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 126

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 126

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COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

and accumulated a competence, holding consider- able property mostly in his town, also in East Hart- ford. Mr. King died in 1895, aged seventy-three years. The children born to John N. and Julia A. (Keeney) King were: Isaac White, born Dec. 10, 1849; Wilbur J., born June 5, 1862, died in Octo- ber, 1897; Julia Emily, born Nov. 2. 1855, married Frederick Hill, of South Windsor, Conn. ; Louise, born June 6, 1858, is at home ; and Louis, a twin of Louise, died in infancy.

Isaac White King, son of John Newberry King, was born Dec. 10, 1849, on what is now the E. B. Ripley farm in South Windsor, Conn. He received liis elementary education in the public schools of his native town, and then attended the Connecticut Literary Institute, Suffield. His main occupation through life has been that of an agriculturist, though for several years in the early 'nineties he traveled for a New York house, and for a time was in the serv- ice of the Erie Railroad Co. In his boyhood and early manhood the growing of tobacco in South Windsor was new to this section, and from its start he has from long experience become quite pro- ficient in a knowledge of that branch of his vocation. In other words he understands tobacco growing most thoroughly, and is a thorough, all-round farm- er. He has a farm of some 150 acres, which is a portion of the old home place owned by his father. The improvements which he has himself made are good, and the neat appearance of the surroundings give evidence of the taste and care of the occupant. Mr. King is a man of broad and liberal views which reading and an acquaintance with the outside world give one, and he is one of the foremost farmers of his section. He is prominent in both Masonic and Odd Fellow circles ; is a member of Pythagoras Chapter, No. 17, R. A. M., of Hartford; was for- merly a member of Evergreen Lodge, No. 114, F. & .A. M., of South Windsor ; is also at this time a member of Wolcott Council, and Washington Com- mandery, No. I, K. T., of Hartford, and of Con- necticut Consistory, thirty-second degree. He is also a member of Crescent Lodge, No. 25, I. O. O. F .. of East Hartford.

On Sept. 7, 1875, Mr. King was married to Miss Emily L. Doten, who died Sept. 6, 1876; and 011 Dec. 28, 1880, he was married to Ida L., daugh- ter of Henry J. and Flavilla ( Goodrich) Abbey. She was born in Bingham. Maine. To this mar- riage have come two children: Clinton Thomas and Victor Linwood.

CHARLES MORRIS WOOSTER, M. D., of Tariffville, town of Simsbury, is one of the most successful practitioners of medicine in Hartford county. He is a native of Bridgewater, Litchfield county, born Jan. 13, 1857. a son of Peter and Caroline ( Morris) Wooster, the former a son of John Wooster, and the latter a daughter of Ros- well and Laura (Canfield) Morris. Several fa-

mous physicians descended from the Canfield family.

Sergt. Edward Wooster, the emigrant ancestor of Dr. Wooster, of Tariffville, born in 1622, in England, was among the first settlers at Milford, Conn., about 1642. A General Court record, dated Oct. 24, 1651, granted him a piece of land free from taxation, provided he start the cultivation of hops. Of his first wife nothing seems to be def- initely known, but history relates that he was con- nected with the family of Francis French, possibly by marriage. His first wife dying, he in 1669 mar- ried Tabitha, daughter of Henry Tomlinson, of Stratford, Conn. Twelve of his children are re- corded as sharing in the distribution of his estate in 1694. Sergt. Wooster and three other families were the first settlers in Derby, Conn. ( afterward Old Town), in 1654. For twenty years he was the leading man of the plantation. Sergt. Wooster, in locating at Derby, probably had in view the rais- ing of hops on the meadow lands below Ansonia, which were well adapted for that purpose ; and it was in pursuit of this object that he dug a trench from where the lower Ansonia bridge was down to the Meadow, where the bed of the Naugatuck now is, to irrigate that part of the meadow or low land, and by this race the river course became changed in about fifty years. Here in the deep wilderness Sergt. Wooster lived with his family and three neighbors some dozen years, trusting the Indians to a marvelous degree, little dreaming that his grandson and his family would be celebrated in greatness the world over, and that his own name thereby would go down in sublime honor to the end of the greatest republic ever established. His death occurred in 1689.

Timothy Wooster, son of Sergt. Edward, born in 1670, married, in 1699, Anna Perry.

Timothy Wooster (2), son of Timothy, born in 1699, married (first), in 1727, Abigail Harger, who died in 1736, and (second), in 1737, wedded Sarah Bowers, who died in 1749.

The grandson of Edward Wooster, the emi- grant, referred to in the foregoing, was the dis- tinguished Gen. David Wooster, of Revolutionary fame, and who had previously been of great serv- ice to his country in the earlier wars, bearing a distinguished part in the expedition against Louis- burg in 1745. The General, himself a graduate of Yale College, married a daughter of Thomas Clapp, president of the college. Major-Gen. Wooster fell mortally wounded between Danbury and Redfield, in 1777. while serving his native country.

Jabez Wooster, born in 1728, son of Timothy (2), and the great-great-grandfather of Dr. Woos- ter. in 1774 bought land in the town of Bridge- water (then New Milford ), and is described in the records as Lieut. Jabez Wooster. He seems to have been searching for mineral lands, as he laid out several tracts on Rocky Mount, Falls Mount and

C. M. Moretu, MD,

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Wolf Pit Mount, and dug for iron, but without success. He also purchased a homestead a little east of the Housatonic river, about a mile south of the so-called Great Falls, which he leased to a company for 999 years, giving it the privilege of digging for minerals, of which he was to have a percentage, if any were found. He built a house on this land and engaged in farming, as did two generations following, and the old house, of old- style architecture, with the back roof slanting al- most to the ground, is still standing. Jabez Woos- ter had two sons. Peter and Isaac.

Peter Wooster was born in 1762, and died Sept. 12, 1798. He married Betsey Canfield Jan. 16. 1787, and became the father of two children, John and Susannah.

John Wooster, the grandfather of Dr. Woos- ter, was born March 27, 1790, and was reared on his father's farm. When a young man he nearly lost his life through a log rolling over him, mak- ing an indentation in his skull, which caused pres~ sure on the brain, but was successfully remedied by the then difficult operation of removing a small piece of the skull. the brain being afterward protect- ed by inserting a silver shilling beneath the skin,and over the spot from which the piece of skull had been removed. He received a good common-school education, and early began teaching among the best of his time. As soon as he became of age he ap- plied all his energies to the redeeming of his fa- ther's farm, and to the buying of his sister's inter- est therein, by farming in summer and teaching in winter for many years. He married Jerusha Lock- wood. daughter of David and Sarah Lockwood, and became the father of four children, viz .: Mary E., Peter, David and Susan. Of these, Mary E. was married to Harmon Treat, and had six children, Helen J .. Julia A., Emily A., D. Allen, Susan C. and H. Wooster. Peter, the second child of John, was the father of our subject. David, the third, first married Emily C. Sherman, by whom he was the father of three children, Edward S., Edith E. and John S .: the second wife of David was Mrs. Angie Boland.

John Wooster was a Whig in politics, and was once elected from the New Milford district to the State Legislature. He also held many of the town offices, including those of assessor, constable, justice of the peace and selectman, all of which he filled for years, and was often spoken of as the "Old Se- lectman." He settled up many estates in a most satisfactory manner, and in his record-keeping was systematic in every detail, no better accounts being kept by any of the incumbents of the offices which he held. In the prime of life he met with a sec- ond accident, which incapacitated him for hard la- bor, his knee being badly injured by his being thrown from a wagon, but his great popularity, strict integrity, and methodical habits kept him con- stantly in office until lie retired from politics, at the time Bridgewater was incorporated. He was a firm believer in Christianity, and his wife was a mem-

ber of the Congregational Church, which he also attended regularly, and to the support of which he freely contributed. A year or so. before his last ill- ness he retired from farming and went to live with liis daughter Susan, at Bridgewater, where his death took place May 29, 1858.

Peter Wooster, father of the Doctor, was born in Litchfield county, and, with his three brothers- in-law, was an early manufacturer of hats at Bridgewater. He had been reared on the farm, but with his own resources started in the business men- tioned, which he adhered to until his retirement, on a competency, having sold his interest in what was known as the Union Hat Co. to the Sanfords. To his marriage with Miss Caroline Morris were born three children : Laura, who was married to Rich- ard Randall, and died in Bridgewater ; Dr. Charles Mi., the subject of this sketch: and Edward R., who lives on the farm that the father retired to on relinquishing hat manufacturing.

Peter Wooster was a sound Democrat, and though no office seeker was elected to office at various times, twice representing Bridgewater in the State Legislature. He was selected as admin- istrator of several estates, and was appointed guar- dian for many minor heirs. His name was synony- mous with honesty, and when he spoke he weighed his words and meant what he said. Although he had received but a country-school education, he early became a school teacher, a student of theol- cgy and history, and was altogether a man of re- markable endowments. He was first a Congrega- tionalist, but, on studying the doctrines of that church, he of his own volition changed his faith and united with the Episcopal Church, of which his wife was also a member. He was a well-built man, and weighed 190 pounds. Although of a re- tiring disposition, he was invariably called upon to address all public gatherings that he attended, be- ing a most interesting talker. He wielded a power- ful influence with his neighbors, always for good. Mr. Wooster lived to be over seventy years of age, and his wife died when just seventy.

Roswell Morris, father of Mrs. Caroline Woos- ter. mother of Dr. Charles M. Wooster, was born in Newtown, Fairfield Co., Conn., May 27, 1795, and was the second of four children born to Amos and Ennice (Clark) Morris, the former of whom was born in Bridgeport, Conn., Sept. 28, 1762. Roswell had two brothers, Levi and Curtis, and one sister. Martha, all born in Newtown, from which village the family removed to Bridgewater in the spring of 1800, Roswell being then five years of age. There they resided until 1833, when they removed to West Barrington, Mass .. where the par- ents passed the last eight years of life, dying within four days of each other. Levi Morris married Polly H. Smith, and Curtis Morris married Abi- gail Curtis for his first wife, and Cynthia J. Frink for his second. Martha Morris was married to Orange Smith. To the marriage of Roswell Morris with Laura Canfield, daughter of John and Pliebe

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Canfield. Nov. 26. 1818, were born four children, of whom the eldest. Cornelia, was married to Henry B. Young, and became the mother of five children -Stanley M., Mary C., Calvert H., Frederick A., and Martha C .: Caroline, the second child, became the mother of Dr. Wooster, the subject of this sketch ; Mary, the third child, was never married ; and the fourth. Azra C., married Sarah E. Mallett, who bore him three children-Gertrude E., Mary A. and S. Eugenia.

The Morris family being of good Scottish stock, Roswell Morris inherited much of the shrewdness and intellectuality of that hardy race, and, like many of New England's sons, started in life with no other capital than his strong arms, a stout heart and a common-school education. He set out from his home in Bridgewater, Conn., then known as New Milford, and journeyed as far as New Jer- sey, walking most of the way. He taught school in that State one or two years, then returned to Bridgewater, and for a time worked on the farm of his elder brother, Levi. By degrees he paid for a farm a short distance west of Bridgewater, on which he passed the remainder of his life. But when he settled on his farm he did not relinquish teaching, in which profession he had attained a fine reputation, and for many winters taught the Center school. After school hours he would go into the woods with his team, and haul wood, often by moon- light. As a teacher he had the faculty of being as a boy with the boys when out of school, but once inside the school house door as rigid as iron. For many years Mr. Morris was constable at Bridge- water, and later was deputy sheriff, for the duties of which office he was well qualified, being strong, fearless. of quick perceptions and sound judgment.

An anecdote of the youthful days of Mr. Morris may not be out of place at this point, and will serve to illustrate his characteristic promptitude. Dur- ing the war of 1812 he was plowing in the field, when his father came to him and represented that he had been drafted, and was wanted immediately. Roswell replied. "I am ready." and quickly uni- hitched his team. His father, perceiving that he was likely to get the worst of the joke. explained that he had been jesting, and requested the young man to hitch up again and resume his work; but Roswell replied. "If you have been trying that game, you will get no more work from me to-day."

Mr. Morris was always ready to do a neigh- borly kindness, such as to watch at the bedside of the sick, or to perform any personal service that could be of any benefit to another, and was very charitable to the poor when he had the means to aid that class. In politics he was a Whig, and at the death of that party became a Democrat. He held at different times almost every town office, and was often employed in the settlement of es- tates. When Bridgewater was incorporated he was elected one of its first selectmen, and rendered ef- ficient service in making an amicable settlement be- tween the new town and New Milford.

On Nov. 26, 1868, Mr. Morris celebrated his Golden Wedding, when there gathered about him neighbors, friends, children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren, who presented him with a gold-headed cane. For many years Mr. Morris was warden of St. Mark's Episcopal Church, to which he was warmly attached, and held this po- sition at the time of his death, Sept. 22, 1874. Late in life he was greatly afflicted with rheumatism, and suffered constant pain, but as long as crutches could help him to church he was in his seat.

Dr. Charles MI. Wooster was reared in Bridge- water, where he attended a select school; he next attended the Adelphic Institute, at New Milford, where he was prepared for college, to pay his ex- penses at which he taught school in the meantime. He entered in 1875. took his early instruction in the study of medicine under Dr. Bacon, of New Mil- ford, and Drs. Du Bois and King, of Bridgewater. and graduated from the University of the City of New York in 1879. He then came to Tariffville to locate temporarily, as his health was poor, but he liked the town and its inhabitants, and has made his home here ever since, having secured a lucrative practice.

Dr. Wooster married Miss Martha V. Adams, who was born in Tariffville Jan. 14, 1865. a daugh- ter of Abel C. and Martha ( Moore) Adams, a biography of whom appears on another page. She was educated at the ladies' seminary of Hartford. and at the Connecticut Literary Institute, Suffield, and is a highly cultivated and estimable lady. She has borne her husband two children-Laura Vivian and Charles .\ .. and the family occupy one of the most beautiful homes in Tariffville, erected by the Doctor in 1898. The Doctor and his wife are members of the Episcopal Church, of which he has been senior warden for several years.

In politics Dr. Wooster is a Democrat, but in 1896 advocated the gold standard as redemption money. He has the full confidence of his party, is popular with the public, and has been elected to several public offices, such as school visitor, health officer, medical examiner, etc. In his fraternal relations he is a member of the Masonic lodge at Simsbury. the Hartford County Medical Society, and the Connecticut State Medical Society. The Doctor is an unassuming man, and inherits his father's rigid regard for his word : as a citizen his position is second to none, and as a practitioner he is foremost. He comes from a family that had in it no drunkards, no insanity, no stains or scandal of any kind, and he is himself setting a bright ex- ample, as his forefathers set. for coming genera- tions.

DANIEL WEBSTER FISH. The highest type of American citizenship is produced on the farm, where conditions are such that the full and best energies of a man are brought into requisition in the ordinary pursuits of life. Daniel W. Fish. the subject of this sketch, was born on a farm, was

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reared on a farm, and early in his boyhood days he became identified with the development of the farm. He has ever possessed that crowning quality of success, unfailing industry, and ranks among the best citizens of Newington.

Mr. Fish comes of an old New England fan- ily. His paternal great-grandfather, John Fish, came to Bloomfield, this county, and settled on a farm. He married Lydia Lathrop, who bore him six children : John, Electa, Nancy, Simeon, Miller and Lydia. Mrs. Fish lived to the advanced age of eighty-nine years.

Miller Fish, the grandfather of our subject, was born at Bozrah, Conn., June 5, 1792, was reared in Bloomfield, and there learned the blacksmith's trade, but engaged in farming. On March 6, 1822, he mar- ried Miss Ann Goodwin, daughter of Hezekiah Goodwin, and from 1824 to his death, in May, 1862, lived on the farm which his son, H. G. Fish, now owns. He was a member of the Baptist Church of Bloomfield. He had three children: Samuel, born Jan. 9, 1823. died Aug. 2, 1825 ; Samuel (2), father of our subject : and H. Goodwin, born June 1, 1828, a farmer of Bloomfield.

Samuel Fish, the father of our subject, was born in Bloomfield July 2, 1826, was reared to farm- ing, and in his youth attended the local schools. He married Emeline, daughter of Daniel and Rhoda (Filer) Webster, of Bloomfield, and for thirty years engaged in farming and tobacco growing in Bloom- field. He then removed to Avon, where he followed tobacco raising until his death, July 2, 1885, at the age of fifty-nine years. He was a stanch Demo- crat in politics. His wife was early in life a mem- ber of the Baptist Church, but later attended the Congregational Church. After the death of her hus- band she lived with her daughter, Mrs. Ellsworth, at West Hartford, until her death, at the age of sixty-six years. To Samuel and Emeline Fish were born children as follows: John H., of Newington ; Sarah M., Mrs. John Ellsworth, of West Hartford ; Daniel W., our subject : Augustus M., of Newing- ton : Luella, who married George Nichols, and died at Avon: Norton. of Avon town: Dwight W., of Bloomfield : and : Edgar W., of Bloomfield.

Daniel W. Fish was born in Bloomfield June 20, 1852, and his boyhood days were spent on his father's farm. At the age of twelve years he went to work on the farm of Martin Holcomb, and there remained four years, after which he was employed for six consecutive years on the farm of Walter Cadwell, in West Hartford. Mr. Fish then removed to Newington, and there engaged in the meat and grocery business with his brother John H., continu- ing same until April 1, 1894, when the brothers dis- solved partnership, our subject withdrawing from the business. He removed to the farm in Newing- ton formerly owned by his father-in-law, Willis P. Davis, and has since successfully operated same.

Mr. Davis married Miss Martha Elizabeth Davis, who was born in Newington Sept. 19, 1850,

daughter of Willis P. and Mary (Tucker ) Davis, who were married Oct. 11, 1840, and who in 1841 came to Newington. Willis P. Davis was born April 2, 1816, and died Nov. 16, 1891. His wife, born July 14, 1822, still survives, and is living at the home of our subject. To David W. and Martha E. Fish have been born four children: Willis Sam- uel, July 7, 1880; Mattie Lucretia, Aug. 7, 1881; Mary Emeline, May 4, 1884; and Sarah Adeline, June 24, 1888. They are pupils at the Newington Center school, receiving the best educational ad- vantages which the town affords. Mr. and Mrs. Fish and their older children are members of the Newington Congregational Church, of which he is at present sexton. In politics he is a stanch Demo- crat, and he is now serving as a member of the school committee. He is an industrious farmer, operating a place of thirty-seven acres of productive land, and raising largely corn, potatoes, and other vegetables. Mr. Fish has many friends, and in his personality typifies the high character of the Con- necticut farmer and business man.

HARRY BROOKS CURTISS, a leading farm- er and highly esteemed citizen of Southington, was born in the southern part of that town Nov. 26, 1821, and is a lineal descendant of William Curtiss, a native of England, who came to this country with his mother, Mrs. Elizabeth Curtiss, and located in Stratford, Conn., in 1639. There he died Dec. 21, 1702. He was known by the title of "captain."

(H) Zachary Curtiss, son of William, was born in Stratford in November, 1659, and married Han- nah Porter, daughter of Nathaniel and Hannah (Groves) Porter, of Windsor.

(III) Rev. Jeremiah Curtiss, son of Zachary, was born in Stratford in 1706, was graduated from Yale College in 1724, and was ordained pastor of the Congregational Church in Southington Nov. 13. 1728. On Jan. 7. 1730, he married Hannah Burn- ham, daughter of Rev. William and Hannah ( Wol- cott ) Burnham, of Kensington.

(IV) Samuel Curtiss, son of Rev. Jeremiah, was born Nov. 15. 1737, and lived at Stillmore Cor- ners, where he died May 15, 1801. For his first wife he married Margaret Root, and for the second wedded Mary Ann Day, a daughter of Aaron and Susannah ( Stanley) Day.

(V) Leverett Curtiss, son of Samuel, and grand- father of our subject, was born in 1776, and was married, Jan. 25, 1796, to Ruth Barnes, a daughter of Asa and Sarah ( Atkins) Barnes. He lived in the South End of Southington, where he died Oct. 12, 1826, and his wife on April 9, 1850, at the ripe old age of seventy-eight years.

(VI) Carlos Curtiss, the father of our subject, was born in Southington Feb. 22, 1798, and was married, Oct. 20, 1820, to Jerusha Brooks, daugh- ter of Benajah and Lydia ( Johnson) Brooks.

Our subject has spent his entire life on the old Curtiss homestead in the South End of Southing-

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ton, and his time and attention have been devoted to agricultural pursuits with good results. He is widely and favorably known, and his fellow townsmen hold him in high regard. He was united in marriage with Miss Elizabeth Copps, a daughter of Chester and Betsey ( Holbrook) Copps, of Southington, and to this union have been two children, who reached years of maturity : Laura (wife of C. WV. Blatch- ley) and William L.

WILLIAM L. CURTISS was born Feb. 24, 1856, and was reared on the home farm, early becoming familiar with every department of farm work. He was educated in the public schools and Lewis Acad- emy, and since attaining his majority has followed market gardening with good success. He is a mem- ber of the Plantsville Congregational Church, and is an ardent supporter of the Republican party. On Feb. 21, 1880, he married Miss Cora B. Rugg, a daughter of Charles and Jane ( Sloper) Rugg, and they have four sons : Carlos W., Fayette C., Harry R. and Kenneth W.

DEACON FRANKLIN BREWER (deceased) was in lifetime one of the most highly-respected citizens of East Hartford. and was of the fifth generation from Thomas Brewer, the founder of the family in Connecticut, who came from Lynn, Mass., and first located in Glastonbury, thence re- moving to East Hartford, where many of his de- scendants still reside.

Thomas Brewer, then, who may be designated as of the first generation in Connecticut, was born in Massachusetts in 1658, was married, July 13, 1682, in Glastonbury, Conn., his wife's name being Sarah, and had ten children: Marv, born July 25, 1684: Thomas, born Feb. 17, 1686-87, who mar- ried Sarah, daughter of Richard Goodale, May 4, 1710; Hezekiah, born Feb. 23, 1690; Sarah, born Dec. 9. 1692: Joseph, born March 20, 1694-95, who married Dinah Smith May 29, 1727; Benja- min, born Aug. 13, 1697; Daniel, born March 25, 1699, who married Eleanor Goodale, and in his (liary, dated at that place Jan. 19, 1719, it is stated "Purchased one acre of land near the plains and adjoining river at Churchell's Landing, now Good- speed, Portland, Conn., of Joanna Wilcox, 1727, and paid ten pounds ;" Lydia, born July 27, 1701 ; Aome (or Naomi), born Sept. 28, 1703; and Alexander.

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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 126

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