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 68

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 68

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).

Mr. Steele was born in New Britain Nov. 29, 1847. in one of the historic old houses of the town. His ancestry has been prominent and influential in the early history of Connecticut. John Steele, the progenitor of the family in America, was a native of the County of Essex. England, who came to New England about 1631-32, and settled in New Town (now Cambridge), Mass. He was one of the first pioneers of Connecticut, leading the ad- vance guard in 1635, the year before Thomas Hook- er came down. His home was just north of the Athenaeum building in Hartford. John Steele was one of the leading spirits in the enterprising little colony, and was a man of education as well as executive ability, was the first secretary of the Hartford Colony. and served for many years as a magistrate. In 1654 he was clerk of Farmington town. His first wife, Rachel, died in 1653, and for his second he married Mercy, widow of Rich- ard Seymour. John Steele died in 1665.

(II) Samuel Steele, son of the above, was born in England in 1626-27, and when a child came to America with his father's family. He attained prominence in Colonial affairs, and was deputy to the General Assembly in 1668, 1669, and from 1672 to 1677 inclusive. In General Court, May 9, 1672. he received a grant for 200 acres of land. Ile married Mary, daughter of Hon. James Boosey, a prominent resident of Wethersfield. Samuel Steele died Aug. 15. 1685, his wife surviving at Farmington until 1702.

( II) James Steele, son of Samuel Steele, was born Aug. 31, 1644. For many years he was a merchant at Wethersfield, and he was the captain of the train-band at that place. He married, July 19. 1687, Anna, daughter of Capt. Samuel Wells. She was born in 1668, and died in 1739. James Steele died in 1713.

(IV) Dr. Joseph Steele, son of James Steele, was born Sept. 27, 1690. He studied medicine, located south of the Palisade fort at Berlin, in a portion of Farmington town, and was one of the most skillful and best-known practitioners in Hartford county. He was also quite active in church work. He married, Feb. 16. 1715, Eliza- beth, daughter of John Hollister, of Glastonbury, and died in 1750, leaving five sons and five daugh- Mers.

(\') Ebenezer Steele, son of Dr. Joseph Steele. was born May 18, 1727. He married Sarah Mid-

dleton, and in early life lived at Wethersfield, later on Osgood Hill, New Britain, where he died Jan. 21, 1821. He served for a time in the Revolu- tionary army. Hir widow died March 6, 1823, seventy-five years after her marriage. During her lifetime she had 278 descendants, as follows: Thir- teen children, seventy grandchildren, 171 great- grandchildren, and twenty-four great-great-grand- children.

(VI) Ebenezer Steele, Jr., son of Ebenezer Steele, was the grandfather of our subject. He was born in New Britain in 1749, was a farmer by occupation, and lived in the Horse Plain Dis- trict of New Britain. His first wife was Lucy Wright, and his second Hannah Brewer, by whom he had eight children. Of these, Hannah married Elias Curtis. of Mexico, N. Y .; Annie married Judd Eggleston, of Westfield, Mass .; Eliza, in 1826. married Roswell Hart, and removed to Mich- igan ; Edmund was the father of our subject ; and Amna, who was born in 1808, married Peter Miller, of Troy, N. Y. Ebenezer Steele, Jr., died in 1812.

(VII) Edmund Steele was born in the Horse Plain District, New Britain, Oct. 9, 1804. He be- gan life for himself as a farm hand, and then entered the factory of Alvin North, in whose em- ploy he remained for about twenty years. In 1842 he purchased for $4,500 a farm of about sixty acres, known as the Seth Lewis farm, formerly the Capt. Belden farm, and there he engaged with his son in general farming. On Oct. 10, 1831, he married Lucy Newell, who was born in Farming- ton Oct. 11, ISIO.

The original progenitor of the Newell family in Connecticut was Thomas Newell, who settled in Hartford soon after the Colony was established, and later in Farmington .. Ile is said to have mi- grated from Hertfordshire, England, and his wife's name was Rebecca Olmstead, Samuel Newell (2), son of Thomas and Rebecca Newell, was baptized Dec. 5, 1660, and in 1685 married Mary Hart. Isaac Newell (3), son of Samuel and Mary Newell, was born Feb. 10, 1686, and married, Aug. 8, 1710, Sarah Norton, of Farmington, granddaugh- ter of John Norton, the first settler at Farmington. Isaac Newell (4), son of Isaac and Sarah Newell, born Aug. IT, 17HI, married Rachel, daughter of John and Rachel Pomeroy, of Northampton, Mass .; she was a woman of remarkable religious character. joining the Church when very young, and cherish- ing through life the memory of Jonathan Edwards. She died Sept. 16, 1776, in the fifty-fourth year of her age. For his second wife Isaac Newell mar- ried Rhoda ( Andrews) Warren, who was born May 6, 1728, daughter of Caleb Andrews, of New- ington, and was the widow of Elisha Warren. Isaac Newell lived in the north part of Southing- ton, in the vicinity of what is now known as New- ell's Corners. lle held the military rank of lieu- tenant. He died Jan. 3. 1793, his widow surviv- ing until Oct. 20, 1823. Isaac P. Newell (5), son

298

COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

of Isaac and Rachel Newell, was born Jan. 21, 1753. He served in the Revolutionary war. He married Mary Warren, and lived at Newell's Cor- ners, where he died Dec. 24, 1831, aged seventy- nine years; his wife died June 4, 1835, aged sev- enty-five years. Quartus P. Newell (6), son of Isaac P. and Mary Newell, was born Jan. 2, 1781. in Southington, and on Feb. 28, 1805, married Lucy Foote, born Jan. 6, 1783, daughter of Capt. Robert and Rachel (Lewis) Foote, of Southington. Quartus P. Newell died May 24, 1873, aged ninety- two . years ; his wife passed away March 20, 1853. aged seventy years. The children of Quartus P. and Lucy Newell were as follows: Sophia, born March 27, 1806, died Oct. 29, 1826; Lydia, born Feb. 12, 1809; Lucy, mother of our subject, born Oct. 11, 1810; Jeannette, baptized May 22, 1814. died Nov. 14, 1835; and Jane, baptized Oct. 6, 1816.

Edmund Steele and wife were charter members of the South Congregational Church, organized in 1842. He was a constant attendant at church serv- ices, possessed strong convictions, and was in all respects a man of character. He was a man of strict integrity, and he accumulated a competence which he bequeathed to his children. Though in- terested in public affairs, he did not actively en- gage in politics. He died Aug. 15, 1879, his wife passing away in February, 1878. To Edmund and Lucy Steele were born four sons-Dwight Newell, Frederick Newton, Walter Pomeroy and Charles Edmund. (1) Dwight Newell Steele, born Aug. 3. 1832, married Sarah Hartson, of Meriden, and with his brothers Frederick and Walter started the market gardening industry at New Britain. He died Aug. 28, 1875, his wife on Oct. 25. 1879. They had one son. Howard Merritt, born Aug. 24. 1872, who was married, in 1893, to Minnie Rhodes, and is now engaged in the livery and express busi- ness. (2) Frederick Newton Steele was born June 7, 1837, and is engaged in the fruit preserving business : in 1879 he married Lydia Bowman. of Manchester. Vt., and they have two children- Henry Bowman and Herbert. (3) Walter Pom- eroy Steele was born July 24, 1844, and on Sept. 29. 1876, married Ida Bristol Steele. of Branford, Conn .: they have one child, Dwight W .. now a student of the New Britain high school.

Charles Edmund Steele, the subject of this sketch, received his preparatory education in the New Britain high school, under the tutelage of John H. Peck, graduating in 1867 with the honors of valedictorian. In the autumn of the same year he entered the Freshman class of Yale College, and four years later he received his diploma, with the degree of A. B. In 1872 he entered Andover Theological Seminary, from which he was grad- uated in 1875. The subject of his address was "The Doctrinal Basis of Christian Union." Re- turning home for a year Rev. Mr. Steele during that time assisted in a series of great revival serv-

ices in New Britain. He was chairman of the union committee, and had a year of most profitable work, after which he went to Vermont, and was engaged as a supply of the Winooski Congrega- tional Church, near Burlington. His health fail- ing, he was obliged with great reluctance to aban- don this pastoral work, though not intending to permanently leave the ministerial service. Coming home. he sought the return of health by becom- ing a member of the firm of Steele Brothers, and engaging extensively in market gardening. In ad- dition Mr. Steele has during the past five or six years been extensively engaged in the real-estate business. He has been very active in church and temperance work. For many years he has been a Bible-class teacher, and served on many church committees, is an active and influential member of the Y. M. C. A., and has assisted in raising build- ing funds for the Y. M. C. A., the Salvation Army and the Swedish Congregational Church. He is affiliated with the temperance societies, and from his boyhood days he has been. like his father be- fore him, an active and courageous advocate of temperance. In the Prohibition party he cast his first vote for Clinton B. Fisk, of New York, for president, in 1888. He has been active in the party councils, in 1896 was its candidate for lieutenant- governor, and in 1898 and again in 1900 for gov- ernor.

Mr. Steele was married, Sept. 24, 1885. to Emma Blue, of Clinton, N. Y., daughter of John C. Blue, of North Gage, Oneida Co., N. Y. The marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Steele has been blessed with one child, Mabel, born Feb. 28, 1891.

LESLIE COLLINS SEYMOUR. Energy and enterprise, directed by sound judgment, make a combination which will command success in any line of effort, and the career of the subject of this biography, a prominent resident of Windsor Locks, would indicate that he possesses these admirable qualities in full measure. His success reflects the more credit upon him because of the fact that he has gained it through his own merits, having begun "at the foot of the ladder," and the story of his life will, for the same reason, afford encouragement to many an aspiring youth.

Mr. Seymour was born March 13, 1849, . in Southwick, Mass., and is of good New England an- cestry. William Collins Seymour, his father, was a native of East Granville, Mass., but removed in 1859 to Suffield, Conn., where he followed farming for many years, his death occurring April 15. 1880, at the age of sixty-seven years. He married Miss Essie Dooley, a native of Ireland, who is still living. Of their five children, ( 1) The eldest, Henry WV., married Miss Lillie LaVerge, and died Dec. 19, 1877, leaving one son, Albert Henry, now a resident of Hartford, Conn .; (2) Leslie C. is mentioned more fully below: (3) Cordelia M .: (4) Edward S., and (5) Mary Emma reside in Suffield.

Leslie le Seymour

299

COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

Leslie C. Seymour remained under the parental roof until he reached the age of seventeen, his edu- cation being obtained in the schools of Southwick and Suffield. He learned the carpenter's trade with John C. Meade, and for seven years was em- ployed by him in the towns of Suffield, Windsor and Hartford. Since that time he has been engaged in contracting and building, and for the past eighteen years his summers have been spent in overseeing work on the canal. He has also been extensively interested in the timber business, and at present he is successfully engaged in tobacco growing.

Mr. Seymour was married in Windsor Locks to Miss Alice E. Moran, daughter of Harrison and Jane E. Moran, and since June, 1873, he has made his home in that pleasant village. He and his estimable wife are much esteemed socially, and for twenty-eight years he has been an active mem- ber of Apollo Lodge, No. 55. A. F. & A. M., of Suffield. He has always taken a keen interest in political questions, is a zealous supporter of Dem- ocratic principles, and is influential in the councils of his party. While not an office-seeker he ac- cepted the nomination, in the fall of 1899, for the office of first selectman, and was elected with a handsome majority, running far ahead of his party ticket. In the fall of 1900 he was re-elected first selectman with a handsome majority.

JOSEPH HALL, late principal emeritus of the Hartford Public High School, whose death oc- curred from heart failure on June 10, 1896, was born at Ashfield, Mass., in 1828.

Mr. Hall was descended from old New Eng- land stock. He was of the eighth generation in descent from Gov. Thomas Prince and his wife, Patience Brewster, and of the ninth generation from Elder William Brewster, of the "Mayflower." Until he was twenty years old his time was spent upon his father's farm, and he had an occasional term in Sanderson Academy. In 1849 Mr. Ilall entered Shelburne Falls Academy. He matriculated at Williams College in the class of 1855, but owing to ill health he was unable to complete the course. After leaving Williams he spent three years in the South. Later he taught a year and a half in the academy at Shelburne Falls. From there he was called to the Connecticut Literary Institute, at Suf- field, where he taught for five years. In 1860 he received the degree of A. M. from Brown Uni- versity, and in 1873 the same degree from Trinity College. In 1872 he was appointed State chemist by Gov. Marshall Jewell, and was re-appointed by subsequent governors of the State. He served ten years as one of the city commissioners : three years on the board of water commissioners: four years on the health board; and in April, 1889, was ap- pointed for a full term on the park commission.

Mr. Hall had been identified with the high school from September, 1863, until his death. From that time until the death of principal Samuel

M. Capron, Jan. 4, 1874, he was vice-principal. Hle succeeded Mr. Capron as principal, and held the position until Nov. 8, 1893, and from that time on until his death he was principal emeritus. Of the graduates of the school, 1,041 received diplomas bearing his signature as principal.

Mr. Hall was a member of St. John's Lodge, F. & A. M., and he belonged to the Masonic Mu- tual Relief Association. He was a member of Trinity Church. He was an upright and influential citizen, and left upon the world the impress of his marked character and personality. Mr. Hall mar- ried Miss Orvilla Bassett, of Ashfield, Mass., who survives him.

DR. JOSEPH BARNARD HALL, the only child of Joseph and Orvilla Hall, was born in Hartford Sept. 29, 1868. He graduated from the Hartford Public School with the class of 1887, from Shef- field Scientific School with the class of 1890, and from the Medical Department of Yale with the class of 1892. He is a member of the Theta Delta Chi Fraternity, and of St. John's Lodge, F. & A. M. Dr. Hall studied two years in the Hartford Hospital, and for a few months in Johns Hopkins Hospital, Baltimore, Md. He was clerk of the board of health and register of vital statistics at the time of his father's death, and was recently appointed medical director of the Hartford Life Insurance Co., leaving that to accept the position of assistant medical director of the Connecticut Mu- tual Life. He is visiting physician of the Old Peoples Home, and a member of the City, County and State Medical Societies.

STEPHEN GOODRICH (deceased). The Goodrich family is of pioneer stock, and the subject of this memoir, for many years an honored resident of Hartford, was a representative of the seventh generation in this country.

(I) The first of the name to come to America was William Goodrich, an Englishman, who ap- pears on the records as a deputy from Wethersfield, May 15, 1662. He was married, in 1648, to Sarah Marvin, and had nine children : William, Sarah, Mary, John, Elizabeth, William, Abigail, Ephraim, and David.

(11) John Goodrich, born May 20, 1653, died Sept. 5. 1730. He resided in Wethersfield, and was married March 28, 1678, to Rebecca Allen. They had nine children : Sarah, Rebecca, Mary, Samuel. Abigail, John, Allyn, Ann and Jacob.

(III) Jacob Goodrich, born Nov. 27. 1694, died May 11, 1746. He made his home in Wethersfield and Windsor. On Sept. 12, 1717, he married Bene- dict Goodwin, and they had seven children, as fol- lows: Hannah, Rebecca, Elijah, Ruth, Stephen, Sarah and Jacob.

(IV) Stephen Goodrich, born Jan. 21, 1731, died Aug. 19. 1758. He was married, Jan. 3, 1754. to Rachel Gillett, and made his home in Windsor. He had two sons : Jacob, born Feb. 5, 1755, who died

300

COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

while serving in the Revolutionary army; and Stephen.

(\) Stephen Goodrich, born March 29, 1757, died Aug. 18, 1825. He served in the Revolutionary war, and made his home in later life in Simsbury. On Dec. 25, 1781, he married Lydia Terry, and they had nine children : Jacob, Lydia, Huldah, Stephen G., Chauncey, Wealthy, George, Nathan and Sal- 11011.

(VI) Nathan Goodrich, father of our subject, was born Aug. 10, 1801, and became a farmer in Simsbury, where he died Sept. 4, 1842. On Jan. I, 1822, he married Sevilla Bristol, and they had six children : Lucius, born June 21, 1823, married Martha A. Ensign. He was prominent in public affairs, serving as sheriff of Hartford county, pro- vost marshal of this district during the Civil war; county commissioner; and member of the State central committee. Juliette, born June 10, 1824, died June 29, 1826. Juliette, born April 9. 1826, died Jan. 26, 1861. A daughter, born Aug. 19, 1834, died Aug. 22, 1834. Stephen is mentioned more fully below. Nathan Harrison, born Feb. 19, 1841, died Sept. 17, 1842.

(VII) Stephen Goodrich was born in Simsbury April 13, 1836, and died April 2, 1893. He received a common-school education in his native town, and for a few terms attended the Connecticut Literary Institute, Suffield, and, in 1852, went to Hartford to prepare for business life, beginning as a clerk in the same store which he afterward owned and operated for many years. He became one of the best-known druggists in the State, and occupied the highest positions attainable in that vocation, having been one of the founders of the Connecticut Phar- maceutical Association, and one of the first presi- dents of the organization. He was also influential in the movement resulting in the organization of the State Board of Pharmacy, and held the place of commissioner for three years, the appointment be- ing an executive one. As commissioner his work was invaluable to the druggists of Connecticut, as he insisted on a higher standard of examinations, and was instrumental in elevating the scholarship and attainments of the profession throughout the State. In politics he was a stanch Republican, and he served in both branches of the common council, and was for eight years a member of the board of police commissioners. His career as a member of the city government was one of great credit and suc- cess, his influence in both boards being recognized as that of a man of unfaltering personal integrity and sound judgment. On the police board his work was equally important and valuable to the city, as his resolute demands for the best service resulted in an improvement in the efficiency and morale of the department. In 1889 he was appointed bank commissioner by Gov. Bulkeley, for the term of four years, and the appointment was confirmed by the State with a unanimity that reflected the utmost credit upon the standing of Mr. Goodrich as a citi-

zen. The office of bank commissioner is one of the most important in the State, requiring exceptional adaptation and judgment in the incumbent, and Mr. Goodrich fully demonstrated his fitness for the position. He was a Scottish Rite Mason, and be- longed to St. John's Lodge, F. & A. M. The fam- ily is identified with Park Church, Hartford, and holds an enviable social position.

Mr. Goodrich was married Oct. 16, 1862, to Alice Grey Kellogg, of East Hartford, and they had one child, Grace, born May 9, 1866, who was married Oct. 3, 1888, to Capt. William B. Dwight, and has two children, Dorothy, born July 8, 1896; and Beatrice, born Sept. 17, 1899. Mrs. Goodrich is a daughter of William Kellogg, a prominent resi- dent of East Hartford, who was born at Hebron, Conn., June 2, 1793, and died Nov. 18, 1861. He was married Feb. 10, 1820, to Sarah H. Jones, who was born in East Hartford June 15, 1800, and died Aug. 20, 1873, and they had thirteen children, four of whom are now (1900) living: Rodney; Mrs. E. K. Morgan; George C., in California ; and Mrs. Goodrich.

EVERETT THOMAS AND FREDERICK EDWARD STANLEY, prominent and influential citizens of West Hartford, belong to one of the oldest and most highly respected New England families, being able to trace their ancestry back to John Stanley, a native of England, who embarked on a vessel bound for New England in 1634 or 1635, but died on the passage, leaving three chil- dren, with an estate of £116. They were John, who is mentioned below; Ruth, born in 1629, who married Isaac Moore; and a child, who was born and died in 1634.

(II) John Stanley was born in England in 1624, and in 1636 came to Hartford, Conn., with his uncle Thomas Stanley, who was his guardian until he at- tained his majority. At the age of thirteen he went on an expedition against the Pequot Indians. On Dec. 5, 1645, he married Sarah, daughter of Thomas and Anna Scott. of Hartford, and then located in Farmington, this county, where he was appointed by his townsmen to nearly every office; he was deputy to the General Court for thirty-seven years ; lieutenant and captain in King Philip's war; con- stable in 1654; sergeant in 1669; ensign in 1674. His first wife died June 6, 1661, and for his second wife he married Sarah Stoddard. His death oc- curred Dec. 19, 1706. By the first union there were six children: John, born Nov. 4, 1647, is men- tioned below : Thomas, born Nov. 1, 1649, married Anna Peck; Sarah, born Feb. 18, 1651, married Jo- seph Gaylord; Timothy, born May 17, 1654, mar- ried Mary Strong: Elizabeth, born April 1, 1657, died in infancy: Isaac was born Sept. 22, 1660. There were two children by the second marriage: Abigail, born July 25. 1669, married John Hooker ; and Elizabeth, born Nov. 28, 1672, married John Wadsworth.

Everett F. Stanley

301

COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

(III) John Stanley, born in Hartford Nov. 4, 1647, made his home in Farmington for some years, and about 1678 removed to the new settle- ment at Waterbury, where he became one of the foremost citizens. He was the first recorder of the town, being then only one among the carly prop- rietors who was fully qualified for the office. He was sergeant in the Waterbury "train band" in April, 1682, and was made lieutenant in October, 1689. He was the second representative in the Assembly. In 1695 he returned to Farmington, where he was made a deacon of the church, and afterward served in that capacity. He was also chosen justice of the peace for Hartford county, in 1704. On Nov. 18, 1669, he married Esther, daughter of Thomas Newell, of Farmington. He died May 16, 1729, and her death occurred Jan. 29, 1740. They had nine children: Esther, born Sept. 2, 1672, died April 11, 1676; John, born April 9, 1675, died Aug. 12, 1676; Samuel, born June 7, 1677, is mentioned below ; Nathaniel, born Sept. 25, 1679, married Sarah Smith; John, born Feb. 17, 1682, married (first) H. Porter, and (second) Mary Wright; Thomas was born in February, 1684; Sa- rah was born July 4, 1686; Timothy, born June 6, 1689, married Martha Smith; and Ruth.

(IV) Samuel Stanley, born June 7, 1677, lived on the old homestead of his father in Waterbury, the title to the place being still in the latter's name after his return to Farmington. Samuel Stanley was a carpenter and millwright, and at different times re- sided in Wallingford, Farmington and Durham. IIe was a townsman in 1704 and 1705; was a member of the school committee ; served as collector of taxes ; and in other local offices. He was married, July 15, 1702, to Elizabeth, daughter of Abraham Bron- son, of Lyme, Conn., and died in 1747. In their family were eleven children : Samuel, born in 1703, the next in direct descent to our subjects ; Abraham, born April II, 1705, who married Prudence Pinney ; John, who married Hannah Ives; Esther ; Ebenezer and Anna, twins, born March 5, 1713; Elizabeth, born March 8. 1714. (who died the same year ) ; Elizabeth (2), born March 13, 1715; Asa, born in 1717, who died before 1730; Josiah, born Aug. 10, 1717, who married Mary Miles ; and Ruth born July 19, 1719.

(V) Samuel Stanley, born in 1703, made his home in West Hartford, where he died in Septem- ber, 1769. He was first married, Sept. 20, 1727, to Anne Brace, who died in March, 1764, and in 1766 he wedded Lois Abernathy of Farmington. His children were as follows: Anne, born July 6, 1728, married Elias Willard; Samuel, born Jan. II, 1730, died in infancy ; Samuel, born Jan. 24, 1731, married Joanna Goodman; Amaziah, born Feb. 18. 1733, is mentioned below; Amos, born Aug. 26, 1739, married Zeviah Gray; and Desire, born July 31, 1743, married Thomas Steele.

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 68

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