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 51

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 51

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Mr. Peck is a consistent Christian gentleman, is of a pleasant, genial and hospitable nature, always ready for a joke, and has a host of warm friends who esteem him highly for his sterling worth. Po- litically he is an uncompromising Democrat, and since attaining his majority has supported every Presidential candidate of his party with the excep- tion of Horace Greeley. He has served as juryman, but has never sought or accepted any political posi- tion, though several have been offered him. He has always been very exacting in all business mat- ters, and his integrity is above question.

WILLIAM SCOVILLE CASE, now serving his fourth year as judge of the Court of Common Pleas, Hartford county, was born June 27, 1863, in Tariffville, this county, son of William C. Case, who is mentioned (with a record of the Case family ) more fully elsewhere.

Our subject prepared for college at Hopkins' Grammar School, New Haven, from which he was graduated in 1881, and in 1885 he completed a course at Yale College, whichi conferred the B. A. degree on him. While in college he was a member of the Scroll and Key and the Psi Upsilon Frater- nity. Immediately after graduation he commenced the study of law in his father's office, at New Haven, and in November, 1887, was admitted to the Hart- ford County Bar. During the legislative sessions of 1887 and 1889 the Judge held the position of clerk of bills, and on Oct. 15, 1891, he was appointed, by Commissioner Simonds, law clerk at the United States Patent Office, where he remained until April I, 1893. On July 1, 1897, he was appointed by the General Assembly for a term of four years, and

William Scoville Lose

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entered upon the duties of his present incumbency, in discharging which he has won an enviable stand- ing in the legal profession of the county. Judge Case has literary inclinations, and has published a short novel, entitled "Forward House." He also wrote the history of Granby for J. Hammond Trum- bull's "Memorial History of Hartford County."

On April 8, 1891, our subject was married to Miss Elizabeth Nichols, daughter of Nathan and Elizabeth (Rodman) Nichols, of Salem, Mass., and two children have blessed this union: William Nichols, born Jan. 20, 1892, who died June 28, 1892; and Mary, born Jan. 19, 1895.

DANIEL C. GRISWOLD (deceased) was born in Bristol, Hartford county, although the greater portion of his useful life of fifty-five years was passed at Rocky Hill, his parents having removed to that town when he was a child of twelve years. He was the eldest of five children of Albro and Flor- illa (Cook) Griswold, and was born May 31, 1836. Of this family one daughter is yet living, Catherine, who married Horace William. Another daughter, Adeline, became the wife of Noble Lord, of He- bron, Conn. Albro Griswold, on coming to Rocky Hill, purchased the farm now occupied by Horace Williams, where Daniel C. lived until his marriage.

Daniel C. Griswold received his education at the district schools near his father's home, and at the public schools of Hartford. He was married Jan. 15, 1862, to Mary Rose Williams, and at once went with his wife to live on the farm of his father-in- law, continuing to reside there until his death, Dec. 16, 1891.

At the outbreak of the Civil war Mr. Griswold's patriotism was earnest and sincere, and before six- teen months were over he felt impelled to offer his services to the cause of his country. Accordingly, on Aug. 8, 1862, he bade adieu to his bride of seven months and enlisted in Company C, 16th Conn. V. I. for a term of three years. He participated in the siege of Suffolk, and in the battles of Fredericks- burg, Edenton Road, Nansamond, Antietam and Plymouth, being captured April 20, 1864, in the engagement at Plymouth, and taken to Anderson- ville prison, where he remained until Sept. 12; he was then taken to Florence and Charleston, being confined for nearly ten months. At the close of the war he returned home, where he passed the remain- der of his days. He was highly esteemed by his fellow townsmen, who elected him to serve them as assessor and selectman. In politics he was a Repub- lican, and in religious belief a Congregationalist, having been a devout member of the church of that faith at Rocky Hill for many years.

Mrs. Daniel C. Griswold was born June 2, 1838, in the town of Rocky Hill, on the same farm and in the same house in which she now resides, daughter of Andrew and Mary Caroline ( Hickok) Williams, the former of whom was a successful farmer and an extensive land owner. Andrew Williams, son of

William and Sarah Williams, was born in Rocky Hill, March 30, 1785, one of ten children, spent his life in Rocky Hill and died Dec. 12, 1839. He married Mary Caroline Hickok, and two children were born to them: William Cooley, and Mary Rose, both living, the son making his home in Catskill, N. Y. To Mr. and Mrs. Daniel C. Gris- wold were born two children, of whom Charles C., the first-born, died in infancy. The younger, Mary Williams, was married April 6, 1893, to William M. Ashwell, of West Rocky Hill, who died Sept, I, 1896, leaving one daughter, Josephine Mae, two years old, and an infant son, Miles. Mrs. Griswold adopted her cousin, Harriet Frances Hickok, when she was a mere child of three years. On reaching womanhood Miss Griswold married, Sept. 5, 1888, E. Elmer Lord, of Portland, Conn. Mr. and Mrs. Lord have one child, Mary Rose, and the family make their home with Mrs. Griswold.

OLIVER CURTIS ROSE was, until his de- cease, on May 30, 1899, a successful farmer and tobacco grower of West Suffield. He was born there Nov. 26, 1839, on the farm he owned and occupied. The family is of English origin, and entitled to a coat of arms, bearing the motto "Tune Cede Malis," of which Mr. Rose, the subject of this biography, possessed an authentic plate.

Gad Rose, grandfather of Oliver Curtis Rose, was a lineal descendant of that branch of the Rose family who early colonized New England, and was born in Granville, Mass., where he was reared to manhood. However, he was still a young man when he came to Suffield, Conn., where he married Caroline Hale, a member of one of the oldest Suf- field families. IIe settled on the old Hale home- stead, made many improvements, and here passed the remainder of his life, engaged in farming, stock raising and dairying. In politics he was a Whig, took an active part in the war of the Revolution, and died in the faith of the Congregational Church, honored by all who knew him. The children born to Gad and Caroline (Hale) Rose were ten in number: Gad, Justus, Barlow, Oliver, Curtis, Beulah ( who was married to Charles Dennison), Annorah (married to Oliver Phelps), Caroline (married to Dr. King), Diadema ( who died single), and Dianthe (who married Whaddeus Lyman). Both parents died on the home, in the same faith, and their remains were interred in the West Suf- field cemetery.

Curtis Rose, father of our subject, was born on the old IJale farm. He was given the privileges of the common schools for a short time, and being very studious became a well-read man through self- application. At an early age he was apprenticed at shoemaking to Deacon C. Dennison, with whom he passed seven years, but after completing his ap- prenticeship he never worked at the trade. His tendency being toward "trade,' he started out on the road, peddling Yankee "notions," cigars, etc.,

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and, whenever an opportunity offered, bought and sold produce, and was very successful in this pur- suit. He finally settled down to farming in West Suffield, and died on his farm in 1876. He was temperate in his habits, as well as domestic, upright in all his dealings, and, although a stanch Repub- lican, he was never an office seeker. Although he was quite liberal in his views on religion, he was a true Christian, and was greatly respected by all with whom he ever had any acquaintance.

Mr. Rose was married, in West Suffield, to Miss Julia Warner, daughter of Eli Warner, and this union was blessed with seven children. viz .: Edwin, who died young ; Jennette, wife of Benjamin Hath- away, of Stamford, Conn .; Caroline C., who was married to John P. Ingraham, both now deceased ; Emaline E., wife of George E. Scofield, also of Stamford; Rosaline, wife of Richard S. Johnson, both of whom died in Alabama; Oliver Curtis, the subject of this sketch; and Charles J., an insurance man of New York City. The mother of this fam- ily expired in 1894, a truly good Christian lady, and her mortal remains were interred beside those of her husband.

Oliver Curtis Rose was educated in the district schools of his native town, and also at the Connecti- cut Literary Institute, of Suffield. At the age of nineteen years he commenced teaching, and for six years followed this profession, afterward engaging in the cultivation of his natal farm. Here he largely grew tobacco, and also did some general farming and dairying. He made improvements on the place to the extent of $8,000, and in 1890 erected one of the finest dwellings in West Suffield, fitting it with modern improvements and conveniences, and ele- gantly furnishing it, although he retained several articles of rare old furniture that have been in the Rose family for generations.

In politics Mr. Rose was a Republican, and served as selectman of the town. He also filled the office of assessor, and other minor positions, although he performed these services as a matter of duty and not for the sake of emolument. While a strong advocate of the principles of Republicanism, his idea was that the party should seek the proper men to fill the public offices, and that the individ- ual should not seek the positions for the sake of reward and prominence. Mr. Rose was himself unostentatious, but well-read and refined, and pro- gressive and enterprising in the conduct of his per- sonal affairs. Fraternally he was a member of the F. & A. M. lodge at Suffield, and in his religious views was advanced and liberal.

In 1866 Oliver C. Rose was united in matri- mony, in Southwick, Mass., with Miss Ellen Emily Rising, a native of that town, daughter of Alvin and Emily L. (Sackett) Rising, and this union was blessed by the birth of one child, Alice Louise, whose education was acquired in the district schools of Suffield, at the New Britain high school, and at Smith College, in Northampton, Mass., of which

latter she is a graduate. She is a young lady of rare culture and charming disposition, and is the present assistant librarian at Forbe's Library, Northampton. Mrs. Rose is likewise refined, cul- tured and genial in disposition, and enjoys the un- feigned respect of the entire community of the town of Suffield, as did also her husband.

JOSEPH EDWARDS GOODRICH, deceased. The Goodrich patronymic has been subject to vari- ous changes and modifications. The genealogist finds that the name in England was originally God- ric. The American branch of the family has de- scended from two brothers, William and John Good- rich, who were early settlers in Wethersfield, Conn., our subject being of the sixth generation from William Goodrich through the following: (I) William, (II) David, (III) Jeremiah, (IV) Jere- miah, (V) Joseph, and (VI) J. Edwards, our sub- ject.

(I) William Goodrich was born at Bury St. Edmunds, County of Suffolk, England, and came to America with his brother John. He settled at Wethersfield, Conn., and became a prominent citi- zen of that town. In 1648 he married Sarah Marion, daughter of Matthew Marion, of Hartford, and she bore him nine children. He died in 1676. His widow married Capt. William Curtis, of Stratford, Conn., and died in 1702.

(II) Col. David Goodrich, son of William, was born in Wethersfield May 4, 1667, and died June 23, 1755. For his first wife he married Hannah Wright, and, for his second, wedded Prudence Churchill, and by both marriages had seventeen children.

(III) Jeremiah Goodrich was born Sept. 9, 1709, and resided through life at Wethersfield. On July 6, 1732, he married Ruth, daughter of Thomas Kimberly, and she bore him four daughters, Ruth Prudence, Sarah and Mary, and one son, Jeremiah. He died March 8, 1792.

(IV) Jeremiah Goodrich was born in 1742. For his first wife he married Hepzibah Edwards, and, for his second, wedded Rebecca Hollister, daughter of Amos Hollister, of Glastonbury. She was born in 1757, and died June 12, 1833. The chil- dren of Jeremiah Goodrich, by both marriages, were Ruth, Jeremiah, Sarah, Prudence, Elizabeth, Joseph, David, John, Benjamin and Ralph. He died in 1823.

(V) Joseph Goodrich, the father of our subject, son of Jeremiah and Hepzibah (Edwards) Good- rich, was born July 28, 1781, and died Feb. 7, 1852. He was a farmer by occupation and resided at Portland, where he was highly esteemed as a citi- zen and influential in local affairs. He was a prom- inent member of the Congregational Church. On Feb. 18, 1805, he married Miss Susan Stevens. His children who lived to adult age were as follows : J. Edwards, our subject ; William, who removed to Arkansas, where he became prominent, and was.

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for many years government land agent, returning in later life to Portland, Conn., where he died ; Charles, who went West in early life, and died, leaving no children; Dolly, who married Rev. S. G. W. Ran- kin, the noted Abolitionist ; Hepzibah, who married Osman Sellew, of the wealthy and extensive mer- cantile firm of Sellew & Co., Cincinnati, Ohio; Re- becca, widow of William Lowry, a contractor, who now lives at Ripley, Ohio; and Sarah A., who mar- ried Oswin Welles, and died in Glastonbury.

J. Edwards Goodrich, our subject, was born at Portland, Conn., Nov. 9, 1807. In his youth he received a good education, attended Colchester Academy, and taught school for a time. While teacher in District No. 2, Glastonbury, he met his future wife, Miss Nancy Welles, whom he married at Glastonbury May 14, 1834. She was born Sept. 6, 1811, daughter of Leonard and Sally (Sellew ) Welles. They began housekeeping at Portland, where he engaged extensively in farming until, in about 1868, he removed to Glastonbury, and there lived in the old Welles homestead until his death, which occurred Oct. 8, 1879. The latter years of his life were marked by ill health. His wife survived to hier eighty-first year, passing away Dec. 30, 1891. Perhaps no citizen of his town was more thoroughly liked or respected than Deacon Goodrich, as he was familiarly known. He was of genial disposition and fond of a joke, but preserved his dignity, and was an earnest worker for the development and progress of the community in which he lived. In Portland he was a deacon in the First Congregational Church and founder of its Sabbath-school, of which he was superintendent for twenty-five years. He filled various local offices, serving as justice of the peace, tax collector, etc. He was a close student of his- tory, and was well informed upon general and cur- rent topics. Having prospered in business affairs, he lived comfortably, and had a fair competence for his days.

Mr. Goodrich reared an excellent family: Ed- svard Everts, the eldest, is a banker at Fairbury, Neb., and a prominent man of means. P. II., the second, is mentioned farther on. Sarah died at the ge of eighteen years. Maria died aged twenty-one ears. Alice M. resides at Glastonbury.

JARVIS WARREN CASE, a retired carriage manufacturer and honored citizen of West Suffield, s a native of Hartford county, born Sept. 2, 1823, ear New Gate prison, in what was then Granby, but s now East Granby town. He is a representative f one of the oldest and most highly respected fam- lies of the county, his grandfather being Major Benjamin Case, who was born in what is now the pwn of Bloomfield, Hartford county, became an ex- ensive land owner, and there spent his entire life. Ie died Aug. 22, 1818, and was buried in the loomfield cemetery. He was a member of the Episcopal Church, a Democrat in politics, and served s major in the State militia for many years. He 15

married Miss Elizabeth Allyn, who was of English descent, and at her death her remains were also in- terred in Bloomfield cemetery. In their family were six children : Laura ; Warren ; Eunice ; A. Benjamin ; Eliza, wife of Charles Church, of Hartford; and Timothy.

Warren Case, our subject's father, was born on the home farm in the town of Bloomfield, April 4, 1791. During the war of 1812 he enlisted in Capt. Isaac Phelp's company, and was in active service seventy-three days. He was appointed sergeant at the New Gate prison, in Granby town, and served in that capacity for ten years. After his marriage he came to West Suffield and purchased a small farm, on which he spent the remainder of his life with the exception of one year when keeper at the prison in Wethersfield, Conn. He carried the mail between Hartford and Suffield for over twenty years, was a stanch Democrat in politics, and was a well-known and highly respected man. He was a consistent member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, took an active part in church and Sunday-school work, serving as class-leader for twenty years, and as teacher in the Sunday-school, and his home was. often used for religious meetings. He was one of the organizers of the Methodist Church in West Suffield. Near Newgate, in the town of East Granby, he married Miss Nancy A. Viets, who was born July 3, 1801, a daughter of Luke Viets. Our subject is the eldest of the seven children born to this worthy couple, the others being as follows : Henry L., born June 13, 1826, died Feb. 10, 1897 ; Catharine E., born Nov. 4, 1828, married Francis Lucas, of Hartford, and is yet living ; Mary Jane, born Jan. 27, 1830, married David H. Hubbard, of New York, and died soon after marriage; Martha C., born June 5, 1832, and Caroline L., born May 24, 1834, both died young; and Dewitt Clinton, born July 22, 1841, married Emma J. Johnson, of Middletown, by whom he has three children, War- ren Lester, Ada Ellen and Vivian Rachel. The father died April 26, 1872, the mother on April 4, 1884, and both were laid to rest in the West Suffield cemetery. She, too, was a faithful member of the Methodist Church.

During his boyhood Jarvis W. Case attended the district schools near his home, and at the age of seventeen went to Springfield, Mass., where he spent four years and a half in learning the wheelwright's and carriage maker's trades. He then worked for a short time with William Thompson, in East Granby, and in 1846 embarked in business on his own ac- count in Suffield, where he soon succeeded in build- ing up an excellent trade. For over half a century he continued to actively engage in the manufacture of carriages, wagons, buggies, etc., and generally had in his employ about fifteen hands. As he pros- pered in business, he is now enabled to lay aside active labor and enjoy a well-earned rest. He re- tired from business in 1896, on account of ill health. In Warnertown, Suffield, Mr. Case was mar-

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ried in 1855, to Miss Ellen M. Warner, a native of that place, and a representative of a prominent pio- neer family of the town. Her father, Curtis War- ner, was born on the old homestead in Warnertown, and, receiving a good education in the district schools, he successfully engaged in teaching for several terms. When a young man he also peddled tinware and Yankee notions in Connecticut, Massa- chusetts and New York, but after his marriage set- tled down to farming, buying a tract of 150 acres of land known as the Trumbull farm, upon which he spent the remainder of his life, engaged principally in dairying, stock raising, general farming and to- bacco growng. He made many improvements upon his place, and was quite successful in his business undertakings. In Worthington, Mass., he was united in marriage with Miss Permelia Cushman, a native of Southwick, that State, and a daughter of Silas Cushman. They became the parents of three children : Charles C., deceased ; Francis N., a resident of West Suffield ; and Ellen M., wife of our subject. The father died on the home farm in 1856, the mother at the home of Mrs. Case in 1884, and their remains were interred in West Suffield cemetery. They were sincere Christians and faith- ful members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and in politics Mr. Warner was an Old-line Whig.

Mr. and Mrs. Case have a family of four chil- dren: Geraldine, wife of James P. Van Gelder, a cigar manufacturer of West Suffield; Bertha P., wife of James C. Terrett, a cigar maker of Suffield; L. Mabel, at home; and Hartley C., who is still in school. The Democratic party has always found in Mr. Case a stanch supporter of its principles, and for two terms he ably represented Suffield town in the State Legislature. He has also served as select- man of the town for four years, and has filled the office of justice of the peace and other local positions in a most creditable and acceptable manner. After a long life of toil, he is calmly resting from his la- bors, and is spending the evening of his life pleas- antly at his home in West Suffield, surrounded by the love, respect and esteem of his family and a large circle of friends and acquaintances.

HON. JOHN COATS, A. M., Probate Judge of New Britain, has held that responsible position for six years.

Mr. Coats was born May 9, 1842, in North Stonington, Conn., and in both paternal and ma- ternal lines is descended from pioneer settlers of that town. John Coats, his great-grandfather, was a leading citizen of that locality in his time, and his old homestead has been held in the family ever since its allotment from the wild land, passing by will or inheritance from one generation to another. John Coats married Anna Gray, daughter of Ed- ward and Elizabeth (Peabody) Gray, of the same locality, the old homesteads of the Coats, Gray and Peabody families being adjacent properties. Through Elizabeth Peabody our subject traces his

descent from John and Priscilla (Mullins) Alden, of "Mayflower" fame, upon whose romantic his- tory Longfellow based his poem, "The Courtship of Miles Standish." Elizabeth Peabody was a daughter of William Peabody, Jr., and his wife Judith, and a granddaughter of William Peabody, Sr., and his wife Elizabeth Alden, daughter of John and Priscilla.

David Coats, our subject's grandfather was a farmer by occupation, and spent his entire life on the old Coats homestead. He had six children, as follows: John C., a farmer, who lived through life on the old Coats homestead; Ansel, the father of our subject; David, a merchant of North Stoning- ton, who died comparatively early in life; Asher, who died at North Stonington; Lucy, who mar- ried a Mr. Wheeler; and Clarissa, who remained unmarried.

Ansel Coats became in early manhood a mer- chant at the village of Milltown, in North Stoning- ton, Conn., and was also engaged in manufacturing at Great Barrington, Mass., and at Milltown, Conn. He was a captain of militia, and during the war of 1812 participated in the defence of Stonington. He married Eunice Randall, daughter of Col. Will- iam Randall, who was an officer in the war of 1812, in command of militia at North Stonington, Conn. For many years Ansel Coats served as selectman at North Stonington, and, though a man of few words and retiring disposition, his good judgment and ability were generally recognized, and he was frequently called upon for advice. Among other services rendered by him was the frequent drawing of wills. He was a regular and consistent member of the Baptist Church, and at his death, in the spring of 1861, he was universally mourned. His children were as follows: Asher, born in 1826, is now a merchant of Binghamton, N. Y .; William Randall, born in 1830, served in the 2Ist Conn. V. I., during the Civil war, and died about 1880; Roswell Randall, born in 1834, is now a merchant and banker at Binghamton, N. Y .; George F., born in 1841, is now a farmer and in- surance man of North Stonington, and was elected to the Connecticut House of Representatives in 1895 and re-elected in 1897; John, subject of this sketch, was the youngest member of the family. It is remarkable that these five brothers were uni- formly successful, all becoming substantial and prominent men of their respective towns.

Hon. John Coats received his early education in the common and private schools of North Ston- ington, and at the Connecticut Literary Institute, Suffield, completed a college preparatory course. He entered Yale College, and was graduated from that institution A. B. in 1868, receiving his A. M. in 1871. For a year he taught school at the Con- necticut Literary Institute, then read law in Hart- ford and at Columbia College, where he graduated LL. B. in 1871, and was admitted to the Hartford Bar the same year. He located the same year a

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Chicago, Il1., and was there during the great fire of that year. He returned to Connecticut in 1872, to become principal of the high school at Hazard- ville, a position which he relinquished within twelve months to become vice-principal and instructor in Latin at Suffield. Here he remained until 1877, when, after a short vacation, he entered upon the duties of principal of the high school at Windsor Locks, Conn .; he resigned this position in 1881 to commence in the same town the practice of law. Four years later he removed his office from Wind- sor Locks to New Britain, where lie still maintains a lucrative and successful practice.

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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 51

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