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 19

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 19

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COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

great-granddaughter of Miles Crampton. By this union four children were born, namely: Richard Crampton, who died at the age of three years ; and Kobert Ezra, Olive Eugenia and Sarah Crampton, all residents of Unionville.

Mr. Ayer has been honored with several local offices, which he has most creditably filled, having served as selectman, assessor and justice of the peace. Socially he belongs to the Grange, Evening Star Lodge, No. 101, F. & A. M., and A. E. Burn- side Post, No. 62, G. A. R., of which he is past commander. He and his wife hold membership in the Congregational Church of Unionville, and are highly respected and esteemed by a large circle of friends and acquaintances.

HON. SAMUEL GOULD BRADLEY is one of the representative citizens and prominent farm- ers of the town of Burlington. Throughout his career of continued and far-reaching usefulness his duties have been performed with the greatest care, and his business interests have been so managed as to win the confidence of the public and the pros- perity which should always attend honorable effort. Mr. Bradley was born in Burlington, July 18, 1835, and is a son of Selah and Susan (Durand) Bradley, both natives of New Haven county, Conn. There the father grew to manhood and learned the trade of shoemaker, which he later followed in Bristol when a young man. He next came to Bur- lington, where he opened a shop and worked at his trade for many years, at the same time owning and operating a small farm. Later he lived with our subject, who cared for him in his declining years, and there he died Nov. 14, 1862. He was liberal in his religious views, and a Whig in politics, but never sought or desired political honors. He was an in- dustrious and honest man, temperate in his habits, and domestic in his tastes. His wife, who was a woman of strong convictions, an earnest Christian and a good wife and mother, also died at the home of our subject in Burlington, in 1873, and both were laid to rest in Burlington Centre cemetery. In their family were the following children : Maria, born Feb. 19, 1811, married Jason Boardman, and died in Rocky Hill, Conn. ; Abigail, born Dec. 24, 1812, died Jan. 29, 1827; Oliver C., born Feb. 17, 1815, died July 30, 1821 ; Susanna, born Jan. 20, 1817, died un- married ; Rosana, born Feb. 20, 1821, married Syl- vester Pond; Betsey, born Jan. 27, 1823, married Henry Judd, of Northfield; Orilla, born April II, 1825, married George Holbrook, of Oxford, and died June 19, 1860; John, born Aug. 21, 1827, died April 30, 1845; Abigail, born Jan. 16, 1830, mar- ried (first) Thomas Lampson and (second) Charles F. Olney, a resident of Cleveland, Ohio; Oliver C., born Dec. 9, 1832, died May 19, 1864; Samuel G., subject of this sketch, is the youngest of the fam- ily.

Our subject was reared on his father's farm in Burlington, and received only a district school educa-

tion. When a young man he worked at the paint- er's trade for a short time, and then turned his at- tention to farming upon the place where he still resides. Here he owns eighty-five acres of well-im- proved and valuable land, and also has a tract of six- ty-five acres elsewhere in the town. He has erected a fine residence, good barns and other outbuildings upon his place, and, in connection with general farming, stock raising and dairying, he is engaged in the lumber and charcoal business.

On Nov. 8, 1863, Mr. Bradley married Miss Malissa Belden, a native of New Boston, Mass., and a daughter of George and Sophia (Bailey) Belden. During the Civil war Mr. Bradley offered his services to the government, enlisting at Hart- ford Sept. 8, 1862, in Company I, 25th Conn. V. I .. under Col. George P. Bissell and Capt. Hiram Harkness. Although he enlisted for only nine months, he was in the service almost a year, being stationed most of the time at New Orleans as a nurse in the hospital. He was honorably discharged at Hartford, in August, 1863. At one time he served as second lieutenant in the State militia.

Fraternally Mr. Bradley is an honored member of Burnside Post, No. 62, G. A. R., in which he has served as adjutant; Village Lodge, No. 29, F. & A. M., of Collinsville : and Wigwam Mascopa, I. O. R. M., of Unionville. Politically he is a stanch Republican, and he has been honored with a number of important official positions, having filled the offices of tax collector, assessor and constable ; was elected justice of the peace, but refused to qualify ; served as town clerk for a number of years; was probate judge six years; and in 1880 represented the town of Burlington in the State Legislature, where he served on some important committees. He has ever proved a most capable trustworthy and popular official, and his public and private life are alike above reproach. Mrs. Brad- ley is a lady of culture and refinement, and they have a large circle of friends and acquaintances in Bur- lington.

THOMAS ROACH CASE (deceased). The farm, with rare exceptions, produces the men who rise to prominence in professional and business life. The subject of this sketch was a member of one of the oldest and best known families of Hartford county, which furnished many instances of patriotic devotion to country, and of marked success in va- rious vocations. Mr. Case was raised on a farm but, possessing in his youth a taste for mercantile pur- suits, he became a successful business man, continu- ing until his health gave warning to retire to the less exacting duties of country life. He honored the town of Simsbury, in which he lived for many years, with sage advice, and with the endeavor and upright life of an earnest soul. He was one of its most prom- inent and highly esteemed citizens, and his death by accident, in 1884, cast profound gloom through- out the community.

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Mr. Case was born in West Simsbury, on what is known as the Case farm, Dec. 28, 1808. The fam- ily traces its ancestry to John Case, who settled in New England more than two and one-half centur- ies ago, and a sketch of whom will be found else- where. William Case, son of John (1), married Elizabeth Holcomb. Their son James married Eliza- beth Fithen, of Simsbury, and to them five children were born, the second of whom, Josiah, was born April 1, 1718, in Simsbury. In 1743 he moved to what was then known as West Simsbury, now Can- ton, where he engaged in farming on the place known as Chestnut Hill. He held the commission of captain of local militia, and was quite active during the Revolution. He died on his farm in 1789. and was buried in Canton. He married Hester Higley, born i11 1719. died in 1808, and their children were as follows: Lois, born in 1741, died in 1759; James, born in 1745, died in 1790, married Phebe Tuller, and for his second wife Lydia Case; Hester, born in 1747, married (first) Thomas Case, (second) C. Higley, and (for her third husband) Abraham Penny; Hannah, born in 1750, died in 1833 (she married Amos Wilcox) ; Betty, born in 1752, died in 1811 (she married Joshua Barber ) ; Fithen, born in 1758, died in 1829. The family were all members of the Congregational Church.

Fithen Case, born in West Simsbury in 1758. en- gaged in farming and spent his entire life in West Simsbury, now known as Chestnut Hill, Canton, where he was a landowner. He was known as Capt. Fithen, and participated in the Revolutionary war. He died in 1829, and was buried in Canton ceme- tey. He was highly respected, and was one of Can- ton's best known citizens. Capt. Case married Am- arilla Humphrey, of Simsbury, and to this union the following children were born: Maria, born in 1781, died in 1856, married Moses Case, who died in 1850, and who was a son of Lieut. Moses Case; Fithen, born in 1784, died in 1853, married Statira Phelps; Mamre, born March 23. 1786: AAmarilla. born in 1788, married Chancey Eno, of Simsbury ; Josiah W., born in 1790, died in 1830-married Ag- les Case ; Salma, born in 1792, died in 1794 ; Lavinia Charity, born in 1794, married Col. Salmon Mer- rill : Jasper, born in 1796, married Flora Humphrey : Melissa, born in 1799, died in 1874-married Ithnel Gridley, being his second wife; Jarvis, known as Gen. Jarvis, born in 1801, died in 1865-married Lucia Adams; Julia, born in 1805, married Ithnel Gridley.

Mamre Case, son of Fithen, was the father of Thomas Roach Case, our subject. He was born March 23, 1786, on the farm, and grew there to manhood. When a young man he peddled clocks in the South, and one of those ancient timepieces is still in the possession of the family. After his mar- riage Mamre Case settled on his wife's farm near West Simsbury Centre, where he spent the balance of his life. engaged in farming and stock raising, owning a large tract of land. He died on his farm

Feb. 14, 1859, and was buried in Simsbury. He was a Whig in politics, and held various offices, besides representing Simsbury in the State Legislature. He was a member of the Congregational Church, a good whole-souled man, and was well-liked and respected. On Nov. 4, 1807, he married, in West Simsbury, Abi Tuller, who was born in West Sims- bury, Sept. 10, 1787, daughter of Elisha Tuller, of West Simsbury. The children born to Mamre and Abi Case were as follows: Thomas R., born Dec. 28, 1808; Mary Abi, born Aug. 26, 1812, who mar- ried John Stowe; Luke, born Sept. 5 1814: Norris, born Sept. 23, 1816; Flora, born Jan. 18, 1819, who married Edwin Goodwin; Watson E., born Nov. 24, 1820, who now lives retired in New York City; Salem, born Nov. 19, 1823; and one who died in infancy, unnamed. All of these children are now deceased except Watson. The mother died Feb. 28, 1863, and was buried in Simsbury. She was a good Christian woman, well liked and respected.

Thomas R. Case, our subject, was raised on the farm. He attended the district schools of West Simsbury ; was also a student at Amherst College, and when a young man he taught school in Sims- bury. Possessing mercantile tastes, he started in the mercantile business at Simsbury, and a few years later removed to Hoskins Station, where he engaged in mercantile business. Removing to a larger field at Hartford, he there conducted a suc- cessful dry-goods business for eight years, on the site of the Brown Thompson store. Mr. Case then decided to go West, moved to Indiana, and opened up at Indianapolis a store business in partnership with Joseph Sharp, continuing there with marked success for ten years. On account of ill health he was obliged to give up his business. Returning to his native home he settled on the home farm, and there spent the remaining years of his life, engag- ing in general farming and stock raising. He died on his farm Nov. 25, 1884. and his death was un- timely, though he was well advanced in years. Re- turning home one evening with his team, the horses, it is supposed, took fright and ran away, and Mr. Case was dashed against a tree with fatal results, for when found he was dead. Owing to his influ- ence, and to the strong hold he had upon the af- fections of his friends and neighbors, his death cast a gloom over the settlement. In politics Mr. Case was a Whig and Republican. For many years he was a justice of the peace, and he served as post- master at West Simsbury. He possessed strong po- litical convictions, but was not an office seeker. He was a deacon in the Congregational Church. Domestic in his tastes, he loved his home, and was a close companion to his wife and children. Tem- perate in his habits, a man of honor and honesty, he was popular and highly respected.

Mr. Case married in Willoughby, Ohio, Sept. IO, 1851, Cornelia A. Trowbridge, who was born at Watertown, Jefferson Co., N. Y., daughter of Dr. Amasa and Gloria Anna (Billings) Trow-

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bridge. Her father was a well known surgeon of Watertown, N. Y., was surgeon in the war of 1812, and was professor of surgery in Willoughby Col- lege, Ohio. Mrs. Case is a sister of Dr. William R. Trowbridge, the well known surgeon of Water- town, N. Y. To our subject and wife were born five children : (1) Josephine Cornelia, born May 9, 1853, married Howell Hough, of Collinsville, and has one child, Lulu. (2) Thomas Trowbridge, born March 1, 1856, was born at Rock Island, Ill., and educated at the West Simsbury district school, and now manages the homestead farm. He is a member of St. Mark's Lodge, Simsbury, F. & A. M. He has been postmaster of West Simsbury for five years, and in politics is a Reublican. (3) Frances Helen, born Feb. 22, 1859, married Howard San- born, of Collinsville, Conn. (4) William Andrew, born May 26, 1864, died Oct. 3, 1866. (5) Charles Mamre, born March 28, 1867, is at home on the farm. Mrs. Case is a member of an old and hon- ored family of Watertown, N. Y. She is a lady of pleasant address, well educated, and a pleasant con- versationalist, true in sentiment and judgment, and devotedly attached to her home and friends.

HENRY PECK STRONG was a grandson of Anthony Strong, who was born in Washington, Conn., Dec. 9, 1757, and removed to Woodbury in later life. He was a son of Preserve Strong, born Sept. 8, 1712, and tracing back the family genealogy we come to Adino Strong (6), who was born at Northampton, Mass., Jan. 25, 1676, son of Thomas Strong, of the same place, born in 1634. The original progenitor of the family on this side of the Atlantic was Elder John Strong, who left England in 1617, and settled at Hingham, Mass. Anthony Curtis Strong, father of Henry Peck Strong, was a farmer by occupation. He married Julia Lambert, April 9, 1820.

Henry Peck Strong was born at Woodbury, July 22, 1822. His early educational training was of the meager sort which might be obtained at the ordinary district schools of the period, yet in spite of early disadvantages he achieved success through his own unaided efforts. At the age of eighteen he bade adieu to school and home alike, and went forth to battle with the world alone. He learned the trade of a tanner and currier at Woodbury. Being anxious to rise, he went to Seymour, where he began business in a small way in partnership with John Ryder. The opening of the Naugatuck railway, whose route ran directly through his prop- erty, ruined his business within a short time. His next venture was in co-partnership with John Minor, and for three years the firm bought and sold lum- ber at Bridgeport. In 1855 Mr. Strong removed to New Britain, buying out the coal and wood yard of a Mr. Allen, located on what is now the site of Landers, Frary & Clark's cutlery works. In this business he had a partner, William W. Giddings, the firm name being Giddings & Strong. Later a

corporation was organized under the firm name of the New Britain Lumber & Coal Co., with Henry Peck Strong as its president.

In 1888 Mr. Strong was attacked by a severe illness, from which he never recovered. His in- domitable energy, however, would not permit him to succumb, until death claimed him, on Jan. 8, 1897. The success of the enterprise with which he was identified was due largely to his own per- sonal efforts, he having ever been the executive head, and his sound business judgment always being a dominant influence in its counsels. His private life was blameless, and his personal character most lovable. To young men he was always a sympathetic friend, and in the cause of Christianity and tem- perance ever an active worker. On Aug. 3, 1856, he united with the First Church of Christ in New Britain, and in 1865 was chosen deacon in place of Albert Judd, who resigned the office. His dis- position was quiet and retiring, and for him the ordinary issues of politics presented no attraction.

Mr. Strong was married, Sept. 8, 1847, to Sarah A. Bacon, a daughter of David C. Bacon and Sarah Wheeler, of Woodbury, the former of whom was a farmer. Mrs. Strong was born Sept. 17, 1825. Mr. and Mrs. Strong were the parents of two daughters, the elder of whom, Sarah Martha, was born March 28, 1850, and died April 22, 1891. The younger died in infancy.

H. O. ALLEN, M. D., a leading physician of Broad Brook, has not only achieved an honorable rank in his chosen profession but, as a citizen, he is identified prominently with the best interests of his community.

Dr. Allen was born in Broad Brook, March 22, 1854, a son of Luke D. and Caroline C. ( Patchen) Allen, and a grandson 'of Luke and Mahitabel (Dwight) Allen. He is the eldest in a family of three children, the others being Frederick D., a merchant of North Adams, Mass .; and Alice M., wife of George Lamb, of East Hartford.

When our subject was about two years old his parents removed to Melrose, this county, and later went to Scitico, where the mother died in 1867. As he was then about thirteen years of age he was sent to an academy in Shelburne Falls, Mass., where he remained two years, and afterward he attended the public schools of Melrose, this county, for a time. In 1871 he went to Springfield, Mass., to take a position as clerk in a drug store, and after a year resumed his studies, entering the schools of Wilbraham, Mass., for a two-years' course. In 1873 he began teaching, and for three years he was successfully engaged in that work in New Jersey, but as he had decided to enter the medical profes- sion he then undertook a course of reading with Dr. S. H. Hunt, of Eatontown, N. J. For three years he was in the office of this preceptor, and in the meantime he completed the regular course of lectures in the University of New York, graduat- ing in 1879. Since that time he has been in active

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practice in Broad Brook, meeting with success from the start, and he is now a valued member of both the County Medical Society and the State Medical Society. As a friend of educational prog- ress he has served on the town school board for fifteen years, and his fellow citizens have shown their confidence in his integrity and ability by elect- ing him town clerk and town treasurer, he having held the latter office continuously since 1891. Po- litically he is a Republican, and for years he has been recognized as one of the chief advisers of the local organization.

On June 12, 1883, Dr. Allen married Miss E. Lavinia Polhemus, and both are popular in the best social circles of their locality. They are members of the First Congregational Church of Broad Brook; the Doctor is also connected with the Grange, and with Oriental Lodge, No. III, F. & A. M., at Broad Brook.

HON. ADRIAN MOSES, a prominent citizen and leading farmer and lumberman of Burlington, is a worthy representative of an old and honored Connecticut family.

Our subject traces his ancestry back to John Moses, a shipwright of Plymouth, Mass., who came to New England between 1630 and 1640, and whose son John was the father of John Moses (3), who was born Oct. 13, 1699, and located in Simsbury, Conn., on his father's farm near Mount Philip. He married Deborah Thrall. Joshua Moses, son of John (3), was born Oct. 3, 1689, and died Feb. 6. 1773. He was married Dec. 12, 1717, to Han- nah Strickland, who died Jan. 16, 1718-19, leaving twins only three days old: Hannah, who was mar- ried Dec. 30, 1747, to Benjamin Mills; and Rachel, who was married Dec. 23, 1748, to Nathaniel Wil- cox. Joshua Moses was again married, June 28, 1722, his second union being with Mary Brooks, by whom he had three children, Joshua, Othniel and John. He owned land in New Hartford and also in Norfolk, Conn. He died from the effects of cancer of the mouth. His son Othniel Moses was born July 1, 1730, and was a soldier in Col. Wolcott's regiment in 1776. He was a member of the Epis- copal Church. Othniel Moses, Jr., son of Othniel, was born Feb. 13,, 1755, and died Oct. 8, 18.11. He married Mary Dowd, who died on the same date. and made his home in Bristol and later in Burling- ton, Conn. Their children were as follows : Chaun- cey, the eldest, was born May 29, 1783; Joshua was the grandfather of our subject; Mary, born June 20, 1786, married Chauncey Colton; Laura, born June 2, 1788, married Samuel Payne, and died Jan. 13, 1880; Betsey, born June 20, 1790, married Colton Kellogg, and lived in Ohio; Sophia, born March 13. 1792, married Isaac Belden, of Burlington, Conn .; Chloe, born Feb. 17, 1794, married Ambrose Hart, of Farmington ; Orrin, born May 12, 1796, died Nov. 10, 1853; Isaac was born Dec. 9, 1797; and Rhoda, born June 12, 1800, married Ruil Pal-

meter, of Burlington. Joshua Moses, grandfather of our subject, was born Aug. 20, 1784. and died Nov. 10, 1863. He was a landowner and farmer of Burlington, and was a soldier in the war of 1812 under Capt. Daniel Deming. On June 27, 1811, he married Chloe Beckwith, who died May 8, 1876. They had two children: Richard, father of our subject; and Mary, born March 3, 1824.

Richard Moses was born in Burlington, July 16, 1812, and attended the district schools of that town. He was engaged in general farming, stock raising and dairying on the farm now owned and occupied by our subject, and there died July 28, 1860, his remains being interred in the Case ceme- tery, Burlington. Politically he was first a Whig, later a Democrat. He married Rachel Norton, of Bristol, Conn., a daughter of Joel Norton, and she survived him until Feb. 15, 1900. Her remains were interred in Minne- sota, where she resided with her son Lucius Moses. Mrs. Moses was a consistent member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and a most esti- mable lady. Our subject is second in the order of birth in the family of eight children, the others be- ing Harriet, deceased wife of Elias Baldwin ; Sarah, who died young : Ellen, deceased wife of Asa Up- son, of Bristol; Emerson, a farmer at Lake Crys- tal, Minn .; Prof. Bernard, now on the staff of the Philippine commission ; Richard, a lawyer of Iowa; and Lucius, a farmer of Lake Crystal, Minnesota.

On the farm where he now resides Adrian Moses was born March 21, 1838, and he was educated in the district schools of the neighborhood. He re- mained on the old homestead until after his mar- riage, when he removed to the town of Farmington and there engaged in farming and in the lumber busi- ness, handling principally railroad ties. After seven years spent there he returned to Burlington and pur- chased the home farm, comprising over two hundred acres, on which he has since successfully engaged in general farming, stockraising and dairying. He also owns and operates a sawmill, and is engaged in the manufacture of lumber and railroad ties. He has added to his original possessions until he now owns over five hundred acres. An upright and re- liable business man, he has met with well-deserved success in his undertakings, and stands to-day among the well-to-do and prosperous citizens of his com- munity.

In May, 1863, Mr. Moses married Miss Clar- inda Beckwith, a native of New Hartford, daugh- ter of Isaac Beckwith, and to them were born two children: Henrietta ("Etta") is now the wife of Edwin Matthews ; and Arthur A .. who lives on the old homestead, wedded Mary Fallows, of Union- ville, and has two children, Emerson and Clara Augusta

In political sentiment Mr. Moses is a Demo- crat, and he has taken quite an active and promi- nent part in public affairs, having most acceptably served as representative to the State Legislature (in

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1877), selectman, assessor, school director, and chair- man of the school board ( for many years). He and his wife are consistent members of the Congrega- tional Church at Unionville, and both are widely known and highly respected.

HON. ANDREW GORDON. The career of the gentleman whose name introduces this review illus- trates most forcibly the possibilities that are open to the young man who possesses sterling business qualifications. It proves that neither wealth nor social position, nor the assistance of influential friends at the outset of his career, are necessary to place him on the road to success. It also proves that ambition, perseverance, steadfast purpose and indefatigable industry, combined with sound busi- ness principles, will be rewarded, and that true suc- cess follows individual effort only.

Mr. Gordon has gained recognition and pres- tige as one of the influential and representative business men of Enfield, and is to-day a member of the firm of Gordon Brothers, manufacturers of shoddy and wool substitutes at Hazardville. He was born in Glasgow, Scotland, Nov. 4, 1843, a son of William and Jean ( Bauchop) Gordon, who in May, 1844, landed in New York City, and first lo- cated in Little Falls, N. Y. Later they removed to Auburn, that State, and in 1847 came to Thomp- sonville, Hartford Co., Conn. Here the father, who was a carpet weaver by trade, found employment with the Thompsonville Carpet Co., and remained with them until the failure of the corporation in 1851. The following year he removed to Hazard- ville and entered the employ of the Enfield Manu- facturing Co., supporting a family of nine children on wages of ninety cents per day. During the Civil war from 1861 until 1865 he resided at Windsor Locks where he was employed by the Medlicott Manufacturing Co., but in 1866 he returned to Hazardville, and has since been engaged with his sons, Gordon Brothers. He reared a family of nine children : Elizabeth, wife of Amos D. Bridge ; Mar- garet, wife of Andrew Holford; David: An- drew; George B .; Jeanette, wife of Ephraim Bridge ; Mary, wife of Samuel M. McAuley ; Peter ; and David G., a nephew.

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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 19

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