Commemorative biographical record of Hartford County, Connecticut : containing biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens, and of many of the early settled families, Pt 2, Part 10

Author: J.H. Beers & Co
Publication date: 1901
Publisher: Chicago : J.H. Beers & Co.
Number of Pages: 1172

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 2 > Part 10

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Roswell H. Phelps was born at the old home- stead in East Granby which he still calls his home, the greater portion of his time being spent there, as he has never married and set up a separate es- tablishment. After completing a course of study in the public schools of Windsor he attended Wind- sor Academy, then conducted by Prof. Standish.

In early manhood he began teaching, and in 1866, after several terms of successful work in Connect- icut and Delaware went to California, and for two years taught in the vicinity of Sacramento, receiv- ing one hundred dollars per month. In those days California had a school system far in advance of that of any other State in the far West, and the Judge's high standing in the rigid examinations reflected great credit upon him. On his return to the East he was connected for some years with the Continental Life Insurance Co., with headquarters in Hartford, and in the meantime he studied short- hand, becoming so expert as to be employed as a reporter in the Legislature during two sessions. Since that time he has had considerable experience in journalistic work, being associated with the Hartford Times as a legislative reporter, also with the Insurance Journal, Hartford; and his abilities were also appreciated by Mark Twain, who made him his private secretary during the writing of the famous book "On The Mississippi Twenty Years After," traveling up and down the whole stretch of the Mississippi. Having acquired a com- fortable competence, which he has judiciously in- vested and increased, the Judge has been able to secure the advantages of travel and a generous course of reading, while his native ability and re- finement have given him entrance to the best class of people everywhere. His ancestry entitles him to membership in the Society of the Sons of the American Revolution, and he takes much interest in its work. Although no artistic training was given him in youth, his talent for painting has been shown in a number of excellent specimens which have received much praise, and doubtless, if he had devoted his attention to art, he would have made a name for himself in that line of effort. He is one of the chief tax-payers in his town, and all his varied business investments receive his personal at- tention, occupying quite fully the time left from his official duties. In 1896 he was chosen to his pres- ent post of Probate Judge, and so free from all partisan bias was the movement which resulted in his election that he may truly be said to have been the choice of the entire community. His able, faith .. ful and efficient work has fully justified the con- fidence of the people, which was confirmed by his almost unanimous re-election to the Probate Judge- ship in 1898.

HON. LEMUEL STOUGHTON. deceased. Ninety-one years of life filled with useful effort, and crowned with the respect and esteem of his fel- low citizens, was the lot of this honored resident of East Windsor. He was one of the most re- spected and influential residents of his section of the State, and his distinguished services in public life, as well as his personal worth, make the follow- ing history of general interest, not only to the readers of the present day, but to future historians of this section.

Mr. Stoughton came of good pioneer stock, be-

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ing of the sixth generation in descent from (I) Thomas Stoughton, a native of England, who came to America about 1630, and soon afterward lo- cated in Hartford county, in the old town of Windsor.

(II) John Stoughton, son of Thomas, was the first of the family to locate upon the farm occupied by our subject in East Windsor, which has descended from father to son now through six generations.

(III) Nathaniel Stoughton, our subject's great- grandfather, followed agriculture at the homestead throughout life.

(IV) Lemuel Stoughton, the grandfather of our subject, was born at the old farm and made his home there.

(V) John Stoughton, our subject's father, was born at the homestead Feb. 2, 1772, and died Sept. 19, 1841. Only one of his family now survives, Hon. John Stoughton, of New Britain, who has at- tained the age of eighty-six. One daughter, Mrs. Grant, late of South Windsor, died May 24, 1900, at the age of ninety years.

(VI) Lemuel Stoughton was born March 4, 1808, on the farm where he always made his home, and was educated in the common schools of the town and the academy at East Windsor. He remained under the parental roof until 1841, when he pur- chased a part of the old homestead and improved the tract for a permanent home. He owned 120 acres of land and for years was quite extensively engaged in tobacco growing, his farm being con- sidered one of the best in the town. Mr. Stoughton was always interested in politics, first as a Whig and later as a Republican, having joined the latter party on its organization, and at one time or other held nearly every office in the gift of his fellow towns- men. He served six years as assessor and seven as selectman, and in 1845-46 was elected a member of the Legislature, while in 1865 and again in 1866 he was elected to the State Senate, from the old Sec- ond district, his able services commanding the ap- proval of his constituents. He was the Senate chair- man of the committee on agriculture. Always deeply interested in the welfare of his town and .State, he gave his support and influence readily to any movement which promised to benefit his fellow men. In disposition benevolent and generous, he was universally beloved, and his advice, especially in business matters, was frequently sought by the younger generation, and given with a spirit which displayed his genuine sympathy and interest. His death, on April 27, 1899, was widely mourned. For many years he was a leading member of the First Congregational Church of East Windsor, and his family hold an enviable social position.

In 1841 Mr. Stoughton married Miss Hannah Blodgett, of East Windsor, who died April 27, 1850, and of their three children, Lemuel, Hannah and Oliver, none are now living. On Dec. 4, 1851, he married Miss Mary Moody, of Granby, Mass., daughter of Thomas Hovey and Hannah Montague (Ferry) Moody, and by this union there were also

three children : Susan, deceased ; Lemuel, mentioned. below ; and Miss Lucy W., who resides at the old home.

LEMUEL STOUGHTON was born May 12, 1865, and received his early education in the public schools. of the home neighborhood, later taking a course in the academy at St. Johnsburg, Vt., from which he was graduated in the class of '83. He has al- ways followed farming and now has control of the old homestead, to which he has succeeded. On March 20, 1894, he married Kate Louise, daughter of Chauncey B. Ellsworth, whose sketch appears elsewhere. They have two children, Mary Louise and Lemuel Ellsworth.

ISAAC BROADHEAD (deceased) was one of Hartford county's most valued citizens, and through- out his long and successful business career he gave his support only to enterprises and interests which were calculated to promote the general welfare. While he had but a limited education, according to present standard, his native abilities enabled him to make his way to an honorable position in social, po- litical and commercial life, and with better advan- tages in youth he might well have attempted any line of effort with a certainty of success.

Mr. Broadhead was a descendant from an old English family, the first of the name to settle in America having Leen Capt. Dan Broadhead, of the British army, who accompanied the force sent by King Charles II. in 1664 against the Dutch in New York. During the campaign his company was with Col. Nichols' regiment. After the surrender of the Colony he settled in Ulster county, N. Y., and on Sept. 14, 1665, he was appointed to the chief com- mand of the militia of that county. He died there in 1667. His wife, Ann Lye, accompanied him to America, their home having been in Yorkshire, Eng- land, previously, and their descendants are now among the best citizens of Ulster county. Daniel S. Broadhead, our subject's father, was born in Ulster county, and became a blacksmith by trade. He married Miss Sarah Wright, a native of Glas- tonbury, and a member of the family in whose honor Wright's Island was named.

Our subject, who was one of a large family of children, was born in Ulster county July 30, 1815, and first attended school in his native town. Later he studied in a select school at Glastonbury, which occupied the site of the present residence of Arthur Douglas, and among his teachers there were William Wright and a Miss Spring, daughter of Rev. Mr. Spring, of East Hartford. On leaving school he was employed in the tannery owned by David Hub- bard, father-in-law of Deacon James B. Williams, but although he had gained some knowledge of the business in Ulster county, his wages were very small. For some time they were paid once a year, and during the panic of 1837 he was paid in farm produce. He had learned in Ulster county better methods of tanning than were known to his new employer, and after a time the latter took him

Isaac Broadhead

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COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

into partnership, giving him an opportunity to bring his knowledge of the business into profitable use. In 1854 Mr. Broadhead formed a part- nership with Edward Hubbard, a nephew of David Hubbard, and engaged in the manu- facture of a superior kind of leather for sad- dles, made of hogskin, and tanned to a light color. For some time they had a large trade with Cuba, the payments being made entirely in gold, and after the outbreak of the Civil war the demand for their product was constant, the material being made into saddles by Smith & Borne, of Hartford. During this busy period our subject worked in the tannery as hard as any of his men, if not harder, and at all times his characteristic thoroughness in attending to the details of the business was a main factor in the success of the enterprise. He was a kind em- ployer, and some of his men remained with him for over twenty years. He continued in the tanning business until 1887, when he retired to enjoy a well- earned rest, and his death occurred May 15, 1895. his remains being interred at Glastonbury.

Mr. Broadhead's business enterprises were varied in character, and for some years he was a director in the Goodrich Brothers Banking Company, of Fairbury, Neb., and the Red River Valley Banking Company, of Fargo, N. Dak. With P. H. Good- rich he was mainly instrumental in having the Hart- ford and Glastonbury electric railway to Glastonbury built by the railway company in the face of strong opposition from many who now realize its conven- ience. He and Mr. Goodrich drove to East Hart- ford and rode into Glastonbury on the first car that came over the line, and he was on the first car that went into South Glastonbury. Mr. Broadhead was of a sympathetic nature, as was evidenced by the many kindnesses shown the motor-men and con- ductors on the trolley cars that passed his door, and on cold winter mornings he used to serve them with hot coffee and food, being known by them as the "good Samaritan." He was very unassuming in manner, being easily approached by all, and his genuine kindliness won him the warm regard of all classes in the community. Among the most es- teemed friends of his later years was John Muir, one of the leading tanners of Scotland, whom he met in 1868, while on his way to England to study methods of coloring. His active work in politics as a member of the Republican party also brought him many congenial friendsnips, and for many years he was regarded as a leading adviser of the organi- zation in this section. He held numerous town offices, and in 1879 represented Glastonbury in the Legislature, that being the last session held in the old State house in Hartford. He was one of the "Harrison Veterans," and in 1840 went to Boston to help celebrate the victory of Harrison, and he was also a member of the "Wide Awakes" of Glas- tonbury when that organization was in existence. As a boy he united with the Congregationa! Church in Ulster county, and in later life he was one of the chief supporters and deacon of the church in Glas-

tonbury. Mr. Broadhead had a remarkably fine physique, being more than six feet in height, with broad shoulders, and his health was excellent, while his faculties seemed unimpaired by the passing years. His ability to endure hardship and arduous work enabled him to push to a successful conclusion tasks which would have daunted others of less strength of mind and body, and with his firm will and keen, shrewd mentality he could not fail to be a leader in any line of work which he undertook.

Mr. Broadhead was very domestic in his habits, his home being the chief center of interest, notwith- standing his activity in business and public life. On Jan. 24, 1843, he married Miss Damaris St. Clair, daughter of Matthew and Hannah (Green) St. Clair, highly esteemed residents of Ellington, Conn. Their only child, Miss Julia Wright Broadhead, re- sides with her mother at the home built by our sub- ject in 1870.

JUDGE EDWARD H. DEMING. Honored and esteemed by all, there is no man in Farmington who occupies a more prominent position in business and public affairs than the subject of this sketch, who is now creditably serving as probate judge of Farmington and Plainville. As a business man he has been enterprising, energetic and always abreast of the times, and has been rewarded by an ample fortune.

Mr. Deming was born in Northampton, Mass., July 14, 1857, but is a representative of an old and prominent family of this county. Many years ago his great-grandfather, John Deming, and his brother, Chauncey, were leading merchants of Farmington, and were also interested in the West India trade. The grandfather, Samuel Deming, made his home in Farmington, his residence stand- ing next to the town hall, and was a farmer by occupation. He was a rabid Abolitionist. He mar- ried Miss Catharine Lewis, and to them were born six children: John, Susan, Frederick, Chauncey, Catharine and Caroline. The family held member- ship in the Congregational Church.

John Deming, father of or subject, was born, reared and educated in Farmington, but later made his home in Northampton, Mass., where he was en- gaged in the manufacture of farming implements. While there he served as a member of the Massa- chusetts Legislature, in 1857. The following year he returned to Farmington, where he continued to manufacture agricultural implements until his removal to Glen Eyre, Pike county, Penn., in 1869. He engaged in the manufacture of furniture and in mercantile business there, and practically owned the entire town. His last days were spent in Brook- lyn, N. Y., where he died in 1894, at the age of sixty-eight years. He married Miss Catherine Mix Williams, a daughter of Rev. Joshua Williams, of Cromwell, Conn., and a granddaughter of 'Squire John Mix. The latter was an ensign in the 5th Battalion of Wadsworth's Brigade, under command of Col. William Douglas, during the Revolutionary

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COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

war, and was a prominent member of the Society of the Cincinnati, serving as secretary of the Con- necticut branch. He was also quite prominent in political affairs, and was judge of probate ten years ; town clerk thirty-two years; and a member of the General Assembly twenty-six years. To John Deming and wife were born six children: Annie, a resident of Hoboken, N. J., and wife of T. R. Ennis ; Samuel Lewis, who died at the age of eight- een years ; Edward Hooker, our subject ; Elizabeth, a resident of Brooklyn; John Mix, who is in the creamery busiess in Warwick, N. Y .; and Harry Williams, agent for the Liverpool and London and Globe Insurance Co., in New York City.

Judge Deming was reared in Farmington until the removal of the family to Glen Eyre, Penn., and attended Deacon E. L. Hart's private school. At the age of fourteen he commenced clerking in his father's store at Glen Eyre, and there acquired a good practical knowledge of mercantile pursuits. Returning to Farmington, in 1884, he purchased the store of Chauncey Rowe, which he conducted alone until 1892, when F. L. Scott was admitted to a partnership in the business. Their establish- ment would do credit to a place much larger than Farmington, and they enjoy a large and constantly increasing trade. Judge Deming has been a director of the Farmington Savings Bank since 1889, and is now a member of the loaning committee.

At Hawley, Penn., our subject was united in mar- riage with Miss Belle Plum, a daughter of M. Plum, of that place, and they have two children : Edward Hooker, Jr., and May Atkinson. The Judge is a member of the Country Club, also of the Society of Sons of the American Revolution. In his political views he is an ardent Republican, and by his party he has been honored with several offices, having served as selectman five years and as first selectman three years of that time; chairman of the school committee ten years; and judge of probate two terms. He has discharged his official duties with a promptness and fidelity worthy of all con- mendation, and is thoroughly identified in feeling with the growth and prosperity of his town and county.

HON. ELISHA GILLETT MORTON, for- merly representative in the State Legislature from the town of East Windsor, is one of the leading citizens of his locality. For many years he has been identified with agriculture interests, his large estate near East Windsor being managed success- fully on modern scientific principles, and he is also active and influential in local affairs, having served in the most important offices in the gift of his fel- low townsmen.

Mr. Morton comes of good old Connecticut stock, and his great-grandfather, John Morton, was a resident of East Windsor. Capt. Elisha Morton, his grandfather, was a native of East Windsor. and followed farming at the present homestead. He was prominent in the public affairs of the day,

and his title was gained by service as an officer in the State Militia.

Elisha G. Morton, Sr., the father of our subject, was born in 1801, in what is now South Windsor, and died in 1875. Soon after his first marriage he took charge of the farm, and his life was de- voted chiefly to its management and cultivation, although his duties as a citizen were always per- formed with fidelity. He first married Miss Mabel Thompson, who died in 1846, and his second union was with Miss Clarissa A. Tarbox, who passed away on Thanksgiving Day, 1895. By the first union he has seven children : Elizabeth E. became the wife of Francis H. Granger; Cornelia is the wife of Thomas Archer; Elisha G. is our subject ; Thompson died at the age of eight years; Carlos died when two and one-half years old; two died in infancy, James H. when two years and five months old, and James H. (2) when nine months old.

Elisha G. Morton was born Sept. 19, 1837, at the old Morton farm, and was educated in the common schools of the neighborhood and the high school at Windsor Hill. He was reared to farm work, and at the age of twenty-four assumed the management of the homestead, where he has al- ways resided. Altogether he owns 200 acres of land, the homestead comprising 120 acres, and in addition to general farming he is extensively en- gaged in the dairy business, tobacco-growing and the raising of peaches. He is a member of the local Grange, and is active in religious work as a member of the First Congregational Church of East Windsor, of which he has been treasurer for seven years. He is a trustee of the First Eclesias- tical Society of East Windsor, a position he has held since 1880. His sound judgment and well- proven integrity make him an excellent official, and among other positions he has served four terms (of one year each) on the township board of relief. In 1890 he was chosen second selectman, with S. Terry Wells and George A. Ellis, and in 1896 he was again elected to the board of select- men, with Mr. Ellis and Henry W. Allen. In 1892 he was elected to the Legislature, on the Repub- lican ticket, and his able and faithful service fully justified the confidence of his constituents.

HON. WILLIAM H. THOMPSON, a vener- able and highly respected citizen of East Windsor, deserves prominent mention among these mem- oirs, as the activities of his long life have made him a recognized factor in many of the progres- sive movements of his locality.

Mr. Thompson was born Oct. 1, 1813, at his present homestead, and is a member of a well- known family of East Windsor, his great-grand- father, Samuel Thompson, having been a leading resident of the town. James Thompson, his grand- father, was a native of East Windsor, and made his home upon the farm where William H. was born and now lives.

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COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

Col. William Thompson, the father of our sub- ject, was born at the homestead in 1763, and died there in 1829, at the age of sixty-six years. He was a prominent man in his day, and his title of colonel was gained by service as an officer in the cavalry militia. His wife, whose maiden name was Tamar Holton, lived to the age of eighty-six. Of their thirteen children, six died in childhood, the others all living beyond the allotted limit of three- score years and ten: Elizabeth, who married George Beebe, of Feeding Hills, Mass., died at the age of ninety-one; Mary A. (Mrs. Winthrop Allen) died at eighty-five ; Henrietta ( Mrs. Alfred Allen) was in her eightieth year at the time of her death ; Margaret M. ( Mrs. David T. Smith) was in her eighty-ninth year; Tamar ( Mrs. William T. Morrison ) was in her eighty-first year; and Sarah E. (Mrs. James G. Harper) was over eighty.

Our subject, who was the youngest in the fam- ily, is now the only survivor. He was reared at the homestead, his education being obtained in the common schools of the town and the high school at Ellington, Conn., and on completing his course of study he engaged in farming. For some years he had charge of the homestead, and at the time of his marriage he purchased the place, engaging ex- tensively in tobacco culture and also carrying on general farming. He sold his farm in 1899, and now lives retired. At various times he has been employed in responsible positions under the United States revenue department. He was assistant as- sessor of the Warehouse Point distillery for nearly two years; United States storekeeper of the Gow- dy distillery, at Melrose, three years; and for three years held the same position at the Scitico dis- tillery. Politically he is a Republican, and he has served four years as assessor and four as select- man of the town of East Windsor, while in 1861 and 1862 he represented the town in the State Legislature. For more than fifty years he, with his wife, has been a member of the First Congre- gational Church at Broad Brook, in which he holds the office of deacon, and was superintendent of the Sunday-school over thirty years. He is often called the father of that Society, as he has done more to sustain it than any other member, his time and means having been freely given to the cause.

On Jan. 26, 1836, Mr. Thompson married Miss Huldah Chapin. Mr. and Mrs. Thompson had no issue, but brought up several children of both sexes, two of whom were virtually adopted. Mrs. Thomp- son died Nov. 20, 1897, in her seventy-ninth year, after more than sixty-one years of happy wedded life. She was active in church work, giving liber- ally of her means, and at her death leaving a gen- erous legacy for the church at Broad Brook.

HON. MARTIN D'ARSEY, foreman of the saltpetre refinery of the Hazard Powder Co., at Hazardville, has for almost half a century been a faithful and trusted employe of that company, and

is one of the leading and representative citizens of that place. He was born in County Tipperary, Ireland, Nov. 9, 1831, a son of Thomas and Mary (Dalton) D'Arsey. The father took an active part in the Irish rebellion of 1848, and was compelled to flee the country, a reward of $1,500 being offered for his arrest. He located in Northampton, Mass., where he engaged in farming until his death, which occurred in 1852. Our subject followed him to this country in 1849, and in 1851 he was joined by his wife and the remainder of the family. The children were Martin; James ; Mary, wife of Nicho- las McGrath; Bridget, wife of William Fitzgib- bons ; John; Michael ; and Katherine.

In October, 1852, Martin D'Arsey located in the village of Hazardville, town of Enfield, Hart- ford county, and entered the employ of the Hazard Powder Co., with which he has since been con- nected. For several years he served as outside fore- man of the works, and since 1873 has been super- intendent of the saltpetre refinery, a position he has filled in a most capable and satisfactory manner.

Mr. D'Arsey was married, May 13, 1854, to Miss Mary Dunnigan, a daughter of Thomas Dun- nigan, of County Meath, Ireland, and to them were born five children who reached years of maturity ; Sarah, wife of D. J. Donahoe, of Middletown, Conn. ; Thomas F .; Martin L., deceased ; Kather- ine E., wife of Patrick F. Houlihan; and also Mary J., who died in infancy. The family are all communicants of the Catholic Church, of which our subject has been a trustee the past eighteen years, and are held in high regard by all who know them. Politically Mr. D'Arsey is an ardent Republican. He has most creditably filled the offices of constable and grand juror; represented Enfield town in the State Legislature in the session of 1887, and is one of the Hazardville fire commissioners.

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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 2, Part 10

Author: J.H. Beers & Co Publication date: 1901 Publisher: Chicago : J.H. Beers & Co. Number of Pages: 1172

Author: J.H. Beers & Co
Publication date: 1901
Publisher: Chicago : J.H. Beers & Co.
Number of Pages: 1172