manhood removed to Salisbury, where he followed his trade for some time, but later became extensively interested in the iron business, in which he continued until Novem- ber, 1841. He then sold out and came to Suffield, purchased one hundred acres of land, and engaged in the culture of tobacco and in general farming. He was one of the earliest tobacco growers of the neighborhood, built the second tobacco shed in Suffield, and realized a comfortable fortune. Willis Ford first married, in Salisbury, Conn., Miss Eliza- beth Kelsey, a native of the place, and a daughter of John Kelsey, and to this union were born two children : Horace Kelsey, our subject, and Mari- etta. For his second wife Mr. Ford selected Ma- hala Austin, of Suffield, who bore him one child, Anna Eliza, now the wife of Levy Judd, of South

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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 172

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