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 11

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 11

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HON. EDWIN FRANKLIN THOMPSON, a prosperous agriculturist of the town of East Wind- sor, is a man whose influence is a recognized factor in the business, political and social movements of that locality. He is a worthy representative of a family which has been prominent in this county from an early period, and traces his ancestral line to William and Margaret Thompson, natives of Scot- land, from whom the majority of the Thompsons in Hartford and Tolland counties are descended.

According to family tradition it was about the year 1716 that William and Margaret Thompson started from Scotland for America, but for some cause, now unknown, they stopped in Ireland, where William died. His last request was that his wife and family should come to America, and about 1718 they embarked in a sailing vessel bound for New England. The voyage was a long one and when the provisions of the emigrants were exhausted starva- tion seemed certain. A prayer meeting was held on board and Divine help asked in the emergency. As the worshipers arose from their knees they realized that their prayers were heard and answered, for the

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Lee, with whom he continued for a year and a half. For the next four months he conducted another shop in the same place, which he had purchased, and at the end of this time Mr. Cone, the man with whom he learned his trade, made him an offer and he returned to his first shop. In 1855 he became a partner in the business, which had grown to large proportions, and included the manufacturing of car- riages, wagons, etc., and this relationship continued until Mr. Cone's demise, in 1889, when his son, Ralph Cone, assumed his interest. Mr. Wadsworth retained his connection with the business until Jan- uary, 1899, when he sold out his share to his partner, Ralph Cone, and retired to enjoy the competence which had come to him through the passing years. As a partner in this large and prosperous concern Mr. Wadsworth gained a wide acquaintance throughout the county and State, and by an un- broken record of honor in all his transactions, an integrity unassailable, and an unusual degree of business ability and judgment, won a position among his business associates which it is not always the lot of even the successful man to attain. His prosperity was the direct result of hard work and application to daily duty, together with a faculty for good management, a combination of valuable quali- ties which could not fail of recognition and reward.

But it was not alone as a business man that Mr. Wadsworth displayed his executive ability and other qualifications of a leader among men. His useful- ness as a public servant was early recognized by his fellow citizens in his own town and county, for in 1855 he was elected clerk and treasurer of the town of Manchester, which honored him with re-election every two years without opposition from either political party for forty-three years, and he resigned in 1898 on account of poor health, which was also the cause of his retirement from business cares. He held these offices forty-three years and four months, probably longer than any other incumbent in the State, a record which needs no comment. On March 6, 1899, on his retirement from office, the citizens of Manchester presented him with a valuable gold watch and chain, as a token of respect and kindly regard. In 186t Mr. Wadsworth served as member of the State Legislature from his district, and in 1872 was the choice of his fellow citizens for the State Senate, distinguishing himself in his ser- vice in both Houses by rare fidelity to the wishes of his constituency, and a loyal regard for the welfare of his community. His political support has been given to the Republican party in State and National affairs. In 1849 Mr. Wadsworth received first commission as justice of the peace, in which office he was retained continuously for forty-five years, being disqualified only by age, in this as in every other trust retaining and strengthening the confidence of his fellow men for faithful discharge of his duties.

Mr. Wadsworth was married, in 1844. to Miss 'Anna J. Dean, by whom he had two daughters : Mary Lavone, who died in March. 1849, and Annie L., who lives at home. Mrs. Wadsworth passed

away Sept. 2, 1849, and on Nov. 18, 1850, Mr. Wadsworth wedded Miss Hannah F. Lamb. To this union also came two children, Adda L., who died in 1879, and Herbert C., who is now in the em- ploy of the Hartford Fire Insurance Co. Mr. Wadsworth is actively identified with the work of the Congregational Church, of which he has been a member for forty years. Fraternally he is a Free- mason, holding membership with Manchester Lodge No. 73, F. & A. M.

HON. HARRISON WOODFORD, a member of the well-known firm of H. & E. H. Woodford, lumber manufacturers of Avon, is a leading citizen and a worthy representative of one of the honored pioneer families of that section. The first of the name to come to America was Thomas Woodford, from whom our subject is descended through Jo- seph (1), Joseph (2), who married Lydia Smith, Joseph (3), Isaac, Asaph and Harvey.

Joseph Woodford (3) was born in 1705 in the town of Farmington, at Nod (now Avon), and died in 1786. In 1728 he married Sarah North, of Ber- lin, Conn., who died in 1783. Of their children, Sarah, born in 1731, died in childhood. Joseph, born in 1732, was a soldier in the Revolution- ary war, a deacon in the Church and a captain of militia. Martha married Thomas Andrews in 1752. Lydia was married in 1753 to Thomas Andrews, above mentioned. Hannah, born in 1731, was mar- ried in 1756 to Percy Marshall. Sarah was born in 1741. Lois was married in 1767 to Samuel North, son of Deacon Isaac North, of Wethersfield. Susan, born in 1746, died in childhood. Eunice was married in 1772 to Seth North, of Kensington.

Isaac Woodford, the next in the line of descent, was born in 1753 and passed his life in agricultural pursuits. In 1774 he married Sarah Fuller, who died in 1822, aged sixty-eight, and in 1829 he mar- ried a Mrs. Sedgwick. He had the following chil- dren : Isaac, born in 1774, was married in 1794 to Statira Coles, of Danbury. Hulda, born in 1777, was married in 1793 to Nathan Clark. Darius was born in 1779, Cynthia, in 1781, Asaph, in 1784. Syl- vester, born in 1787, married Diana Tilbutson, of Canada, N. Y. Sylvester, born 1787, married 1812, Betsy Wheeler. Rimanta, born in 1792, married Betsy Hart. Terah, born in 1794, was married in 1820 to Minerva Potter. Sarah, born in 1797, was married in 1813 to Chancy Wheeler. A child, born in 1801, died in infancy.

Asaph Woodford, our subject's grandfather, was born in Avon, in 1784, and followed farming as an occupation in connection with lumbering. He was a successful business man and a highly-es- teemed citizen, and for many years was a leading member of the Congregational Church. In politics he was a Whig. He died Feb. 11, 1859, and his wife, Almira (Potter), died March 23, 1857, their remains being buried at West Avon. They had a large family of children, as follows: Luther; Ed- ward; Henry ; Julius; Franklin ; Harvey; Ephraim;

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Emaline, who married (first) Frank Deming and ( second ) Thomas Porter ; Julia, who married a Mr. Washburn, of Farmington; Lucy, who died Feb. 2, 1831, in childhood; and a son who died in in- fancy.

Harvey Woodford, our subject's father, was born in 1814, and received a good common-school education. He taught school several terms, and later was engaged in general farming and tobacco growing, stock raising and dairying, owning a tract of one hundred acres, on which he made many improvements. He was a successful man, hon- orable and honored in his methods of business, and was much respected. Politically he was a Whig and then a Republican, but did not seek office, and he was identified with the Congregational Church. His wife, Alma Chidsey, a most estimable woman, was born in Avon, a daughter of Jacob and Martha Chidsey. Five children were born of this union : Martha ( deceased) married Joseph Linden, of Can- ton : Fidelia married (first) Charles Upson and ( second) Edmund Woodford of Bristol; Harrison, our subject, was the next in order of birth ; Charles resides in West Haven; and Ernest H. resides on the homestead, and is a partner in the firm. The father and mother both died at the homestead, he in 1888, she in 1890, and were buried in West Avon.

Our subject was born Jan. II, 1841, in West Avon, and received his education in the district school and the high school at Avon. He remained with his parents until the breaking out of the Civil war, when, on Aug. II, 1861, he enlisted at Hart- ford, in Company I, 18th Conn. V. I., under Col. Beach and Capt. Drake. He participated in the bat- tles of Antietam, Suffolk, Fredericksburg and Plym- outh, and was appointed corporal in April, 1862. Later he was taken prisoner, and after six months' confinement in Andersonville prison was sent to Florence, where his feet were frozen. He was paroled and sent to Annapolis, Md., and then to a hospital in New Haven, and recovered after un- dergoing untold torture. On his return home he engaged in farming and tobacco raising on the home- stead, and in the lumber business with his brother, his present partner in the planing and saw mills at Avon. He has built a fine home for himself, and made other improvements and his farm of 200 acres is in an excellent state of cultivation. Like all of his family he belongs to the Congregational Church, and he is also an active member of the G. A. R. He is a stanch Republican, and has served as selectman and a member of the Legislature in 1874, and none in the town are more popular than he, his genial manner and honorable character hav- ing won him a host of friends.

In 1896 Mr. Woodford was married in Avon to Miss Minnie Case, a native of the Meadow Plain District, Simsbury, a daughter of Samuel Case, and a granddaughter of Horatio G. Case, of Meadow Plain. She died in 1895, after a life marked by earnest Christian faith, and her remains

rest in the cemetery at West Avon. Mr. Wood- ford married (second) Mrs. Ellen Woodford Allen, daughter of William Watson Woodford, and widow of Harvey P. Allen. Our subject has had four chil- dren, all by the first marriage: William G., foreman in the planing-mill, married Grace Allen, of Avon ; Harlan W. and Ruth L. are at home; and Mar- guerite died in childhood.

Mrs. Woodford is also a descendant of Thomas Woodford, the pioneer, and was born in Avon, where she received a district and high school educa- tion. Later she was graduated from the Normal School at New Britain, and for several years taught school successfully. She was married (first) to Harvey P. Allen, who died leaving two children : Grace W., a graduate of McLean Seminary and a successful teacher, married William G. Woodford ; Miss Marion Orelia is at home. Mrs. Woodford was the only child of William Watson Woodford, and his wife Julia Ann (Goodrich). Her father, who was born in 1813, was a well-known agricult- urist of Avon, and was held in high esteem as a citizen. Her grandfather, Selah Woodford, was born in Avon in 1764, and died in 1841. He was married in 1785 to Sarah Hutchinson, and had the following children: Orris, born in 1788, was mar- ried in 1810 to Lucy Thompson; Sophia, born in 1790, was married to Amos Phelps; Delinda, born in 1792, was married in 1815 to G. Sperry ; Harriet, born in 1794, died in 1799; Minerva, born in 1798, was married in 1819 to Samuel Bishop. Evelyn, born in 1802, was married in 1827 to Emma Wheeler; Harriet (2), born in 1804, was married in 1825 to Seth Wheeler.

HON. CHARLES DENNIS BARNES is one of the most prominent and influential citizens of Southington, a leader in business and political cir- cles. Many of the important enterprises and busi- ness interests of the town bear the impress of his individuality, and owe not a little of their success to his ability and capable powers of management.

Mr. Barnes was born in Southington, Jan. 12, 1843, a son of Dennis and Caroline ( Sage) Barnes. The father was also born, reared and educated in Southington, and was for several years a boat owner, running a line of boats on the New Haven & Northampton canal. He was born in 1818, and died in 1844. He was a son of Asa Barnes, Jr., who was born July 22, 1771, and married Polly W. Woodruff. His father, Asa Barnes, Sr., was born Aug. 24, 1745, and married Oct. 30, 1765, Phebe Adkins, daughter of Luther Adkins. Asa Barnes, Sr., lived in the southwestern part of Southington, where he kept a tavern, was very popular in his business and was known as Landlord Barnes. The officers of the French army made his house their headquarters while encamped for a time on French Hill, and he gave a ball in honor of his guests, which at the time created some excitement. His parents were Stephen and Martha (Wheadon) Barnes, who moved from Branford, Conn., to South-

Charles Day

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ington during its early settlement. Here the for- mer died March 27, 1777, the latter March 18, 1773, and she was the first person buried in Plantsville cemetery. Stephen Barnes was a son of Stephen and Mary Barnes, who are supposed to have moved to Branford from Long Island.

The early life of our subject was passed in Con- necticut and New York, and after completing his education at the Meriden high school, he served an apprenticeship to the carpenter's trade. During the Civil was he manifested his patriotism by enlisting, June 22, 1862, becoming a private in Company B, 15th Conn. V. I., and later was promoted to the rank of sergeant. He participated in the battles of Fredericksburg, Va., and Edenton Road, N. C .; the siege of Suffolk, N. C .; and the battle of Kings- ton, N. C., where he was wounded and taken pris- oner, May 8, 1865, being sent to Libby prison. A few days later he was paroled and honorably discharged from the service at Annapolis, Md., in June, 1865.

On his return to Southington Mr. Barnes re- sumed work at his trade, and was thus employed until 1872, when he took charge of the shipping de- partment of the Peck, Stow & Wilcox Bolt Works, remaining there two years. He then embarked in the shoe business on his own account, and was suc- cessfully engaged in that line of trade until 1895. In 1881 he established what is known as the South- ington Lumber & Feed Co., and was made manager and treasurer on its incorporation. In 1889 he was elected a director and vice-president of the South- ington National Bank, and in 1890 was elected president, which office he still holds. He was also elected a director and member of the loaning com- mittee of the Southington Savings Bank, in 1875, and vice-president of the same in 1898. He is a di- rector of the Southington Cutlery Co., and for a number of years has been president of the Oak Hill Cemetery Association.

On Sept. 27, 1865, Mr. Barnes was united in marriage with Miss Sarah H. Hamlin, daughter of Amos and Mary (Bull) Hamlin, of Southington. By that union he had one son, Frank H. For his present wife he married Margaret H. Taylor, a daughter of James Barton and Jane ( Harper) Taylor, of Winchester, Virginia.

Mr. Barnes' public service covers a period of nearly thirty years, beginning in 1873, when he was elected to the board of selectmen and made a grand juror. From 1874 to 1896 he served con- tinuously, with the exception of one year, as town clerk, registrar and treasurer of the school fund, declining further re-election to those offices. When the borough of Southington was formed he was named as warden upon the only ticket in the field, an honor which he also declined, but was per- suaded to become one of the burgesses, and served for two years as chairman of the committee on Sewers, Highways and Streets. As a member from Southington on the "dead-lock session" of the Legislature, in 1891, he served as clerk of the committee on Appropriations, and in 1893 was

House chairman of the same and a member of the committee on Banks. In 1898 he was elected to a third term, and is now House chairman on Appro- priations. In politics Mr. Barnes has always been a stanch Republican, and his opinion and advice are continually sought on questions of importance to his town and county. He was one of the or- ganizers of Trumbull Post, No. 16, G. A. R., of Southington ; was its first commander ; and is also a member of the Army and Navy Club of Con- necticut ; the Merchants Club of Southington; and of the First Congregational Church.

SHELDON KINNEY (deceased) was for many years prominently identified with the agri- cultural and business interests of the town of Windsor, and was one of its highly esteemed and honored citizens. He was born in Winsted, Conn., March 30, 1817, a son of Sheldon Kinney, Sr., a native of New Preston, Conn. His grandfather, Parl Kinney, married a Miss Hine, and his great- grandfather, who also bore the name of Parl, mar- ried a Miss Sheldon. On his mother's side he was a descendant of the Farrens, who were among the first settlers of East Haven, Connecticut.

Our subject was one of a family of five chil- dren who reached adult age, was reared in Win- sted, and received such an education as the schools of his time afforded. During his youth he learned the molder's trade at New Hartford, but the work being too heavy, he was compelled to give it up. He was then engaged in the butcher business with his father for some years, and did much in the way of cattle buying and droving, it being customary in those days when buying cattle in New York State to drive them across the country to their destina- tion. He also followed merchandising in Winsted for some time.

In November, 1847, in the town of Windsor, Mr. Kinney married Miss Eliza A. Phelps, who was born July 27, 1820, on a farm adjoining the place where she lately lived, and died March 10, 1900. She came from one of the oldest and most highly respected families of the town. She was also related to many of the most prominent fami- lies of Hartford county, among which are many men of note and others who bore an active part in the Revolutionary war. Her parents were Hiram and Laura A. (Griswold) Phelps, and she traced her ancestry back through the following: Timothy and Ruth ( Wilson) Phelps; Timothy and Marga- ret (Gillett) Phelps; Cornelius and Sarah ( Mans- field ) Phelps; Lieut. Timothy and Mary (Gris- wold) Phelps: and William and Mary (Dover) Phelps. William Phelps, just mentioned, was the progenitor of the family in America, and was one of the first settlers of Windsor. Mrs. Kinney was the youngest daughter in a family of five children who reached years of maturity, and was reared on the farm of her birth. By her marriage to our sub- ject she became the mother of two children: Timo- thy P., of Windsor, commission agent for fertilizers

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against the Indians. He proved to be a brave and gallant officer, always ready to bear more than his own share in any perilous adventure. In 1670, while accompanying a party in pursuit of the flee- ing savages, he was severely wounded in the thigh. He died at Wethersfield, Dec. 2, 1713, deeply mourned by the people whose faithful, spiritual guide and counselor he had been for many years. He was a man of scholarly attainments and an ac- complished linguist, beloved by his friends, and re- spected by all who knew his worth. He was the father of six children : Catherine, Dorothy, Charles, Peter, Edward and John. Catherine was born in 1660, and married Richard Treat, Aug. 20, 1704; Dorothy was born in 1662, and became the wife of Thomas Treat on July 6, 1693; Charles, born in 1663 ; Peter, born in 1664, married Rebecca Talcott; John was the husband of Patience Prentice.

Edward Bulkley, the fifth child and third son of Rev. Gershom Bulkley, was born in 1673. He married Dorothy Prescott, who was a daughter of Jonathan Prescott, of Concord, Mass. He died at Wethersfield, Aug. 27, 1747. He was the father of a large family. His eldest son, Charles, was born March 27, 1703, and married Mary Sage, of Middle- town. Elizabeth, his first daughter, was born Jan. 24, 1705, and became Mrs. Joseph Smith. Sarah (Mrs. Joseph Stow) was born Feb. 8, 1707. Re- becca was born Feb. 22, 1709, and married Thomas Trent. Peter, born March 19, 17II, died in in- fancy. Peter (2) was born almost exactly twelve months later, having come into the world March 17, 1712 ; he married Abigail Curtis. Gershom, the sixth child, married Thankful Belding; he was born July 29, 1714. Dorothy, born Sept. 11, 1716, married Thomas Curtis, of Rocky Hill. The next child, Jonathan, was born in 1718, and became the husband of Abigail Williams. Abigail, the ninth child, came into the world in 1720, and be- came the wife of John Marsh. The tenth and youngest of the family was Lucy, who was born in 1725, and married Charles Butler.

Jonathan Bulkley, the fifth son and eighth child of Edward, the date of whose birth is mentioned above, married Abigail Williams Nov. 13, 1746. They were the parents of thirteen children, whose names, with respective dates of their birth, were as follows : Eleanor, Nov. II, 1747; Stephen, Dec. 19, 1749; Edmund, Dec. 7, 1851; John, Nov. 3, 1853, died July II, 1770 ; Frederick, Aug. 27, 1855, died Jan. 20, 1777 ; a son, June 25, 1758, died un- named ; Jonathan, May 10, 1759, married to Mary Edwards June 16, 1787; Lydia, May 9, 1761; a stillborn daughter, May 4, 1762; Moses, Feb. 7, 1764; Dorothy, April 8, 1766, died Aug. 18 fol- lowing ; Burrage, Aug. 9, 1767; and Dorothy (2), June 17, 1770.

Stephen Bulklev, the eldest son of this family, and a direct lineal ancestor of Edward J. Bulkley, was twice married. His first wife was Martha Marsh. She died April 20, 1804, and Sept. 16, 1805, he married Susan Riley. Stephen Bulkley

died in May, 1813. The fruit of his first marriage was eight children, as follows: Honor, born May 5, 1774, was married to Daniel Edwards, Jr., of Middletown, Nov. 16, 1795; Stephen, born April 18, 1776, died Sept. 29, 1779; Catherine, born Oct. 15, 1778, died Oct. II, 1799; Cate, born Sept. 2, 1780, married Zenas Edwards, Dec. 7, 1800; Stephen (2), born March 30, 1785; Allen, July 19, 1786; Frederick, June 1, 1792 ; and a daughter ( who died unnamed ), Dec. 18, 1796. To Stephen Bulkley, Sr., and Susan Riley, his second wife, two children were born; Burrage, Dec. 22, 1805, and Waite, on March 4, 1807.

Frederick Bulkley, above named, grandfather of . Edward J. Bulkley, received a common-school ed- ucation, and later learned the trade of a blacksmith, at Rocky Hill. From that town he removed to Wethersfield, where he built and opened a shop on Broad street. In addition to his work at his shop he carried on general farming and stock raising. He passed his life in Wethersfield, where he died Sept. 24, 1850. He was a Democrat, although never seeking office, and a member of the Congre- gational Church. He was a good citizen ; a modest, unassuming man, of simple tastes and democratic habits. In his domestic life he was affectionate and kind, and in his relations with his fellow men liberal and upright. He was elected selectman of the town, and held various other offices of minor im- portance. On Oct. 6, 1814, he married Nancy Riley, who was born at Wethersfield, Julv 16, 1792, and died there Dec. 24, 1857. Six children were born of this marriage: Martha, Oct. 15, 1815 (died un- married April 1, 1870) ; Julia and Jane (twins), Jan. 2, 1819 (the former died Feb. 21, 1890, the latter on May 27, 1888) ; Nancy R., Dec. 30, 1822 (died Jan. 24, 1888) ; Stephen (the father of Ed- ward J. Bulkley), May 6, 1825; and Kate E., April 23, 1834. Julia died unmarried, and Jane became the wife of Walter Edwards. Nancy R. married Benjamin H. Tower, Jan. 3, 1865 ; and Kate E. was united, Nov. 20, 1870, to John Warner, a promi- nent farmer, and resides on Broad street, Wethers- field.

Stephen Bulkley, the fifth child and only son, attended the Wethersfield district schools, but his broader education was obtained in the school of experience. He was a successful farmer, and one of the first tobacco growers in Wethersfield. For several years he was a large buyer of tobacco for a New York firm. He was a capable and success- ful business man, and held in high esteem alike for his sagacity and integrity. Prior to the out- break of the Civil war he was a Democrat, but after that date he affiliated with the Republican party. In religious faith he was an Episcopalian. His fel- low townsmen over and over again testified their appreciation of his capability and their confidence in his probity by electing him to positions of honor and trust. In addition to holding several minor offices, he served as selectman during the war of the Rebellion, and was elected to the Legislature in

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1883. He was a public-spirited citizen, and always a stanch supporter of popular education. He died June 21, 1891. His wife was Prudence, a daugh- ter of John Warner, of Wethersfield, in which town she was born, and where she died, November 29, 1887. The date of their marriage was Jan. 23, 1850, and the issue consisted of nine children : Fanny R., born Nov. 2, 1850, who married John Hanmer, Jan. 28, 1874; Alice May, born April 9, 1852; Prudence Warner, born Jan. 24, 1854, for- merly a school teacher in Wethersfield; Frederick, born Feb. 8, 1856, died Feb. 2, 1860; Edward J .; Stephen, born Jan. 4, 1861, now a druggist in Brook- lyn, N. Y .; Charles and Chester (twins), born April 25, 1864 (Charles is a merchant in Wethers- field, Chester died Oct. 27, 1867) ; and Robert R., born Sept. 9, 1866, living at home.

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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 11

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