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 52

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 52

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Mr. Coats was a member of Company G, 22d Conn. V. I., and was honorably discharged in June, 1863, after nine months' service. He is now a member of the G. A. R., and of various prominent fraternal, political and religious organizations. He was a member of the Windsor Locks school board for three years, and was representative in the Con- necticut General Assembly for Windsor Locks in 1884, serving on the Judiciary committee. He has also served acceptably as a member of the Common Council of New Britain, and associate judge of the city court, and since 1895 has been judge of the probate court, Berlin district. While Judge Coats is a man of great force of character, one whose wide experience and thorough mental equipment have fitted him for a place of influence and prom- inence in the community, he is esteemed as well for his upright bearing and many admirable per- sonal qualities. He was married, June 2, 1871, to Josephine L. Walker, daughter of Rev. Williani C. Walker, of Hartford, Conn. They have no children.

JAMES HENRY CHARLTON (deceased) was one of the prominent and highly respected citi- zens of East Windsor Hill, and as a merchant he was actively identified with its business interests in early life.

A native of Hartford county, Mr. Charlton was born Nov. 22, 1815, in the town of South Windsor, in the house where his widow now resides. His father, Jesse Charlton, was born in Norwich, Conn., Jan. 2, 1778, and when a young man came to East Windsor Hill, where he opened a shop and engaged in merchant tailoring for many years. Here he also served as justice of the peace for some years, and as deputy sheriff. He was a devout Christian, and an active member of the First Congregational Church of the town. He died March II, 1859, honored and respected by all who knew him. On Nov. 2, 1809, he married Miss Rebecca M. Thomas, of Hartford, and to them were born three children : Elizabeth, who was born April 29, 1811, and mar- ried (first) Charles Gleason and (second) Ira Tracy; Edward S., who was born Jan. 21, 1813; and James H., our subject. The wife and mother died Feb. 13, 1829, and the father again married, March 24, 1830, his second union being with Miss Harriet Jones.

Reared in East Windsor Hill, James H. Charl- ton was educated in the common school and academy of that place. When a young man he went to Hart- ford, where he clerked in a store for two years and acquired an excellent knowledge of business meth- ods, which proved of great benefit to him in later years. On his return to his native town he pur- chased the store of Eli Haskell, in partnership with his father, and engaged in mercantile business until 1857. From that time on until his death he was not actively engaged in any buiness, but lived retired.

Mr. Charlton was married, April 30, 1845, to Miss Elvira Moseley Hale, a native of Glastonbury, Conn., of which town her father, Julius Hale, was also a native. She was a descendant of the Rev. Thomas Potwin, the first Congregational minister of East Windsor, he being her great-grandfather. She died Nov. 21, 1853, and on May 17, 1855, Mr. Charlton married her sister, Miss Julia E. Hale, who is living on the old homestead in East Windsor Hill. There were no children by either marriage, but they adopted two : Augustus H. ; and Anna M. , now the widow of Charles J. Rockwell, by whom she had three children, Julia C., Frederick K. and Mar- guerite, all residing with Mrs. Charlton.

The Republican party always found in Mr. Charlton a stanch supporter of its principles, and for many years he most ably and acceptably served as postmaster at East Windsor Hill. He was widely and favorably known, and his death, which occurred Aug. 16, 1878, was deeply mourned.

ALBERT JACKSON LESTER, a property holder of East Hartford Meadow, descends from ancestry who have for generations been residents of the town of East Hartford, in the vicinity of Silver Lane, and was born in East Hartford Meadow, Sept. 13, 1824, a son of Chauncey and Abigail (Wood) Lester.

Chauncey Lester was born in 1798, on Silver street, and was a son of Isaac Lester, who married Miss Risley. Isaac was a shoemaker, and also car- ried on farming on Silver street ; his children, seven in number, were: Harry, Austin, Chauncey. Isaac, Eliza, Sarah, and Ann. Chauncey learned the trade of carpenter and builder under Capt. Crocker, at Hartford, and afterward worked at the South during the winter seasons, and in the sum- mers at the North, chiefly in East Hartford, and was an excellent mechanic. In politics he was a Democrat, and worked hard for the success of his party. In religion he was a Baptist, but in his latter years was not very active in church work; never- theless he was always pious and upright. Ile was a large man, weighed about 275 pounds, and lived to reach the advanced age of eighty-three years. His wife, who was born in South Windsor, died at the age of sixty-seven years, and the remains of both were interred in the East Hartford cemetery. Their children, seven in number, were: Albert J., our subject; George F., who went to Sacramento

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county, Cal., in 1852, and still lives there, retired ; Louisa, who was married to Samuel Taylor, and died in Hartford; Isaac Lee, who was a shoemaker and died in East Hartford; Julia, who is still single; Andrew M .; and Julius M., of East Hartford.

Albert J. Lester attended the district schools, which were inferior in his early days to those of the present, and among his earliest teachers were Dr. Loomis, Mr. Atwood and Miss Wells. Later he attended a private school taught by Salmon Phelps, and so ended his school days. At the age of sixteen years he began learning the tailor's trade under Erastus Goodwin, of Hartford, served an apprenticeship of five years for his board and clothes, and then worked as a journeyman in Hart- ford until 1849, when he went to California. "Around the Horn in '49," a narrative issued in 1898, and written by Rev. L. J. Hall, chaplain of the Connecticut State Prison, describes the voyage of the "Henry Lee" from New York to San Fran - cisco, and this was the voyage made by Mr. Lester.

While in California Mr. Lester was engaged in mining for some years during the winter months, but having "taken up" some government land he passed the summer months in clearing and improv- ing it. Later he devoted all his attention to gar- dening, and successfully raised vegetables which met with a ready sale at a remunerative price ; he also carried on general farming and stock raising. In 1886 he returned to Connecticut, has since re- sided in East Hartford Meadow, and has erected a number of houses for renting.

In politics Mr. Lester was first a Democrat, but for reasons sufficient and cogent to himself saw fit to change his views, and is now a stalwart Re- publican. He has never been willing to fill office, much less seek it, but always aids his party in se- curing victory at the polls. He has led a life of morality and temperance, and has never used to- bacco in any form. Mr. Lester has never married. He is emphatically a self-made man from a business point of view, but notwithstanding his success in life is devoid of ostentation, and his plain, even- going walk through life has won for him the de- served respect of all his fellow townspeople.

P. H. GOODRICH, deceased. In every com- munity, large or small, there are a few men who by their force of character are intuitively recognized as leaders, men who are successful in their business undertakings, generous and fair in their relations with others, and who perceive and warmly advo- cate those measures which insure the public well- being. In the thriving town of Glastonbury there is no name better known than that of the deceased gentleman, whose name appears at the opening of this sketch, and who was a distinguished repre- sentative of an honored family. He was intimately associated with those enterprises through which the town has attained a higher and broader life. He aided or led in every good movement for the public

good, and as merchant, manufacturer, tobacco grower, packer and buyer, etc., as well as popular and eminent citizen, he was prominent in its ma- terial growth.

Mr. Goodrich was born in Portland, Conn., May 27, 1840. He attended the district schools, and during one winter was a student in a private school conducted in the old church by a Mr. Quimby. Later he attended Chase's school, at Middletown, where he completed his education. In 1858 he went to Champaign, Ill., and purchased a new farm, where he engaged in stock raising and farming for two years. While in Illinois he cast his first vote, for Abraham Lincoln. Disposing of his farm he re- turned to Portland, Conn., and in August, 1862, enlisted in Company D, 20th Conn. V. I., under Capt. Parker. He saw active service throughout the remainder of the Civil war, his regiment proceeding at once to Capitol Hill, Washington, and thence to Arlington, where it was drilled. The winter of 1862-63 was spent in Virginia. Chancellorsville was the first general engagement where the 20th Connecticut received its "baptism of fire." Company D held an exposed position, and three orderlies were killed while conveying orders to the company to fall back. Mr. Goodrich was at Gettysburg, his regiment being a part of the 12th Army Corps, Gen. Slocum reaching the memorable struggle on the afternoon of the first day. He remained with the regiment until the spring of 1864, when as an invalid he was left in a hospital before Atlanta. In the fall of that year he proceeded with his com- mand to the sea. On March 19, 1865, he received a ball through his left foot, and was sent from the field hospital to the hospital at Newbern, N. C., was placed on the transport "Northern Light," and was off Newbern when Sherman's dispatch boat an- nounced the surrender of Lee-the grand news which evoked the intensest enthusiasm among the crippled men. Proceeding to New York in the transport our subject was honorably discharged from the service in June, 1865. He entered the army as a private, was at once made corporal, and was subsequently promoted to sergeant and later to or- derly sergeant.

For a year or two after Mr. Goodrich's return North his foot was so disabled that he could do little work. In 1867 he went to Champaign county, Ill., where he was in business with his brother. Re- turning to Connecticut he entered the service of his uncle, Frederick Welles, of Glastonbury, who was engaged in the tobacco business, and when the uncle retired Mr. Goodrich, with Charles F. Tag & Son, of New York, continued the buying and packing of tobacco in and around Glastonbury. Later the firm dissolved, and he conducted the business individual- ly until 1893, when he leased his tobacco building and retired.

In 1894 Mr. Goodrich was a prime mover in the organization of the Riverside Paper Manufacturing Co., of Glastonbury, of which he is now president

Hy Goodrich .

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and treasurer. He was also one of the organizers of the Eagle Sterling Co., which later removed else- where, the Riverside Paper Manufacturing Co. then occupying the vacated plant. The product is bind- ers' board and trunk board. Mr. Goodrich was vice-president and director of the Goodrich Bros. Banking Co., of Fairbury, Neb., an institution that has never lost any money for its eastern investors, and president of the Glastonbury Steam Boat Wharf Co.

On Oct. 14, 1869, Mr. Goodrich married Miss Helen E. Wells, and to this union have been born eight children, all living: Arthur B., born March 8, 1873, graduated from Mt. Hermon College in 1894, and was a student at Amherst for one year, leaving school to take his present position, that of superintendent of the Riverside Paper Manufactur- ing Co .; Leslie W., of Hartford, born April 3, 1874, completed two years' study in the scientific depart- ment of Cornell, and took special work in Yale; Sarah M. is a graduate of the Glastonbury Acad- emy; Joseph E., of Hartford, born April 12, 1879, is a graduate of Williston Seminary, class of '98; Ralph S., Bertha H., Henry C. and Ethel J. are at- tending school.

In politics Mr. Goodrich was a Republican. When a young man, in Portland, he was elected justice of the peace. In Glastonbury he was first selectman for four years, and for the same length of time was auditor. In 1884 and in 1897 he repre- sented the town in the Legislature, each term serv- ing on the Military committee. Himself and wife were prominent and active members of the Congre- gational Church, which just prior to his decease he served as a member of its investment committee. He was a member of the St. James Cemetery Asso- ciation, at Glastonbury. Socially he held active membership in Tyler Post, No. 50, G. A. R., at Hart- ford.

Mr. Goodrich as a business man was eminently successful. He was one of the best-known citizens of the town, and his opinions were often sought and given great weight in matters of both personal and public welfare. Possessing a ripe judgment he was conservative in his opinions, but his vision was broad and extended to all sides of a question in issue. In manner Mr. Goodrich was approachable and unostentatious ; his integrity was unquestioned, and his character was an exemplar of the best type of American citizenship. His health had been fail- ing for several months, and he died Sept. 20, 1900, less than a week after being confined to the house.

JOHN HUMPHREY SESSIONS, in whose (leatlı at Bristol, Sept. 10, 1899, the community lost one of its most valued citizens, was a native of Connecticut, born March 17, 1828, in Burlington, Hartford county.

The Sessions family, with which our subject was connected, had its origin in Wantage, Berk- shire, England, which place was visited in 1889 by

a member of the Connecticut line, who found none of the family there. However, in the adjoining county of Gloucester there is a family by the name of Sessions, which, there is little doubt, came from the same stock-in fact, it was the only one of the name to be found in England. The head of this Gloucestershire family, Hon. J. Sessions, at the age of eighty years was mayor of the city of Gloucester, and his three sons were associated with him in a large manufacturing business in both Gloucester and Cardiff ( Wales), the style of the firm being J. Sessions & Sons. There is also a daughter who is actively engaged in benevolent and reformatory work, while the mother established and built a "Home for the Fallen," which is managed and cared for by members of the family. They all be- long to the "Society of Friends," and Frederick Sessions, although at the head of a large business, gives his entire time, without salary, to reformatory work, lecturing and organizing Sunday-schools, and Temperance and other beneficent societies.

The crest of the English Sessions family is a griffin's head. This mythological creature was sacred to the sun, and, according to tradition, kept guard over hidden treasures. It is emblematical of watchfulness, courage, perseverance and rapidity of execution-characteristics of the Sessions family to the present day.

The first of the family of whom we have record, in this country, was (I) Alexander Sessions, born about 1645, and was living in Andover, Mass., in 1669, at the age of twenty-four years, as in a depo- sition he made dated Jan. 27, 1669, he called him- self "aged twenty-four years." He died in An- dover, Mass., Feb. 26, 1688-89. He married April 24, 1672, Elizabeth, daughter of John Spofford, of Rowley, Mass., who after his death, married a Mr. Low. Alexander Sessions and his wife were mem- bers of the church in Andover in 1688 and until their decease. Alexander Sessions was a freeman of Andover, in 1677; was also one of the proprie- tors of the town, as appears by a vote, naming thic proprietors, about that time. He died in Andover Feb. 18, 1688-89. His name was originally spelt "Alexsander Seshins," or "Sutchins." His will was admitted to probate March 8, 1696-97, and inven- toried £119, which was attested by his widow, who was named as administrator. Their children, living in 1697, were as follows: (1) Elizabeth, born in 1673, married July 18, 1694, Richard Carrier. (2) John, born Oct. 4, 1674, was living June 16, 1705, as records of Andover show. (3) Alexander, born Oct. 3, 1676. (4) Timothy, born April 14, 1678, was living in 1696-97. (5) Samuel, sketch of whom follows. (6) Nathaniel, born Aug. 8, 1681, married Hannah He settled in Pomfret, Conn., before October, 1765, where he died in March, 1771, aged ninety-one years; his wife died same year. (7) Josiah, born May 2, 1684, died Dec. 30, 1724, in Bradford. He married in September. 1725, Anna , whose mother was Widow Mary Cole.

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(8) Joseph, born March 28, 1686, was living in Pomfret, Conn., in 1713, and alive in 1752. (9) Abial, born about 1688, married before April, 1752, -Dorman, and living in York county, Maine, (II) Samuel, born March 8, 1680, in Andover, Mass., on what was known at that time as "Ses- sion's Hill," was a husbandman, and accumulated considerable property which was inherited by his children. He was drowned at Boxford, Mass., Dec. 6, 1750. By his wife Mary (Cox or Cock) he had children as follows: (1) Sarah, born in 1708-09, died Jan. 7, 1709. (2) Samuel, a sketch of whom follows. (3) Timothy, born probably in 171I as he died in November, 1763, aged fifty-two years. He married in November, 1738, Abigail Black, of Boxford. (4) One born Aug. 17, 1712,, died in in- fancy. (5) Mary, born Sept. 7, 1714, died July 19, 1736. (6) David, born Jan. 25, 1718, died in his country's service at Crown Point, Dec. 29, 1756. He married Mary Lancksford, Dec. 29, 1743.

(III) Samuel, born in 1710, died April 24, 1746. He married Jan. 8, 1739, Hannah Gray, daughter of Henry Gray, who came from England, married Mary Blunt, and died in 1755. Samuel Sessions was a husbandman, and owned large tracts of land in Andover, Mass. His children were: (1) Sarah, born in Andover, Nov. 6, 1740, married previous to July 14, 1760, Michael Gillson, and settled in Westminster, Vt., before June 24, 1763. She died Nov. 1, 1815. (2) John, a sketch of whom follows. (IV) John Sessions, born in Boxford, Mass., June 9, 1742, died in Westminster, Vt., May 1, 1820. He married Nov. 17, 1763, Ann Warstley, born in 1740 in Dedham, Mass., and died Oct. 12, 1820. He was a farmer, deacon of the church, jus- tice of the peace, and much respected ; was for two years a member of the first Continental Congress, and was first judge of the county court; also mem- ber of New York Legislature for four years under the elder Governor Clinton. Children: (1) Ann, born July 20, 1765, married David Foster. (2) John, sketch of whom follows. (3) Samuel, born June 25, 1773, married June 17, 1817, Mrs. Gray ; he died of fever Jan. 9, 1826.

(V) John Sessions, born July 30, 1768, in West- minster, Vt., married Oct. 16, 1793, Lucinda Wash- burn, born May 14, 1770, and died March 11, 1820. He was a farmer, and highly respected as a citizen. He died in Lunenburg, Vt., Jan. 25, 1852, the father of seven children, as follows: (1) John, born Sept. 29, 1795, married Feb. 1, 1825, Eliza Winne, born Jan. 20, 1798. He was a Congregational minister. (2) Lucinda, born March 23, 1797, married Nov. 29, 1827, Miss Maria Case ; she died Dec. 22, 1866. (3) Calvin, a sketch of whom follows. (4) Joseplı W., born June 30, 1801, married Oct. 17, 1833, Mary Sewell Dunning, of Brunswick, Maine, daugh- ter of Samuel Dunning. Joseph W. Sessions was a Congregational minister. (5) Orpha, born Feb. 18, 1803, and died in 1872, married April 25, 1824, Charles Ames, of Lunenburg, Vt. (6) Samuel,

born March 23, 1805, married Caroline Bird, of Buffalo, N. Y. He was a Congregational minister. (7) Ann Maria, born March 13, 1808, married Oct. 29, 1828, A. G. Redway, of Jefferson county, New York.

(VI) Calvin Sessions, born in Westminster, Vt., Jan. 10, 1799, married Lydia Beckwith, Jan. I, 1822. She was born Nov. 20, 1796, a daughter of Abner Beckwith, who was born in Lyme, Conn., in 1771. He died in Burlington, Conn., May 10, 1868. Polly (Humphrey), his wife, was born in Burlington, Conn., and died there April 10, 1800. Calvin Sessions died in Burlington, Conn., Nov. 9, 1860; his wife Lydia passed away in Bristol, Conn., July 9, 1870.

Calvin Sessions was a clothier by trade, and in his younger days, in Burlington, operated a factory of his own. He was captain of the militia company in Burlington. In religion he was a stanch sup- porter of the Congregational Church of Burlington. A brief record of the children born to him and his wife were as follows: (1) A son, born at Burling- ton, Conn., Oct. 27, 1822, died in infancy. (2) Catherine Maria, born in Burlington, Oct. 27, 1823, married Nov. 19, 1842, Samuel LeRoy Beldon, of Burlington. She died Aug. 22, 1893, at Bristol. (3) Adeline Eliza, born in Burlington, March 27, 1825, married Nov. 14, 1845, Erastus Stanley Bacon, who was born April 23, 1820, and died Sept. 20, 1864, while being removed from Andersonville prison pen to Charleston, S. C. He was a mem- ber of the 7th Reg. Conn. Vol. She died in May, 1882, at Bristol. (4) Samuel Washburn, born in Burlington, Oct. 31, 1826, married Jan. 2, 1850, Nancy Frisbie, of Southington, Conn., who was born Aug. 1, 1824. He is a member of the bolt, etc., manufacturing firm of Lamson & Sessions, Cleveland, Ohio. (5) John Humphrey, a sketch of whom follows. (6) Albert Gridley, born in Bur- lington, March 28, 1831, died there June 8, 1832. (7) Lydia Beckwith, born in Burlington, Conn., Aug. 11, 1832, married May 6, 1852, Samuel Miller Lamson, born Jan. 1, 1826, in Sheffield, Mass., son of Isaac and Celina Lamson, of Burlington, Conn. He is a farmer in Burlington. (8) Albert Joseph. born in Burlington, Conn., June II, 1834, married Oct. 2, 1853, Ellen Lucinda Castle, born in Union- ville, Conn., July 14, 1836, a daughter of Joel and Mary (Fenton) Castle. Joel Castle was born in Harwinton, Conn., March 10, 1813; Mary Fenton was born in Plymouth, Conn., April 9, 1815, and died July 11, 1856. Albert Joseph Sessions died in Cleveland, Ohio, June 25, 1870; his widow now lives in Bristol, Conn. (9) Fannie Lucinda, born in Burlington, Conn., April 21, 1836, married May 17, 1856, Isaac Porter Lamson, son of Isaac and Celina Lamson, and born in Mount Washington, Mass., Sept. 2, 1832. They live in Cleveland, Ohio, where he is a manufacturer, the firm name being The Lamson & Sessions Co. (10) Willard Foster, born in Burlington, Conn., July 5, 1838, married

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Feb. 29, 1872, Julia Pettibone, of Burlington. He is a farmer in the town of Bristol, near Lewis' Corners.

(VII) John Humphrey Sessions, born March 17, 1828, in Burlington, Conn., was married April 27, 1848, to Miss Emily Bunnell, born in Burling- ton, Jan. 30, 1828, a daughter of Allen and Rhoda (Atwater) Bunnell, also of Burlington. Allen Bun - nell was born there Feb. 7, 1802, and died at Bris- tol ; Rhoda ( Atwood) Bunnell was born in Bristol, Conn., Nov. 16, 1800, and died at Bristol. Children born to John Humphrey and Emily ( Bunnell) Ses- sions were as follows : (1) John Henry, a sketch of whom appears farther on. (2) Carrie Emily, born in Bristol, Dec. 15, 1854, married Dec. 24, 1871, George W. Neubauer, of Bristol. (3) William Edwin, a sketch of whom appears farther on. The mother is yet living.

John Humphrey Sessions received a common- school education such as the district schools afforded in his boyhood days, and at an early age began to work in the wood-turning establishment of A. L. & W. Winston, Polkville, a suburb of Bristol, where he learned the trade. In course of time, that firm having made an assignment to Mr. Sessions, he in 1858 went into partnership with Henry A. Warner, under the firm name of Warner & Ses- sions. The venture proving a success, he in 1869 removed the business to the center of the town.

Soon after locating in Bristol, his brother Albert J. died and left a trunk-hardware business, which Mr. Sessions purchased, and at once threw all his characteristic energy into it. This was about 1870, and the success of his undertaking was apparent from the start, for he made money rapidly, ex- tended the business and soon had it on a footing where it was considered one of the most prosper- ous manufacturing establishments in Bristol. Mr. Sessions's eldest son, J. Henry Sessions, was ad- mitted to partnership and, later, another son, W. E. Sessions, the firm being known as J. H. Sessions & Sons. They make a general line of trunk hard- ware, which has a well-known reputation. In 1879 Mr. Sessions bought the property owned by the Bristol Foundry Co., on Laurel street, and to- gether with his son William E. formed the Sessions Foundry Co. This business, like the others that Mr. Sessions undertook, was a success from the first, and in 1895 the firm built a new foundry plant on Farmington avenue. They moved into it in 1896, and at the celebration in honor of the event, leading manufacturers from Connecticut and else- where were present to inspect the plant.

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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 52

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