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 154

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 154

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From this period dates the acquaintance of Mr. Clemens with Hartford, to which city, in 1871, he came to live, and here the homes of three of the most noted of Hartford's literary people of re- cent years-Charles Dudley Warner and Harriet Beecher Stowe, the others-are within speaking distance of one another. Mr. Clemens' first visit to Hartford was with the view of having "The Innocents Abroad" published here. On this occa- sion he wrote of the city: "I have been about ten days in Hartford, and shall return there before very long. I think it must be the handsomest city in the Union in summer. It is the moneyed center of the State, and one of its capitals also, for Con- necticut is so law-abiding, and so addicted to law, that there is not room enough in one city to manu- facture all the articles they need. Hartford is the

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place where the insurance companies all live. They use some of the houses for dwellings. The others are for insurance offices. So it is easy to see that there is quite a spirit of speculative enterprise there. Many of the inhabitants have retired from business, but the others labor along in, the old customary way, as presidents of insurance com- panies.'

Mr. Clemens' later books have been "Roughing It," 1872; "Mark Twain's Sketches," 1875; "Ad- ventures of Tom Sawyer," 1876; "A Tramp Abroad," 1880; "The Prince and the Pauper ;" "Life on the Mississippi;" "The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn;" "Punch Brothers, Punch," etc.

· At a dinner party in Hartford on one occasion the subject of eternal life and future punishment came up for a lengthy discussion, in which Mr. Clemens took no part. A lady near him turned suddenly and inquired, "Why do you not say any- thing? I want your opinion." Mr. Clemens re- plied gravely, "Madam, you must excuse me; I am silent of necessity. I have friends in both places."

DE WITT CLINTON SKILTON, president of the Phoenix Fire Insurance Co .. Hartford, is a descendant in the fifth generation from Dr. Henry Skilton, the first American ancestor of the family, the line of his descent being through Avery, James, and John Chester.

(1) Dr. Henry Skilton, born Nov. 19, 1718, in the parish of St. Michael, Coventry, England, son of John and Mary ( Bennet) Skilton, removed with his parents to Romsey, Hampshire, when eight years of age. On the death of his mother his father entered the service of the British navy. In 1734 Henry Skilton left home, and in April, 1735, sailed on a gunboat for America, landing in Boston the same year. For a time he was at Roxbury, Mass., and is next heard of in Preston, Conn. On July 9, 1741, he was married to Tabitha, eldest child of Joseph and Tabitha (Gardner) Avery, of Norwich, Conn. Henry Skilton moved to Southington about 1749, became a physician, the second in the town. About 1760 he went to Woodbury, continued in the practice of medicine, and in old age moved to Watertown, Conn., where he died June 7, 1802, aged eighty-three, and his wife died in the same town Oct. 25, 1797. Dr. Skilton in addition to the practice of medicine was engaged in several lines of business, and carried on farming operations on a large scale. He was a man of more than ordinary ability. He is said to have organized in what is now Prospect the Sep- arate or Strict Congregational Church. While at Southington he took an active part in the religious controversies of the time.

(II) Avery Skilton, son of Dr. Henry, the emigrant, born April 30, 1748, married March 26, 1771, Parthena Judd, who was born Aug. 6, 1754. and died in Watertown March 30, 1839. He died about Aug. 27, 1832.

(III) James Skilton, son of Avery, born April 10, 1777, married June 30, 1799, Chloe Steel. He died April 9, 1848.

(IV ) John Chester Skilton, son of James, born April 30, 1809, in Watertown, married in North- field Anna Heaton, and their three children were born between 1835 and 1843. Mr. Skilton was for twenty-five years identified with the Seth Thomas Clock Works of Thomaston.

De Witt Clinton Skilton, son of John Chester, was born Jan. 11, 1839, in what was then known as Plymouth Hollow, now Thomaston, Conn. He is descended from an historic ancestry in Connecti- cut, including many names of note, through his mother, Anna Heaton; through his grandmother, Chloe Steel, by whom he is descended from Hon. John Steel (a companion and friend of Rev. Thomas Hooker, who came with him to Hartford in 1636) and Gov. Thomas Welles; and through his great- grandmother, Parthena Judd, by whom he is de- scended from Hon. John Wadsworth, a half-bro- ther of Capt. Wadsworth, who removed the Con- necticut Charter and concealed it in the old "Char- ter Oak;" from the two Judds of Waterbury, Capt. William and Timothy, who were representatives in the Colonial government from that town al- most continuously for forty years; and from Will- iam Southmayed, Hon. Matthew Allyn, John Allyn, and William Pynchon.

Young Skilton came to Hartford from his birthplace in 1855, and began his business career in the dry-goods trade with C. S. Weatherby. In October, 1861, he entered the employ of the Hartford Fire Insurance Co., as a clerk in the office. In the summer of 1862 he manifested his patriotism by enlisting, Aug. 19, becoming a pri- vate in Company B, 22d Conn. V. I., and was mus- tered into the service Sept. 20, following, as sec- ond lieutenant of the company. The regiment formed part of the Army of the Potomac, under command of Major-Gen. Heintzelman; the brigade commanders being Gen. Robert Cowdin and Col. Burr Porter, of the 40th Massachusetts, respect- ively. On Feb. 16, 1863, Mr. Skilton was pro- moted to first lieutenant, serving with distinction and honor until mustered out, July 7, 1863. On his return to Hartford from his military experi- ence he resumed his former position with the in- surance company. In November, 1867, he was chosen secretary of the Phoenix Fire Insurance Co., taking the position Dec. I, and retained that in- cumbency until Aug. 1, 1888, when he was elected vice-president and acting president of the com- pany. On Feb. 2, 1891, he succeeded Henry Kel- logg to the presidency. When Mr. Skilton en- tered the service of the Phoenix as secretary, Dec. I, 1867, the capital was $500,000, the assets ȘI,- 234.195, and the surplus $113,683. On Jan. I, 1894. the capital had more than trebled, the ex- act amount being $2,000,000; the assets had in- creased four and a half times, to $5.429,793, and the surplus more than six times, to $713,195. The

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premium income for the year 1868 was $1,219,21I, and for the year 1893 it was nearly three times as great, $3,306,240.

President Skilton's underwriting career has been contemporary with the years of the great growth in American underwriting, and he has been identified with all the work looking to re- form in that business and broadening its methods. Mr. Skilton has always believed in the efficacy of organized effort, and hence has cheerfully given much time and thought to the upbuilding of the National Association. He entered it so early, and has maintained the connection so closely, that nearly every representative whom in those days he was wont to meet has passed away, and present members, though no younger than himself, re- gard him as a veteran. He was selected by the New York City Association of Underwriters to represent the Connecticut companies on the com- mittee which prepared the standard policy for fire insurance. By many States this form has been adopted and made obligatory. The Phoenix Fire owes much of its success to his able management. Without doubt President Skilton ranks among the expert underwriters of the country. Mr. Skil- ton is a director in the Hartford National Bank, a corporator and trustee of the State Savings Bank, a member of the military order of the Loyal Le- gion of the United States, a member of the G. A. R. (Robert O. Tyler Post), and of the Hartford Club. He was secretary of the National Board of Underwriters for three years; vice-president for seven years, and three years its president. For seven years he was committeeman of the West Middle school district. Politically he is a Repub- lican. His religious connections are with the Asylum Avenue Congregational Church,

On Aug. 8, 1865, Mr. Skilton was married to Ann Jeannette, daughter of Lyman Andrews, of Hartford, and to them were born two children, one son and one daughter, both now deceased.

PATRICK GILLIGAN, a well-known and highly respected farmer of the town of Windsor, is a man whose successful struggle with adverse circumstances shows what can be done by industry and economy, especially when a sensible wife sec- onds the efforts to secure a home and competence. Hle was born in County Galway, Ireland, in 1828, a son of Michael and Bridget (Carney) Gilligan, and grandson of Michael Gilligan, Sr. The father was quite an extensive farmer, and he and his wife spent their entire lives on the Emerald Isle. Their children were Michael, a farmer, who died in Wind- sor, Conn., in 1855: Catherine, who married Pat- rick Kennan, and died in Windsor Locks, Conn .; Mary, who wedded Thomas Egan, of Windsor Locks: Nora, who married John Surey, and died 11 Windsor Locks : and Patrick.

As he was not compelled to attend school Pat- rick Gilligan's early education was limited, and he was reared in much the usual manner of farmer

boys of his native land. On April 11, 1850, he sailed from Galway on the "Clarence," and arrived in New York City after a long and tedious voyage of six weeks. He had obtained his passage money from a brother, who had come to the United States in 1847, and was then living in Bloomfield, Conn., and on reaching the shores of this country our sub- ject was without a dollar, and was obliged to bor- row money to bring him to Windsor. For two weeks he was unsuccessful in his search for work, and was becoming badly discouraged when he at length found employment as a farm hand in East Granby, Hartford county, at $10 per month. He was thus employed for five months, during which time he drew only $7.50 of his wages, and saved the re- mainder.

In the fall of 1853 Mr. Gilligan married Miss Margaret Eagan, an acquaintance of his in Ireland, who had come to the New World on the same ves- sel as her future husband. They began housekeep- ing in East Windsor, and Mr. Gilligan worked for H. W. Allen for two years, after which they went to Windsor Locks, where he was employed as a laborer for a year. He next worked as a farm hand in the town of East Granby, and then operated Oliver Clark's farm in that town on shares for four years. In 1861 he had purchased his present farm, which he rented for one season, and did not locate thereon until the fall of that year, since which time he has made it his home. He now has eighty acres, under a high state of cultivation, and has erected all the buildings found thereon with the ex- ception of a portion of the barn.

Mrs. Gilligan was a true helpmeet, and our sub- iect's success in life is due in no small degree to her assistance. They started out in life in limited circumstances, but by industry, honesty and good management succeeded in gaining a comfortable home and competence. She died in 1881, leaving five children : Michael, a farmer of Windsor town; John, a motorman of Windsor Center ; William and Margaret, both at home; and Celia, wife of John Garven, of Windsor Center. Mr. Gilligan is an ardent Democrat in politics, and was the first native of Ireland to represent Windsor in the State Legis- lature. Religiously he is a Catholic.

GEORGE ARCHER, one of Suffield's most re- spected citizens and farmers, is a native of Hart- ford county, born at Suffield Center July 10, 1823, and descends from an old Colonial family, of Eng- lish origin.

Thomas Archer, great-grandfather of subject, was a young man when he came from England to America and settled in Suffield, where he engaged in farming, and also in dealing in indigo. He was a member of the Congregational Church, and died a highly-respected resident of Suffield. His son Thomas, grandfather of subject, was born in Suffield, was a farmer and merchant, and for sev- eral years a hotelkeeper ; he was also largely inter- ested in the trade with Africa, and was a shipper

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ot slaves to the Southern colonies. During the Rev- olutionary war he took an active part in that con- fiict. The house in which he lived and died is still standing in Suffield Center, and is probably the oldest in the town. He was a Whig in politics at the time of his death, and a member of the Con- gregational Church. To his marriage with Roxan- nia Hancock, of Suffield, were born seven children, of whom the eldest was named Zeno; Horace was a sea captain, and died on the coast of Africa; the names of four others are remembered: Thomas, Thaddeus, Eliza and Cynthia.

Thomas Archer, the third in the above family, and the father of our subject, was also born in Suffield Center, and received the usual district- school education. He owned extensive tracts of land, and for several years conducted the hotel at Suffield. On a part of the old homestead the new cemetery has been laid out, and the bank build- ing stands on another part, within the village limits. To his marriage with Lucy Remington ten children were born: George, who died in infancy; George (2), subject of this sketch; Luther, who died in middle age ; Horace, of Pittsfield, Mass .; Cordelia, unmarried ; Mary, who was married to Col. George S. Burnham, of Hartford, and is now, with her hus- band, deceased; Louise, wife of Newton S. Pom- eroy, of Suffield ; Sarah Elizabeth, wife of Edwin D). Morgan, a son of Gov. Edwin D. Morgan, of New York; Helen, who died unmarried ; and Isa- bella, who died in infancy. The mother of this family was called from earth April 18, 1867, and the father April 21, 1881, both dying in the faith of the Congregational Church, and their remains were interred in the new cemetery of Suffield, and it may be added that a more respected couple never re- sided within the limits of the town.

George Archer, the subject proper of this sketch, was educated in the district schools and the Con- necticut Literary Institute, and has made the noble calling of agriculture his life pursuit. He remained or. the old homestead at Suffield Center until 1877, engaged in tobacco culture and general farming, and then removed to West Hartford, where he was engaged in the same class of farming for six years. In 1883 he returned to Suffield and settled on his present farm, known as the Col. Kendall farm, where he has met with abundant success in stock raising, dairying and farming generally.

Mr. Archer was imited in marriage, in 1849, 111 Suffield, with Miss Samantha Rogers, a native of the town, a daughter of Richard Douglass and Samantha (Clapp) Rogers, old settlers of Suffield. The only child of this marriage was William Doug- lass, born in August, 1856, in Suffield. He was.ed- ticated in the district schools of his native town and at the Connecticut Literary Institute, and be- came a druggist. He married Miss Jennie L. Starks, of Torrington, Conn., but no children were born to the marriage. He succumbed to that fell ciestroyer, consumption, May 2, 1898, and was deep- ly mourned by a large circle of admiring friends,

as well as by the members of his immediate fam- ily. He was a consistent member of the Congre- gational Church, and in politics was a Republican.

George Archer, our subject, was in politics first a Whig, but on the disintegration of that party became a stanch Republican. He has never sought or accepted office, being of a very quiet disposition and domestic in his habits. He is a devout Baptist, and universally respected for his integrity and his Christian-like walk through life, and for his genial personal attributes. Mrs. Archer, who died Feb. 17, 1899, was a lady of refinement and culture, and in her ante-nuptial days was a school teacher of marked merit. The son's widow, also a lady of many accomplishments, has found a congenial home with the Archers. The family has always stood high in the social and religious circles of the town of Suffield and Hartford county.

GUY L. FAIRBROTHER, of Thompsonville, is the very efficient superintendent of the Enfield & Long Meadow Electric Railroad. He is a native of Connecticut, having been born at Mystic Jan. 15, 1864, a son of Albert C. Fairbrother, a sea- faring man, and his good wife, Eliza E. (Bur- rows), a descendant of an old New London county (Conn.) family.

Mr. Fairbrother passed his early years in the town of Mystic, at Old Field, and at the early age of eleven years found employment in the refresh- ment room of the "Pastime," an excursion boat running from New Haven. On this boat he made his first trip to Florida. For eighteen years he engaged in boating on the St. John's river, and early acquired considerable skill in managing vessels, winning the confidence of those in charge. At the age of seventeen he was entrusted with the bring- ing of the "City of Dallas" from Florida to New York. When he decided to leave the life on the river, he secured a position as conductor on the West Shore road, running from Savin Rock to Woodmont, Conn., and this he retained for a year. The following year he became superintendent of the West Shore road, and a year later assistant su- perintendent of the Winchester Avenue road, of New Haven. During the illness of A. C. Pond, the superintendent, he acted in his place, and on Nov. 19, 1896, he became chief of the Enfield & Long Meadow Electric Railroad, and is discharg- ing the duties of that difficult position 'in a manner highly pleasing to the stockholders as well as to the patrons of the road.

Mr. Fairbrother was united in marriage with Miss Jennie E. Carr, daughter of Superintendent Carr, of the Reading railroad shops. One son has been born of their union, Albert C., Feb. 9, 1892. Socially our subject is a member of Doric Lodge, No. 94, F. & A. M., and of the Knights of Pythias.

PATRICK HEALY, a highly-esteemed resi- dent of Windsor Locks, is a man whose industry and thrift have won him a substantial fortune, and

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the story of his life cannot fail to convey a useful moral.

Mr. Healy was born in March, 1828, in County Galway, Ireland, where his family have been well known for many generations. John Healy, his grandfather, was a native of that county, and he and his wife, Margaret Gantley, made their home upon a farm there. Hugh Healy, our subject's fa- ther, was also a native of Galway, where he fol- lowed farming for many years. He died there in 1852, and his wife, Margaret Ford, about 1860. Of their children our subject and his sister, Mrs. Burke, are all who came to America, and since July 4, 1853, they have resided in Windsor Locks.

During his youth Mr. Healy attended school in his native county, where he remained until the time was ripe for him to carry into execution a long cherished plan for coming to the United States. On reaching Windsor Locks he was em- ployed in building the Seymour Paper Mill, and when the plant was ready for operations he took a position in the mill. This he held continuously until 1883 and by his judicious investment of his earnings he acquired a large amount of real estate in the town, so that the afternoon of his long and useful life is made comfortable by the rewards of past effort. His health is excellent for a man of his age, and he continues to take keen interest 111 all public affairs, being a stanch Democrat in politics. He was naturalized in Windsor Locks in 1858, and for many years was an active worker in his partv, serving for a time as township assessor.

In January, 1855, Mr. Healy was married in Windsor Locks to Miss Ann Mullin, daughter of John Mullin, formerly a foreman in the Seymour Mill, and this union lasted nearly forty years, Mrs. Healy's death occurring in March, 1894. Six chil- dren were born to them: John P., deceased, who was educated in Windsor Locks, St. Charles Col- lege, at Baltimore, Md., St. Michael's College, at Toronto, Canada, and the Law School at Hartford, Conn., and was at the time of his death a success- ful attorney in the latter city; James A., a car- penter in New York City : Thomas L., a real-estate dealer in Hartford: Joseph, a journalist by pro- fession : Frank E., a graduate of the Yale Law School, and a prominent attorney at Hartford, who is taking an active part in politics as chairman of the Republican committee of the town of Windsor Locks; and Mary L., deceased.

DWIGHT HENRY BENNETT, manager for L. V. Walkley, of Plantsville, was born in Cheshire, New Haven Co., Conn., Dec. 28, 1859.

Asa Legrand Bennett, his father, was a native of Southbury, born in 1820, and was there reared and educated. In early manhood he went to New York State, where for some years he was engaged in school teaching, and while there he married ( for his first wife) a Miss Carse, who lived but nine months. After her death he returned to Southbury, Conn., and learned the tinner's trade, which he fol-

lowed for a number of years in Naugatuck. In 1855 he located in Cheshire, where he purchased a farm of 100 acres, and there resided until his death, which occurred in 1892. In Naugatuck he was again married, his second union being with Miss Martha Ann Carroll, a native of that place, and a daughter of Nathaniel and Lucy (Mix) Carroll, of Thomaston, Conn. Her father was engaged in business as a wagon maker and undertaker in Naugatuck, and made his own coffin; he died at that place in 1864. Her mother, who was a native of Hartford, died in Naugatuck in 1854; she was a Webster, and a direct descendant of Noah Webster, of dictionary fame. Mrs. Bennett died on the same day as her husband, and was laid to rest by his side. In their family were four sons: Charles F., Simeon, Huber and Dwight H. The paternal grandparents of our subject, Silas and Phebe ( Hin- man) Bennett, had three children: Betsey (wife of Robert Bronson), Henry, and Asa L. Silas Bennett was born in Huntington, Conn., and be- came a farmer, merchant and manufacturer of Southbury, where he died in 1869. His wife de- parted this life in 1886.

Dwight H. Bennett, our subject, began his edu- cation in the public schools of Cheshire, where he was reared, and subsequently was graduated from Miles H. Upson's private school, in the Marion District of Southington. He remained on the old homestead in Cheshire until 1883, and then located in Plantsville, this county, where for four years he had charge of the packing department of H. D. Smith & Co. He next engaged in the meat business with his brother, Charles F., for four years, and for the same length of time was in the employ of A. M. Lewis, a meat merchant of Plantsville. At the end of that time he purchased the ice plant of Thomas Walker, which he conducted some years, and has held his present responsible position with L. V. Walkley since January, 1897. He is an up- right, reliable business man, commanding the re- spect and confidence of all with whom he has deal- ings.

On Dec. 28, 1883. Mr. Bennett was united in marriage with Miss Carrie M. Rice, a daughter of Henry C. and Caroline (Rice) Rice, of the Marion District, Southington, and to them has been born a daughter, Viola. Mr. Bennett is a member of the Congregational Church, of the Mutual Benefit So- ciety, and of Unity Council, No. II. O. U. A. M., of which he is councillor. In political sentiment he is a Republican.

WILLIAM WOOD, M. D. (deceased), was one of the most distinguished and honored citizens of South Windsor. He was not only a popular and successful physician but occupied a position of no little prominence in scientific circles, and con- tributed many able articles to scientific journals and ciher periodicals.

A native of Connecticut, Dr. Wood was born in Waterbury, July 7, 1822, and was a son of Rev.

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Luke and Anna (Pease) Wood. At the age of ten years he entered the academy at old Killingworth ( now Clinton ), Conn., where he pursued his studies for three years, preparatory to entering Yale Col- iege, but his youth debarring him from admission, he continued his studies under the private instruc- tion of Profs. Marsh and Loverin, in Vermont, for two years. He then returned to Clinton, which journey of nearly 200 miles he accomplished on icot, with his clothes and books strapped over his back. The following year he was again a student in the academy at that place, but having overtaxed his eyes by too close application, he was compelled to abandon his cherished plan of entering Yale as a senior at the age of sixteen years.

During the two successive winters he devoted himself to teaching school, and during the summer months he pursued medical studies. He was principal of the academy at Windsor; assistant teacher at the academy in Westfield, Mass. ; princi- pal of the high school in Webster; and assistant teacher in the Pavilion school at Hartford. Sub- sequently he attended lectures at the Berkley Medi- cal College, Pittsfield, Mass., and at the Medical Department of the University of New York, from which he was graduated with the degree of M. D., in March, 1847. In the autumn of the same year he opened an office in East Windsor Hill, and was not long in building up a large and lucrative prac- tice, which he continued to enjoy throughout life.

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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 154

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