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 20

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 20

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

Senator Birge comes of old Puritan stock, trac- ing his ancestry back to families which came from England either on the "Mayflower" or on vessels arriving at about the same time. His line of descent from Richard Birge, a pioneer settler of Windsor, has been already given. He also traces his lineage back on his maternal side, through nine generations, to Rev. Thomas Hooker, the originator of the New England system of town and municipal government, and the first settler and minister at Hartford, in 1636; is also a descendant, in the eighth genera- tion, of William Smith, an early settler of Hunt- ington, L. I .; and, in the ninth generation, of

George Smith, a member of the New Haven Colony of 1638, as well as of Theophilus Smith, a captain in the war of the Revolution. Another ancestor, Samuel Terry, made and put in place the great wooden clock in the steeple of the Congregational church of Bristol.

On June 22, 1874, Hon. John Birge married Miss M. Antoinette Root, a daughter of Samuel E. Root, of Bristol. She died April 25, 1891, leav- ing four children : Adeline, the eldest, born Aug. 16, 1875, is the wife of Judge Roger S. Newell, of Bristol. Nathan Root, the second child and first son, born June 16, 1877, enlisted in the First Con- necticut Light Artillery, Battery A, known as the "Yale Battery," for two years, and served through- out the Spanish war, after the close of which he was mustered out, in September, 1898; he belongs to the class of 1900, Worcester Polytechnic Insti- tute. The two younger children, Marguerite, born April 22, 1886, and Jolm Kingsley, born March 4, 1888, are at home. On Feb. 1, 1893, Senator Birge married Matilda Louise, a daughter of John Sayles Smith, of Windham. Of this marriage there has been no issue.

George Wallace Birge, the second and youngest living son of Nathan L. Birge, born June 8, 1870, graduated from the Bristol high school in 1888, and two years later from Huntsinger's Business College, at Hartford. He finally became a partner with his father and brother John. On Oct. 19. 1898, he married Miss Eva M. Thorpe, a daughter of W. W. Thorpe, of Bristol. They have one child, Rachel, born Sept. 8, 1899.

HENRY C. DANIELS, better known as "Dan- iels the Printer," the third oldest disciple of Guten- berg now living in the city of Hartford, and probab- ly one of the best known citizens in the State, is a native of same, born Oct. 11, 1851, in the town of Manchester.

Darius Daniels, his grandfather, was a promi- nent farmer in his day, for many years a resident of Andover, Conn., whence he came to Hartford county, for some time making his home with his son Charles, in East Hartford, and thence remov- ing to Plainville, Conn., where he passed the rest of his days at the home of a daughter, dying in 1870, at the age of eighty-one years. By his wife, Mary (Rathbun), he had seven children, five of whom are vet living: Charles S., in Wethersfield ; Aaron M., sketch of whom follows; Harriet (Mrs. Kennedy), living in Burnside, Hartford county ; Joseph R., also in Burnside; and Elizabeth (Mrs. William Spencer), a resident of Plainville, Conn. The mother of this family died in Plainville in 1880, at the age of ninety-two years.

Aaron M. Daniels, father of Henry C., was born March 7, 1819, in Springfield, Mass., coming in boyhood to Hartford, where his life has been main- ly passed. For some time he was in the patenting business, and issued a number of valuable patents ;

COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

also engaged in insurance writing, in both of which lines he made a success. In 1843 he married Maria G. Ensworth, born in Andover, Conn., daughter of Jeremiah Ensworth, of the same nativity, and Sophia (Kennedy ), a native of Burnside, Conn., who had a family of five children, all now deceased: the mother passed away at the age of seventy-five years. To Aaron M. and Maria G. Daniels were born three children, two of whom are yet living : Sarah J. and Henry C. (our subject). Sarah J. has been twice married, first time to Alfred D. Hart, who died in 1869, at the age of thirty, and by whom he had one son, Alfred D., who married Carrie E. Sperry, and by her had five children, Iver S., Ethel R., Jennie, Eva B., and Alfred. Mrs. Hart subsequently wedded Dwight North, late of Hartford, to whom she bore two sons, Dwight and Horace. Mr. North passed away in 1890. Mrs. Aaron M. Daniels died in 1896, at the age of seventy-five years, a member of the M. E. Church, as is also her husband.

Henry C. Daniels, the subject proper of these lines, received a liberal education at the common schools of Hartford, and at the age of thirteen years commenced learning the trade of printer in the office of William C. Hutchings, of Hartford, following same as a journeyman for some time, including three years in New Haven. Removing thence to Worcester, he there carried on a printing busi- ness two years, after which he returned to Hart- ford, and in that city has since continued to make his home. About fourteen years ago Mr. Daniels established his present business, at No. 284 Asylum street, and by close attention to his work, fair deal- ing, and courteous treatment of his patrons, has met with well-merited success.

On Oct. 14, 1874. Mr. Daniels was married to Mary E. Kempton, who was born in New Haven, a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. William S. Kempton, an old family of that locality, and two children, Henry Christie and George, both now deceased, were born of this union. In politics Mr. Daniels is a Democrat. Socially he is a member of Summit Lodge. I. O. O. F .; of Jewell Council. No. 8, Jr. O. U. A. M. ; of Charter Oak Commandery. No. 26, O. U. A. M .: Charter Oak Council, No. 3, O. U. A. M. : the Royal Society of Good Fellows ; and of Hubbard Escort, and in all of these he has taken an active interest, his words of council having much weight in their councils.

As an attest to Mr. Daniels' wide popularity, perhaps nothing more fitting could be cited than the signal victory he achieved in the Washington Trip Contest of the Hartford Post, in January, 1900. We quote from the Post : "In that competition the candidate receiving the largest vote was given a week's trip to Washington at the expense of the paper, dating from March 4th, the anniversary of McKinley's inauguration, until the 11th inst. This trip also included the successful candidate's wife. Mr. and Mrs. Daniels won the contest, they having a grand total vote in the preliminary and final com-

petition of 32,250. The total vote throughout the State was 134,898. Mr. and Mrs. Daniels went to Washington, saw all the sights, and shook hands with the President."

FREDERICK HENRY WILLIAMS, M. D., a leading physician of Bristol, has met with remarka- ble success in the treatment of disease, and his practice extends all through western Connecticut and the Connecticut Valley. He was born in 1846, in Pleasant Valley, Barkhamsted, Conn., of good Colonial ancestry, two of his great-grandfathers having fought in the Revolutionary army. An abstract from his genealogical record is as follows :

PATERNAL SIDE .- (I) Capt. George Barbour, born 1615, and who settled in Dedham, Mass., about 1635, was a paternal ancestor eight removes. A female descendant, in the fourth generation, mar- ried a Havens ; her daughter (V) Mehitable Ha- vens married Hezekiah Whitney; his daughter (VI) Juliette Whitney married Jesse Williams; ( VII) Orville Williams married Minerva Gillett. Williams-(I) Jesse Williams married Lois Col- lins at Rocky Hill, Conn. Jesse (2) married Ju- liette Whitney. ( III) Orville married Minerva Gillette.

MATERNAL SIDE .- (I) Rene Cosset, born in Paris, France, 1690, married in 1716, in New Ha- ven. Conn., Ruth Porter, daughter of Dr. John Porter. (II) Rene, born 1722, married Phoebe Hilyer, of Granby. ( III) Rosene Cosset, born 1759, married Abel Adams, a Revolutionary sol- dier. (IV) Lurana Adams married Almon Gil- let. (\') Minerva Gillett married Dr. Orville Williams. (VI) Frederick H. Williams. Adams. -(I) Lieut. George Adams early in 1600 married, in London, England, a daughter of Conrad Street- holt. (II) George Adams was in Watertown, Mass., in 1645. (III) Daniel, born 1659, married Mary Phelps in Simsbury. (IV) Joseph. born 1685. married Mary Case. (V) Matthew, born 1724, married Susanah Eno. (VI) Abel, born 1756, married Rosene Cosset (above). Gillett .- (I) Joseph Gillett married Elizabeth Hayes. Sims- bury, 1740. (11) Benoni Gillett, born 1762, mar- ried Penelope Hubbard : he was a Revolutionary soldier. (III) Almon married Lurana Adams.

Dr. Williams' parents died before he reached the age of ten years, and since that time he has made his own way in the world. His early life was mainly spent in Granby, Conn .. and he after- ward went to Hartford to pursue his studies. When nearly ready to enter a medical college in 1869 he suddenly lost his hearing. This was a severe blow to the young man, but he persevered in his efforts to obtain an education, supporting himself in the meantime by working in printing offices and drug stores until 1874, when he was examined and given a diploma by the Censors of the Connecti- cnt Botanico Medical Society, and in 1880 received another from the Connecticut Eclectic Association.

F. H. Williams h. D.

COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

He is a member of the National Eclectic Associa- tion, and has always had a large practice, especially in obscure and chronic cases. Dr. Williams mar- ried, in 1885, Janetta E. Hart, of Pleasant Valley, Conn., and has one daughter, Frances Hart, born in 1886.

The Doctor has not devoted himself exclusively to the study of medicine, but is an ardent student of scientific subjects of all kinds, especially surface geology, anthropology and archæology. He has one of the finest pre-historic archaeological col- lections in the State, if not in New England. He has published "Prehistoric Remains of the Farm- ington Valley." He takes a deep interest in all things pertaining to the welfare of Bristol, and was the first to propose the formation of the Bristol Historical Society. In politics he is a stanch Gold Democrat, and at all times he has been a firm be- liever in human liberty, being strongly opposed to all forms of oppression, either personal or muni- cipal.

In literary matters Dr. Williams has always taken a deep interest, and he is himself a writer of both power and ability. During the long course of years since he was deprived of his hearing he has been an omniverous reader, besides taking up the study of various languages. Bishop Berkeley once said of President Johnson, of Kings College (now Columbia), that he could write in Latin, think in Hebrew and speak in Greek. This same statement would almost be true in the case of Dr. Williams; for, besides having an intimate knowledge of Latin, he can read French, German, Spanish and Swedish. Much of his reading of foreign au- thors is done in the language in which they wrote. As a writer he has contributed occasionally to medi- cal magazines and newspapers in the form of essays on scientific and other subjects, which have attracted considerable attention. He is a keen student of men and affairs, and his knowledge of political parties, their candidates, principles and motives, is not surpassed in this locality. He wields a scathing pen in questions where he considers that ignorance is triumphing over the fundamental principles of religious or political thought. As a historical student Dr. Williams has few peers among the laity, for in the course of his reading he has paid special attention to the history of this and other nations. There are few phases of American or European history with which he is not familiar. His historical sketches are chiefly of a local nature and uncollected ; but they show uncommon power of discernment in analyzing chronological data, and preparing it for popular reading. As a poet Dr. Williams has much talent, although he has pub- lished very little. His style is spirited, flowing and graceful; his versification almost always very smooth and harmonious. In spicy pungency of satire and a certain elegance and grace of manner without an approach to stiffness or formality, he has few rivals among amateur verse makers. His poetical productions are the delight of his friends,

as they would be to the reading public, if his mod- esty permitted their publication .- [ Frederick Cal- vin Norton. ]

HON. ROBERT ANSEL POTTER, a promi- nent resident and real-estate dealer of Bristol, was born in Thomaston, Conn., Jan. 29, 1840, son of Tertius D. and Esther B. ( Frisbie) Potter.

Our subject's father, Tertius Daniel Potter, born Sept. 25, 1793, also in Thomaston, was a very thrifty farmer, and owner of one of the largest farms in his part of the State. He was the Whig repre- sentative in the State Legislature from Thomas- ton in 1837 and 1838. He was one of the deacons of the Congregational Church in Plymouth, Conn., near Thomaston, and was one of the original pro- moters of the church at the latter place, becoming a deacon when it was there established, and so continued until seventy-five years old, when he resigned. He died Jan. 10, 1891, in Thomaston. Mr. Potter married Miss Esther Barnes Frisbie, who was born in Bristol in 1805.

Hon. Robert Ansel Potter was born and reared on a farm, and received his early education in the Thomaston common schools, which he attended un- til sixteen years old, later attending Williston Sem- inary, Easthampton, Mass., until nineteen, at which age he graduated. For one term he taught school at Terryville. He then went to New Haven, and for a year and a half kept books for David W. Buckingham, a grocer. Mr. Potter then started for the West, with the expectation of locating there, but in the meanwhile the Civil war broke forth, and he returned to his native town.

In June, 1862, Mr. Potter enlisted, at Thomas- ton, in Company D, 19th Conn. V. I., which, after being mutsered in, was changed to the 2d Conn. H. A. Mr. Potter took part in the battle of Cold Harbor, and then in all the engagements around Petersburg, Va., was with Gen. Phil Sheridan all through the Shenandoah Valley campaign, and later with the Army of the Potomac, and finally was present at the surrender of Gen. Robert E. Lee. His only casualty was a slight wound sustained at Cold Harbor, but a more serious affliction was an attack of chills and fever, the effects of which clung to him long after the war had ceased. When he first started out he was commissioned second lieu- tenant, and he was mustered out in September, 1865, with the rank of captain.

After returning from the war, Capt. Potter went to St. Louis, Mo., where he and his brother, Luther H. Potter, embarked in the commission business for two years. They then sold out, as the sickness engendered in the army compelled the Captain to return to the East. For two years he was employed as bookkeeper at New Haven, Conn., by Cornelius Pierpont, treasurer of the Street Railway Com- pany and also a grocer. In 1869 he came to Bristol, and for about two years was superintendent of Joel H. Root's factory, for making brass hinges for

COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

cabinets, boxes, etc., then becoming secretary of the Bristol Saw Co. for six years, when the company sold out. For about three years thereafter Mr. Potter was engaged in the real-estate business, dur- ing which time he laid out several streets and built many houses ; he also traveled a year for the Alden Emery Co., of Boston, as salesman. In 1883 he bought a farm at Plainville, and for seven years gave most of his attention to raising fine stock, in 1890 settling in Bristol, where he has ever since been doing a leading real-estate business.

In politics Mr. Potter is a thorough Republican, and has long held the confidence of his party. While in Plainville he was first selectman of the town two years, justice of the peace several years, and chair- man of the school board a number of terms. In 1889 he represented that town in the State Legis- lature. In 1891 he was elected chairman of the Republican town committee of Bristol. In 1892 and 1893 he was tax collector for the town of Bris- tol, and in 1895 was elected by the Legislature as commissioner for four years. In 1894 he was elect- ed a member of the Republican State Central Com- inittee, serving until 1898, and again elected in 1900, being now a member.

On May 18, 1869, was celebrated the marriage of Capt. Robert A. Potter with Miss Lucy Man- ville, of Great Barrington, Mass., who was born Sept. II, 1844, and is a daughter of Linus and Diantha (Sage ) Manville. On Oct. 16, 1873, this marriage was crowned by the birth of a daughter, Louise Manville Potter, who is a graduate of the Plainville high school, and still has her home under the parental roof. The family attend the Congre- gational Church, of which Mr. Potter was a deacon during his residence in Plainville, and a deacon in Bristol, also, as well as treasurer of the Bristol Congregational Society.

Mr. Potter has always felt a deep interest in agriculture, and especially in dairying. For two years -- 1893 and 1894-he was president of the Connecticut Dairymen's Association, and at the World's Fair in Chicago had charge of Connecti- cut's dairy exhibits. Capt Potter is a member of Newton F. Manross Post, No. 54, G. A. R., of Forestville, of which he is post commander ; is also a member of the Hartford Club ; and Frank- lin Lodge. No. 56. A. F. & A. M., of Bristol.

SAMUEL NELSON KELLOGG. The Kel- logg family is of old Colonial stock, and the sub- ject of this sketch, a well-known resident of Hart- ford. is in the seventh generation in descent from Lieut. Joseph Kellogg, an officer in King Philip's war.

(I) The name of Lieut. Joseph Kellogg appears in the records of Farmington for 1651. In 1659 he removed to Boston, purchasing a home on Rox- bury road, now Washington street, and later he settled in Hadley. Mass., where he died about 1707 ; liis homestead there is in a good state of preserva-

tion. He was prominent in public affairs, serving many terms as selectman of Hadley, and in 1676, during King Philip's war, he was in command as lieutenant at the "Falls fight," South Hadley Falls, Mass. His first wife, Joanna, died Sept. 14, 1666, and on May 9, 1667, he married Miss Abigail Terry, daughter of Stephen Terry, of Windsor, Con- necticut.

(II) Deacon Samuel Kellogg was born in Had- ley, Mass., Sept. 28, 1662, and died in Hartford in 1717. In the records of one of the Hartford churches, for March 17, 1695, he is named as dea- con, and in 1713 he was among the twenty-nine members of the Second Church who founded a church in the west division of Hartford. On Sept. 22, 1687, he married Sarah Merrill, daughter of Deacon John Merrill, and granddaughter of Na- thaniel Merrill. Her mother, Sarah Watson, was a daughter of John Watson, of Hartford.

(III) Capt. Isaac Kellogg was born in Hart- ford in 1696, and died in New Hartford July 3, 1787. In 1742 he removed to New Hartford, and was regarded as one of the founders of the town, being a deacon in the church and a leader in public affairs. As a magistrate he showed much ability, and in 1795 he served as justice of the peace, being the first justice of the town (he held this office in both Hartford and Litchfield counties, serving in all twenty-eight terms), which he represented as dep- uty for twenty-five terms. In 1744 he was chosen captain of the Ist Company of Militia at New Hartford. On Dec. 26, 1717. he married Mary Webster, daughter of Joseph and Mary (Judd) Webster, granddaughter of Lieut. Robert and Su- sanna (Treat) Webster, and great-granddaughter of Gov. John Webster. Susanna Treat was a sis- ter of Gov. Robert Treat, and daughter of Hon. Richard Treat, patentee of the Connecticut Char- ter, 1662.

(IV) Samuel Kellogg, born in Hartford Nov. 15, 17IS, died in Poultney, Vt., about 1770. In 1742 he made his home in Enfield, where he en- gaged in manufacturing. Four of his sons-Eben- ezer, Leverett, Helmont and Samuel-served in the Revolutionary army, and one of them, Leverett, was captured at Fort Ticonderoga in 1776, at the age of twenty-three years, and while a prisoner was starved to death. On July 8, 1741, Samuel Kellogg married Mary Steele, daughter of Eben- ezer and Melatiah (Bradford) Steele, and of the fourth generation in descent from Gov. William Bradford, who came to America in the "May- flower" in 1620; she was of the third generation from William Bradford, Jr., deputy-governor of the Plymouth Colony.

(V) Ebenezer Kellogg, born in Enfield, Conn., Sept. 6, 1751, died in New Hartford July 17. 1843. He served in the Revolutionary war, and for many years engaged in manufacturing. On Dec. 9, 1779, he married Molly Bissell, daughter of Joel and Mercy (Bishop) Bissell, granddaughter of Lieut. Isaac Bissell, of Litchfield, Conn., and a de-

SAMUEL N. KELLOGG

COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

scendant of Capt. John Bissell, of Windsor, an officer in King Philip's war.

(VI) George Comfort Kellogg, born in New Hartford March 17, 1788, died in New Hartford April 19, 1847. He was president of the New Hartford Manufacturing Co., and an inventor of machinery some of which came into practical and profitable use. He was also active in local politics, and served in the Legislature. On Dec. 3, 1818, he married Clarissa Brown, daughter of Sanford and Hannah (Parsons) Brown, granddaughter of Daniel Brown, Jr., and great-granddaughter of Daniel Brown, of Sandisfield, Mass. Sanford Brown served in the war of 1812, and was badly wounded.

(VII) Samuel Nelson Kellogg was born in New Hartford, Conn., Nov. 21, 1820, and was edu- cated in the common and high schools. He re- moved to Hartford in 1837, and entered the em- ploy of A. M. Collins & Sons, wholesale dry-goods dealers, remaining three years. In 184I he went to St. Louis, where he was a partner in the wholesale dry-goods house of Collins & Kellogg until the beginning of the Civil war. From 1864 to 1870 he was a member of the firm of J. V. Farwell & Co., Chicago, but since the great fire of 1871 he lias lived retired, first in New Haven, Conn., in 1876 returning to Hartford.

On Sept. 5, 1850, Mr. Kellogg, married Helen, daughter of Noah and Sophronia (Parsons) Cooley, and they have two children, Charles C. and Helen Elizabeth. In politics Mr. Kellogg is a Republican, and he and his family attend the Center Church.

EVELYN L. THORP, blacksmith, Milldale, town of Southington, Hartford County, Connecticut.

WILLIAM BRO SMITH, counsel for the Trav- elers Insurance Co., Hartford, with the legal busi- ness of which he has been connected since January, 1895. has been identified with a number of large corporations and insurance companies in that ca- pacity during his successful professional career of a quarter of a century.

Mr. Bro Smith was born Nov. 8, 1854. in New York City, where his early life was passed. His preparatory education was gained in the public schools and the schools of the Christian Brothers, in that city, and he studied law with Beach & Be- man and J. S. L. Cummins, being admitted to the New York Bar in February, 1876, since when he has been engaged in active practice. For the first four years he devoted himself to general law work, but his energies have for the most part been di- rected to insurance and corporation law, as counsel for a number of corporations and insurance organi- zations. In January, 1895. he came to Hartford, to assume a connection with the law department of the Travelers Insurance Co., which he has ever since maintained, and in 1900 was made counsel-his present incumbency. He is now a member of the

Hartford County Bar. Mr. Bro Smith has been director in various corporations in New York and New Jersey. His political affiliations are with the Democratic party. in the work of which he took an active interest while in New York City.

RICHARD J. GOODMAN, a member of the legal profession in Hartford, comes of a family which has long been one of the most respected in New England, and his father was for a unmber .of years a prominent business man of Hartford.

Richard Goodman, the first of the family of which we have record, came from England with the Plymouth Bay Colony, located first in Cambridge, and came to Hartford with Rev. Mr. Hooker, be- ing one of the first settlers. Later he removed to Hadley, Mass., where he was killed by the Indians April 1, 1676.

The next in line of descent, also named Richard, was born March 23, 1663, in Hadley, Mass., and came to Hartford, where he died May 14, 1730.

Timothy Goodman, son of Richard (2), was born Sept. 22, 1706, in West Hartford, and died March 12, 1786. He married Johanna Wadsworth, granddaughter of Capt. Joseph Wadsworth, of Charter Oak fame.

Richard Goodman, son of Timothy, was born April 10, 1748, in West Hartford, and died in May, 1834. He served in the Revolution, being a member of Capt. Seymour's Company.

Aaron Goodman, son of Richard, was born in West Hartford, July 20, 1773, and died March 28, 1832, in Hartford. He married Alma Cossitt, who lived to the advanced age of eighty-nine years. They had a large family, all now deceased, of whom are mentioned : Edward, who was a practicing law- ver in Hartford for many years; Julia; Almira; and Aaron Cossitt, father of our subject.

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

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 20

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