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 20

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 20

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Andrew Gordon was brought to the New World during his infancy, and was reared in the town of Enfield, Hartford county, his education being ob- tained in the common schools. During his youth he learned the cooper's trade, and was for some time employed by the Hazard Powder Co. Hardly had the echoes from Fort Sumpter's guns died away when he offered his services to the govern- ment to help put down the Rebellion, enlisting in April, 1861, in the Ist Connecticut Light Battery, for three months and three weeks, but was never mustered in. On Sept. 27, 1861. ne entered the service as a private in Company B, 8th Conn. V. T., and was wounded Sept. 17, 1862. at Antietam, being shot in the left shoulder. On Dec. 24, 1863,

he re-enlisted for three years or during the war; was promoted to the rank of corporal March 26, 1864; was again wounded at the battle of Cold Harbor, June 2, 1864 ; and was honorably discharged on surgeon s certificate, May 31, 1865. On his re- turn home Mr. Gordon served as foreman of the A. D. Bridge key factory for a time, and later, as a member of the firm of Gordon Brothers, engaged in the manufacture of paper sacks and tinware, in which business they continued until their plant was destroyed by fire, in 1890. They have since en- gaged exclusively in their present business, which they established on a small scale in 1887, and which they have since successfully conducted, their trade having gradually increased from the beginning.

Mr. Gordon was married, in May, 1866, to Miss Miranda Lewis, a daughter of Asa and Louisa (Lyons) Lewis, of Enfield, and to them have been born three children: Lewis E., George J. and Eleanor M. Religiously Mr. Gordon is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and fraternally is affiliated with Doric Lodge, No. 94, A. F. & A. M .; Washington Chapter, No. 30, R. A. M .; Wash- ington Council, Suffield ; and Samuel Brown Post, No. 56, G. A. R., being senior vice-commander of the Department of Connecticut. He is one of the prominent and influential members of the Repub- lican party in his community, and is one of the present representatives from Enfield town to the State Legislature.

FREDUS M. CASE, one of the most active, energetic, and enterprising business men of Rain- bow, is a descendant of one of the old families of Hartford county, and one that has been prominently identified with the interests of Rainbow for a num- ber of years. His father, Richard D. Case, was born Oct. 12, 1829, one mile west of Rainbow, in the town of Windsor, and was a son of Fredus and Ruth (Phelps) Case.

The grandfather was born in the same town, a short distance east of the birthplace of his son, Richard D., and was a son of Benoni Case, who car- ried on operations as a farmer a short distance west of Rainbow. He lived to a ripe old age, and at his death left considerable property. His remains were interred at Poquonock. His children were as fol- lows: Benoni, a miller and farmer at Rainbow, became quite well-to-do; Zophar, a surveyor, also served as justice of the peace, and tried many cases ; Zardus at one time owned property in partnership with his brother Fredus, but died about 1830, when a young man ; Harlow was a farmer near Rainbow. and lived to an old age; Fredus was the grandfa- ther of our subject; Amy married a Mr. Strick- land, and died in East Windsor : Delsina married Harlow Moore, and died in Rainbow; Chloe mar- ried Benjamin Harger, and died in East Granby : and Amelia married a Mr. Vealy, and died in Rain- bow.

Fredus Case was for years a farmer, and also

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conducted a boarding-house at Rainbow and engaged in teaming, hauling the product of the mills at Rain- bow, Hartford and Windsor. He was a Demo- crat in politics, and a very devout member of the Methodist Church, using his teams on the Sabbath to haul many people to church. He was well known for miles around, and was recognized as one of the best men of the community. He died in 1836, leav- ing two children: Richard D., father of our subject ; and Adelaide, who died at the age of sixteen years. His wife, Ruth, who was a daughter of William Phelps, survived him a few years, and for her sec- ond husband married John P. Ellsworth, by whom she had one son, Eli, now a jeweler of New York.

The early education of Richard D. Case was ob- tained in the public schools near his boyhood home, but after his mother's death he went to live with his maternal uncle, Eli Phelps, of Poquonock, with whom he remained until his marriage, and he at- tended the schools of Suffield and also Wilbraham College. On Feb. 3, 1852, he married Miss Almira J. Moses, a native of Simsbury, Conn., and a daugh- ter of Abel Moses. From his father's estate he had inherited a small property at Rainbow, and there the young couple began their domestic life, while he turned his attention to agricultural pursuits, being engaged in farming more or less throughout his en- tire life. For many years he also hauled goods from Rainbow and Poquonock mills to Hartford and Windsor, and returned with merchandise. For years he was a leading citizen of Rainbow, was one of the best-known men in the northern part of the county, and did more for his locality than prob- ably any other man of his day, as he was liberal, public-spirited and enterprising. Politically he was always a stanch Democrat, but in 1896 he supported Mckinley for the Presidency, and he served sev- eral years as selectman, was justice of the peace some years, and ably represented his district in the State Legislature from 1862 until 1868, and again in 1879 and 1880. At the time of his death he was senior deacon in the Congregational Church, a member of the Poquonock Grange, and a thirty- second-degree Mason, belonging to the Blue Lodge, F. & A. M., at Windsor ; Suffield Chapter, R. A. M .; Wolcott Council, of Hartford; and Washington Commandery, K. T., also of Hartford. It can be said of him that there was prob- ably no man living in his town whose ac- tivity was so great or who had been identified with more enterprises or business undertakings. He was foremost in all things, and many improvements are due to his influence, support and agitation. He was instrumental in securing the erection of the iron bridge at Poquonock, the first bridge in the town, and was selected by the people to oversee its con- struction. He was also chairman of the committee that built the town hall at Poquonock, and was ever a man of inestimable value to the commu- nity.

By his first marriage Mr. Case had the following

children: Adelaide, now the wife of C. M. Mc- Lean, secretary and treasurer of the American Mills, at Rockville, Conn .; Fredus M., our subject ; Winfield S., a resident of Rainbow ; George, a resi- dent of Wallingford, Conn .; Henry, who died at the age of twenty-five years, and James, a resident of Wallingford. The mother of these children died Sept. 27, 1890, and the father subsequently married Mrs. C. Elizabeth ( Bell) Case, widow of Henry Case, but she is now also deceased. Mr. Case passed away Feb. 23, 1899, his death resulting from a shock of paralysis.

Fredus M. Case, whose name introduces this re- view, was born in Rainbow, April 25, 1856, and be- gan his education in the local schools, later at- tended a select school at Poquonock, the Mt. Pleas- ant Institute, Amherst, and Comer's Commercial School, of Boston, where he completed the course and received a diploma. After his graduation he be- came bookkeeper for C. N. McLean, Boston, and later was associated with that gentleman, as commission men in the wool business. He went to San Antonio, Texas, and established the pioneer business of that State in the line of packing and grading wool. On his return to Connecticut he located in Rainbow, where he was associated in business with his father for some time, and in May, 1890, took entire charge of the teaming business, transporting the products of the mills at Rainbow to Windsor and Hartford, and employing from thirty-five to forty horses and many wagons in the business. He makes a spe- cialty of heavy hauling, and had the carting and putting in of the huge dynamos for the Farming- ton River Power Co., which supplies electric light for Hartford; also for the plant at Tariffville, the water-wheel, etc. The dynamos weigh fifty-five tons, one piece eighteen tons, and Mr. Case designed and built the wagon for hauling it. It had what is called a pushing pole, so that teams may be used both front and back, to pull and push. Mr. Case also does a general livery business at Rainbow, has built all his barns and is engaged in farming upon sixty acres of land. He has charge of Judge S. O. Griswold's estate, which he successfully man- ages. He owns an attractive modern home in Rain- bow, which was completed in 1898.

For his first wife Mr. Case married Miss Min- nie D. Smith, of Poquonock, by whom he has one son, living, Herbert S. G., born April 23, 1882. now attending Mt. Pleasant school. After her death he wedded Miss Natalie ( Parsons) Merwin, daughter of Rev. N. T. and Martha ( Parsons) Merwin, of Milford. They are members of the Con- gregational Church, in which Mr. Case has served as superintendent of the Sabbath-school for seven years, and is filling that office now, and takes an active part in church work. He is one of the most prominent members of the Democratic party in his locality, and at the carly age of twenty-three years represented the town of Windsor in the State Leg- islature. He has also served as selectmian for five

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successive years. Fraternally he is a member of the Masonic Lodge at Windsor and of Poquonock Grange.

WILLIAM ANDREW SMITH, the well- known and popular postmaster at Hazardville, is an important factor in business circles, being the leading hardware merchant of the village, and as a public-spirited citizen he is thoroughly interested in whatever tends to promote the moral, intellectual and material welfare of the community.

Mr. Smith was born in Barnesville, New Bruns- wick, May 4, 1844, a son of Andrew and Mary (Barnes) Smith, also natives of New Brunswick, where they continued to make their home until 1850, in which year they became residents of Brim- field, Mass. There the father engaged in farming for ten years, and followed the same pursuit in Wales, Mass., for four years. At the end of that time he removed to Somers, Conn., where he re- mained ten years, and then came to Windsor Locks, Hartford county. Since 1883 he has resided in Hazardville, and is one of the highly-respected citi- zens of the place. His children, six in number, were Jennie. deceased; Carrie, wife of George B. Gordon: William A .; James H .; John W .; and George H.

William A. Smith, our subject, was reared in New England, and his educational privileges were such as the common schools of his day afforded. In 1872 he began his business career as a clerk for Gordon Brothers, Hazardville, acting in that capacity until 1886, when he purchased the business in which he is now engaged. He carries a large and well-selected stock of shelf and heavy hardware, and by courteous treatment and fair dealing he has succeeded in building up an excellent trade.

On May 16, 1888, Mr. Smith married Miss Jessie M., daughter of Franklin and Ann S. ( Spen- cer) Smith, of Hazardville, and to their union has been born one daughter, Marian L., now deceased. The Republican party always finds in Mr. Smith a stanch supporter of its principles, and in 1890 he received the appointment of postmaster at Hazard- ville, which position he is still filling to the entire satisfaction of the many patrons of the office. His public service has been most exemplary, and his private life has been marked by the utmost fidelity to duty.

RALPH HART ENSIGN, manager of En- sign, Bickford & Co., manufacturers of fuses at Simsbury, is a native of that town, and descends from two of the oldest families in the county, the Ensigns and the Whitings, being of the seventh generation of both, counting from and including the first colonist of each family.

On the paternal side, James Ensign was the first to come from England, locating in Cambridge. whence he came to Hartford in 1634. and the heads of the families for the six generations following have been David, Thomas, Moses, Isaac, Moses,

and Ralph Hart, the subject of this sketch. The founder of the Whiting family in New England was William, who was one of the earliest settlers of Hartford, and on this, the maternal side of the house, the heads of the families have consecutively been Joseph, John, Allen, Elijah, with Martha T. and our subject following in due course.

The name Ensign is of Saxon origin, as will be seen in the biographical notices of the East Hart- ford branch of the family. It is traced to the En- sign Manor at Childham, near Canterbury, Eng- land, and the family arms appeared in Childham church. The name was known as far back as 1563 in the counties of Essex, Norfolk and Kent, and was a distinguished cognomen. James Ensign, the founder of the American family, came to Hart- ford with Rev. Thomas Hooker, assisted in organ- izing the Second Church, and died in November, 1670. His only son, David, was born in 1645, and first married Mehitable Gunn, daughter of Thomas Gunn, of Windsor, but they were divorced by mu- tual consent, and he married Sarah Wilcox, who died Feb. 3, 1717. David removed to West Hart- ford, where he organized the Congregational Church, and died Dec. 12, 1727. His children were named David, James and Thomas.

Thomas Ensign, youngest son of David, mar- ried Hannah Shepherd, daughter of John and Re- becca (Greenhill) Shepherd, and among their chil- dren was Moses, who was born in South Windsor. where, in 1731, he married Love Andrews, a daughter of Thomas and Love (Knight) Andrews, and among their children was Isaac, grandfather of Ralph H. Ensign.

Isaac Ensign was born in West Hartford, where he was reared to manhood and learned blacksmith- ing. About 1771 he came to Simsbury and opened a shop near the oldl cemetery. He became a prom- inent citizen of the town, and here married Lu- ranah Pettibone, daughter of Jacob and Jennie (Cornish) Pettibone, to which union were born ten children : Isaac, Isaiah, Ariel, Zeba, Zophar, Bildad, Eri, Moses, Love and Luranah.

Moses Ensign, the eighth son of the foregoing family, was born in Simsbury, and engaged in the manufacture of tinware. He married Martha Tul- ler Whiting, a native of Hartford, but a resident of Simsbury, at the time of marriage. She was a daughter of Elijah Whiting, a farmer, and was related to some of the best families in the county, among whom were the Allyns, the Lords, the Pyn- chons, and others of equal note. She was a noble woman, and the character of her children suggests the influence she exerted over them. These chil- dren were born in the following order: Isaac W., who went South when but twenty-three years old, and is now a successful merchant in Forsyth, Ga., and a most prominent citizen ; Abbie M., widow of Capt. Lucius Goodrich, of Simsbury, whose biog- raphy appears elsewhere; David M., deceased : Sa- bra T., widow of Chester Seymour, and residing in Hartford: Nathan R., who passed a large por- tion of his life in Georgia, was in the Confederate

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service during the war of the Rebellion, and died in Simsbury, Conn .; and Ralph H., the subject of this sketch. In politics Moses Ensign was a Dem- ocrat, and although not a public man, nor one to push himself into general notice, was a regular voter, and took more than an ordinary interest in his party's success. He was prominent as a mem- ber of and officer in the Congregational Church, in the faith of which he died at the age of seventy years : his wife passed away when fifty-six. He was the type of citizen that posterity can feel proud of, and was sadly missed by the community when called away.

Ralph H. Ensign was born Nov. 3, 1834, in a house that stood on the site of the "Elm Tree Inn." He attended the Hop Meadow District school in early youth, and among his teachers were Eliza Hall, Jane Weston and Mrs. Merritt. He later at- tended the Connecticut Literary Institute, at Suffield, at a time when it ranked among the foremost of its kind in .the State, and still later attended Wilbra- ham Academy for a short time. When not at school, he assisted his father in the shop or was engaged in farming. At the age of twenty-one years he went to Suffield, and was employed for some time by Samuel Austin, an extensive manu- facturer of cigars, as assistant foreman. For a short time, also, Mr. Ensign lived in Georgia with his elder brothers, who were there engaged in busi- ness, and on his return to Connecticut accepted a position as clerk in Tariffville, later engaging in mercantile business on his own account at the same place.

In August, 1863, Mr. Ensign entered the em- ploy of Toy, Bickford & Co., fuse manufacturers at Simsbury, became a member of the firm in 1870, and April 1. 1887, when the concern was reorgan- ized, as Ensign, Bickford & Co., he was made man- ager. This firm is the oldest in America in its line, does the largest business in the manufacture of blasting fuses, and owns a branch plant in Brook- lyn, Alameda County, Cal. Its product is shipped te all parts of the world, and its headquarters at Simsbury has been of great value to the town.

Mr. Ensign married, July 21, 1863, Miss Susan Toy, a native of Cornwall. England. and a daugh- ter of Joseph and Jane (Osler) Toy, whose biog- raphy appears elsewhere. She was but a child when brought to the United States, and was reared in Simsbury. Of the five children born to this union, Sarah I. died in infancy ; Joseph R. is fully spoken of in a sketch elsewhere: Susan A. and Julia W. reside with their parents in Simsbury : and Ed- ward William died in childhood.

In politics Mr. Ensign is of Democratic pro- clivities, but he is not strongly partisan. In 1876 he represented his town in the State Legislature. Fraternally he is a member of Simsbury Lodge. F. & A. M. Mrs. Ensign in religion is an ardent Methodist. Mr. Ensign is known as a careful busi- ness man, and is a director in the Hartford Na- tional Bank and several other monetary institu- tions.

MARVIN LEWIS (deceased), who during his life was one of the most respected citizens of Suf- field, was born on the homestead at Hastings Hill, in Suffield. December, 1816, and was a son of John and Hannah ( Hastings) Lewis. He was of Eng- lish descent, his grandfather, John Lewis, who was a hand-weaver by trade, having been the first of the family to come from England to the United States and to make his home at Hastings Hill, where he passed the remainder of his life in the pursuit of agriculture.

John Lewis, father of Marvin Lewis, was born on the Hastings Hill farm, which consisted of sixty acres, passed his life in farming, and died at the age of seventy-five years, in the faith of the Bap- tist Church; his remains, like those of his father, were interred in Zion's Hill cemetery. In politics he was a Democrat, and for several years served as selectman of the town. To his marriage with Hannah Hastings, daughter of Abijah Hastings, were born ten children, two of whom died in in- fancy; those who reached maturity were Orvil, Louisa, Alvin and Marvin, all since deceased ; Han- nah D., who was married to Henry Mather, of Southwick, Mass .; Phebe, who married Lovatus Rising, also of Southwick ; Abijah, now on the home- stead; and Mary Ann, also deceased, who married James Smith, of Rhode Island. The mother of this family died on the farm and was buried in Zion's Hill cemetery.

Marvin Lewis remained with his parents until he was twenty years of age, when he bought a small tract of land near the homestead (the tract is now owned by William Lyons), and after a residence thereon of fifteen years sold out, and bought the Abijah Remington farm of sixty acres, to which he added forty acres, made many improvements, and here died Jan. 1, 1886-one of the most successful tobacco growers and farmers of Suffield. He was liberal in his church views, but was a true Christian, was charitable to all, and was of temperate habits. In politics he was first a Democrat, and later a Republican, and was altogether a useful citizen, respected by all who knew him.

In 1843, Mr. Lewis married, in Suffield, Miss Almira C. Remington, daughter of Abijah Reming- ton, to which union were born two children, Gaman M. and Newton R., the former of whom was a grad- uate of the Connecticut Literary Institute, married Josephine Wright, of Feeding Hills, and died while still young, the father of one child, Ada, who mar- ried George Eastman, of New York City.

Newton R. Lewis for several years was engaged in the hardware business in Bridgeport, Conn., and later in the livery business. After the death of his father he engaged in tobacco growing and farming on the homestead. For his first wife he mar- ried Ada Freeman, only daughter of Eli Freeman, of West Suffield, and for his second wife he wedded Grace Holmes, a native of East Bridgewater, Mass., and a daughter of Ellis W. and Julia J. (Cushing)

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Holmes, who now make New Bedford their home. To Newton R. Lewis and wife have been born two children, Gwendolyn and John.

Abijah Remington, grandfather of Mrs. Marvin Lewis, was a native of Suffield, was a captain in the Revolution, and died at his home-the farm now owned by Mrs. Lewis. He married Silence Rising, who bore him nine children: Silence, mar- ried to John Rice; Desire, married to James Lewis ; Abijah, father of Mrs. Marvin Lewis; Lucy, mar- ried to Thomas Archer; Lydia, married to Will- iam Hastings, who after her death wedded her sister, Laura; Julius; Mary, married to Chancey Sheldon; and Cynthia, who died at the age of eleven years.

Abijah Remington, father of Mrs. Lewis, in his young manhood taught school in winter and worked on his father's farm in summer. He was one of the first tobacco growers in Suffield, was an ex- tensive landholder, owning, among other property, the farm now occupied by William H. Peckham and that occupied by Mrs. Lewis. He died in 1856, a member of the Baptist Church, and one of the most respected men of the county, his remains being interred at Zion's Hill. In poli- tics he was a Whig. To his marriage with Chloe Hanchett, were born two children: Horace, who died in San Jose, Cal .; and Almira C., now Mrs. Lewis. Mrs. Chloe Remington lived to the ripe age of eighty-seven years, died, a devout Baptist, at the home of Mrs. Lewis, and was interred in Zion's Hill cemetery.

Thomas Hanchett, a maternal ancestor of Mrs. Lewis, was the first of the name to come from England. He first located in Roxbury, Mass., in 1620, but afterward made several removes, viz .: In 1649, to Wethersfield, Conn .; in 1651, to New London; in 1654, to Northampton; in 1679, to Westfield ; and in 1686 came to Suffield. To his marriage with Deliverance Laughton, were born four children-John, Thomas, Deliverance and Han- nah. The eldest of these, John Hanchett, born Sept. 1, 1649, in Wethersfield, married Elizabeth Pritchett, Sept. 6, 1677. She died Nov. 29, 17II, the mother of the following children: Esther, born Aug. 1, 1678; John, Nov. 16, 1679; Samuel, April 7, 1682, died Oct. 14, 1761 ; Bathsheba, May 19, 1683; Mehitable, June 22, 1686; Ebenezer, Jan. 13, 1688; and Hannah, Aug. 10, 1693.

John Hanchett, the second of the above family, married Lydia Hayward, Feb. 26, 1707. She was born in 1683, and died in December, 1777, the mother of nine children : Lydia, born in December, 1707 (died in July, 1711) ; John, Nov. 1, 1709 (died in December, 1796) ; Lydia, in 1711 ; Ebenezer, in 1716; Zacharias, in 1718; Uriah, in May, 1721; Joseph, in August, 1723; Hannah, in November, 1725 (died in May, 1727) ; and Hannah (2) Oct. 17, 1728. Of this family, John, the second born, married Mary Sheldon, July 1, 1733. She was born' in 1713. and died Aug. 7, 1795, mother of the fol-

lowing children : Mary B., born May 18, 1734, died Oct. 20, 1750 ; John, porn July 3, 1730, died in March, 1759; Luke, born Feb. 3, 1738; Rachel, born Oct. 31, 1739; Oliver, born Aug. 17, 1741; David, born June 8, 1743 ; Lydia, born March 23, 1745 ; Hannah, and Mary. The father died Dec. 9, 1796. David Hanchett, the sixth of the above named children, and the grandfather of Mrs. Lewis, was a captain in the Revolutionary war. He married, Oct. 24, 1765, Deborah Sheldon, who was born Dec. 26, 1745, and died in May, 1842, the mother of the following family: John, born Sept. 10, 1766, died March 30, 1796; Deborah, born May 17, 1768, died March 11, 1852; Mary, born March 22, 1770, died May 24, 1772; David, born May 24, 1772, died Nov. 24, 1776; Oliver, born July 23, 1774, died Oct. 7, 1829; Hannah, born Feb. 22, 1777, died April 5, 1813; David, born April 13, 1779, died Feb. 2, 1865; Erastus, born Jan. 31, 1781, died Sept. 16, 1854; Seth, born Aug. 7, 1783, died . Sept. 5, 1853; Chloe, born Jan. 10, 1786 (married Abijah Remington, and became the mother of Mrs. Lewis), died Oct. 15, 1872; Betsey, born Nov. 17, 1789, died Sept. 5, 1849 ; and Phineas, born May 22, 1792, died March 19, 1865. The father of this family died in 1822, a devout member of the Baptist Church.

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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 20

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