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 24

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 24

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The parents of our subject came to America in the spring of 1844, locating in Paterson, N. J., where they remained one year. They then spent two years in Auburn, N. Y., and in 1847 removed to Thomp- sonville, town of Enfield, Hartford Co., Conn. In 1852 the family removed to Hazardville.

David Gordon received his education in the common and night schools. His early advantages. were limited. At the age of seventeen he began an apprenticeship at the tinner's trade, serving three years, and then worked one year as journeyman. In 1862 he embarked in the tinner's business at Hazard- ville, with the late Franklin Smith and John N. Spencer. A few years later, at the expiration of this. partnership, his brothers were admitted to the firm, which was styled Gordon Brothers. The business extended, and peddlers of tinware were sent all over New England. The brothers gradually drifted into the paper and paper stock trade, and later dealt to some extent in woolen waste and woolcn rags. Since 1884 they have been extensively engaged in the manufacture of shoddy.

On Oct. 8, 1863, Mr. Gordon was married to Fidelia M., daughter of Arnold and Belinda Wood- worth, of Suffield, and to their union were born three children: Sarah B., wife of Rev. Edwin S. Holloway; William W., who married Hattie Covell ; and Howard D., who married Hattie Kelsey. Mrs. Gordon died Nov. 7, 1898, and on Nov. 14, 1899,

David Gordon.

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Mr. Gordon married Ada Belle, daughter of the late Edwin Crosby, of East Glastonbury, Connecticut. Mr. Gordon began life at the bottom of the lad- der, and by his own exertions has accumulated a competency. He is an active member, and for thirty-eight years has been a trustee and steward, of the M. E. Church, in which for forty years he has been leader of the choir. He served on the building committee that erected the present church edifice in Hazardville. In 1896 he was sent as a lay delegate from the New England Southern Conference to represent it at the General Conference of the M. E. Church, held at Cleveland, Ohio. Politically Mr. Gordon is a Republican.

ALFRED KILBOURNE, deceased. The Kil- bourne family is one of the oldest in Hartford county, and the subject of this memoir, formerly an honored resident of the town of East Hartford, was of the ninth generation in descent from Thomas Kilbourne, a pioneer of Wethersfield, Conn. By their industry and thrift the members of the family have maintained the credit of the name, while their public spirit and patriotism have been shown in both war and peace.

(I) Thomas Kilbourne, the emigrant, was born in England in 1578, and in 1635 came to America, in the ship "Increase," with his wife Frances and their children, landing on April 15 of that year. He located at Wethersfield, Conn., where he passed the remainder of his life.

(II) Sergt. John Kilbourne, youngest child of Thomas, was baptized in Wood Ditton, England. Sept. 29, 1624. He became one of the prominent men of the Connecticut Colony, and held many public offices, including those of magistrate in the local courts, member of the Colonial Legislature, and member of the Colonial Grand Jury. In 1662 he helped to procure the famous Charter of Con- necticut. He and his wife, Naomi, to whom he was married in 1650, had several children, among whom was a son, Thomas, known as Sergt. Thomas.

(III) Sergt. Thomas Kilbourne was born in Wethersfield in February, 1651. He married Susan- nah, daughter of William Hills, of Glastonbury.

(IV) Thomas Kilbourne, the next in the line of descent, was born in Hockanum, Conn. In 1700 he married a daughter of Joseph Hills, of Glas- tonbury.

(V) Thomas Kilbourne, son of Thomas ( I\'), was born Sept. 8, 1705, at what is now East Hart- ford. In May, 1728, he married Mary Diggins, daughter of John Diggins, of Middletown, Conn., and among their children was a son, Thomas.

(VI) Thomas Kilbourne, our subject's great- grandfather, was born Aug. 25, 1729. He married, and had a son, Ashbel.

(VII) Ashbel Kilbourne, the grandfather of our subject, was born in East Hartford in April, 1759, and during the Revolutionary war served as a soldier in Col. Webb's regiment. He suffered much in the cause of his country, being taken pris-

oner by the British troops in December, 1777, and imprisoned in Philadelphia, from which place he was transported in a wagon to Hartford, Conn. After his return home he was obliged to put himself under the care of Dr. Tudor, of East Windsor, his feet having been frozen while in prison. Through neglect he had become crippled for life, and the "American Archives," published by order of Con- gress in 1848, thus refers to his case: "Mr. Kil- bourne was disabled while a prisoner in Philadel- phia ; his feet being frozen his toes dropped off, and for want of proper care he was totally disabled." Congress granted him a pension and arrearages, and the General Assembly of Connecticut, in the May session, 1779, passed the following concerning him : "Resolved, by this Assembly, that the commit- tee of pay table, adjust and liquidate the accounts of the memorialist for his sickness, and draw an order on the Treasurer of the State for such sums as they shall find due." This worthy patriot mar- ried a Miss Evans, of East Windsor.

(VIII) Capt. Ashbel Kilbourne, our subject's father, was born in East Hartford, July 12, 1783, and became a sea captain by occupation. He lost his life Feb. 15, 1822, being shipwrecked off the coast of Bermuda. He married Miss Roxa Gillette, of East Windsor.

(IX) Alfred Kilbourne was born July 11, 1809, in what was then East Windsor (now South Wind- sor), near the site of the birthplace of John Fitch, famous as the inventor of the first steamboat. His schooling was like that of the average farmer's boy of the time, and he lived at home until his marriage, which occurred in 1838. He then re- moved to the homestead now occupied by his aged wife and their daughter, a valuable estate given him by his stepfather, Roger Burnham. There he en- gaged in tobacco growing, being one of the pioneers of that industry in this section, and for many years also raised seeds for the Enfield Shakers, carrying on an extensive business with them. In early life he was a stanch Whig, and when the Republican party was formed he became a steadfast supporter of its principles. So firm was he in his convic- tions, that although he was the only one of his family who was originally inclined to that belief, his convincing arguments won nearly all of them. His reputation as a man of sound judgment is evidenced by a remark made of him by a friend : "Mr. Kilbourne is always found on the right side of all political and moral questions." He never sought office, although he served as justice of peace in his early life. He was one of the oldest mem- bers of Crescent Lodge, I. O. O. F., of East Hart- ford. For many years he was a devont member of the Congregational Church of East Hartford, with which he united in 1837, and was a large contrib- ntor to its work in which his wife was also actively interested. In all his business dealings he was very honorable and upright, while his quiet, unassuming manner won for him the friendship of the entire community. Throughout his life he held strong

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views on temperance reform, which he sustained by precept and example. He died Jan. 3, 1894, from the effects of a paralytic stroke, his advanced age hastening his death.

Mr. Kilbourne's deepest solicitude centered in his home and family, his tastes being thoroughly domestic. On Nov. 29, 1838, he married Miss Jerusha Williams Roberts, and four children blessed the union : (1) Mary married Elijah Ackley, a pros- perous farmer of East Hartford, and they have two children-Mrs. L. D. Green, of New York, and William K. Ackley, now living at home. (2) MISS HARRIET T. resides at the homestead, and cares for her aged mother with true filial devotion. (3) Ellen M. married B. P. Bishop, of Norwich, and has three children, Harriet K., Roberts Huntington and Marion Lee. (4) Alfred E. resides near the homestead, and is a prosperous farmer and tobacco buyer; he is mentioned elsewhere. Mrs. Jerusha (Roberts) Kilbourne was born March 18, 1819, daughter of the late Hon. Ozias Roberts, of East Hartford, formerly a State senator. (Extended genealogical history of the Roberts family may be found elsewhere.)

THOMAS SMITH ROURKE, who is now prominently identified with the business and po- litical interests of Farmington, was born in Union- ville, Dec. 26, 1865, the only child of Daniel and Ellen (Smith) Rourke.

Daniel Rourke, father of our subject, was born, reared and educated in King's County, Ireland, where he continued to make his home until thirty years of age. He then crossed the broad Atlantic on a sailing vessel, which was three weeks in mak- ing the voyage, and coming to Hartford county, Conn., found employment with a farmer in Union- ville, with whom he remained for two years. Sub- sequently he worked for the family of Rev. James A. Smith for about thirty years, and since then has lived retired, enjoying a well-earned rest. He has been a very active member of the Catholic Church of Unionville, and is highly respected and esteemed by all who know him. He married Miss Ellen Smith, who was born in Ireland, and reared in Huntington, Mass., and is a daughter of Philip Smith.

The boyhood and youth of our subject were passed in Unionville, and he was given a good high- school education, which has been of great advantage to him in his business career. For twelve years he clerked in the store of Tryon & Sanford, general merchants of Unionville, and for four years was deputy sheriff of the county. under Sheriff Preston, being the youngest man on his staff. In 1892, during President Cleveland's second administration, he was appointed postmaster at Unionville, and most ac- ceptably filled that office for four years. He is now engaged in the fire insurance, real estate and auctioneering business at Unionville, is chairman of the board of directors of the Unionville Fire District, superintendent of the Unionville Water

Co., and vice-president of the Mutual Plate Glass & Safe Insurance Co. He is a recognized leader in the ranks of the local Democracy, and is now a member of the Democratic town committee. Fraternally he belongs to the Knights of Columbus, and to Agenda Lodge, K. P.

On June 16, 1897, Mr. Rourke was married, in Collinsville, Conn., to Miss Lillian V. Kerrin.

REV. MICHAEL ANTHONY SULLIVAN. Rev. Father Sullivan is one of those carnest, self- sacrificing, energetic clergymen of the Catholic Church to whom duty is preferable to ease, and whose faith is a higher and more controlling im- pulse than riches or fame. Both his parents and grandparents were born in Ireland. His grand- father, Martin Sullivan, a farmer, married Julia Kirby. His father was also named Martin and his mother Julia. His parents came to this country in 1849, and his father for many years worked as a farmer, dying in Colchester Aug. 1, 1898. The mother is still living.

Father Sullivan was born in Middlefield, Conn., Sept. 16, 1859. His education was begun in the public schools of Durham, and was pursued at the Bacon Academy in Colchester, an educational institute founded in 1801 by Theodore Bacon. The young man graduated from the academy in 1876, and soon afterward matriculated at St. Bo:1- aventure's College at Allegany, N. Y., from which seat of learning he graduated in 1881. Feeling an inclination for the priesthood, he entered St. Bonaventure's Seminary as a theological student. Here he pursued his studies until 1884, when he was ordained a priest by Bishop Stephen Vincent Ryan. His first pastoral charge was the parish of Windsor Locks, Conn. After remaining there for two and a half years he was transferred to St. John's parish, New Haven, where he was assistant rector for ten years. In 1896 he was given charge of St. Paul's Church at Kensington, to which is attached, as a mission station, the Sacred Heart parish of East Berlin. The latter Father Sullivan has built up, erecting a neat church edifice, which is already wholly paid for. He is a man thoroughly respected by all, takes a lively interest in the wel- fare of his parish, both temporal and spiritual, and is an earnest worker in the cause of temperance. He has organized numerous societies in his church, has established a flourishing branch of the Total Abstinence and Benevolent Brotherhood, with thirty members in East Berlin, and total abstinence societies in Kensington.

ELMORE HORTON. M. D., a prominent and successful physician of Plantsville, was born in Bristol, this county, July 29, 1832, and is a son of Leonard and Nancy (Gaylord) Horton, natives of Bristol and Wolcott, Conn., respectively.

Throughout life the Doctor's father followed the wheelwright's trade, and continued to make his home in Bristol, where he died in 1866. In his

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family were only two children: Sarah Ann, wife of Garry Allen; and Elmore. Our subject's pa- ternal grandfather, Samuel Horton, a carpenter and joiner by trade, lived and died in Wolcott. His wife bore the maiden name of Hannah Bradley. His father, Elisha Horton, was a son of Samuel Horton, a native of England, who removed front New Haven to Wolcott when the British captured the former place during the Revolutionary war. Our subject's maternal grandfather was Lot Gay- lord, a farmer of Bristol, and a son of Edward Gaylord. Jesse Gaylord, the father of the latter, was a son of Edward Gaylord, who came to this county from Wallingford and was one of the orig- inal settlers of Bristol.

Dr. Horton spent his boyhood and youth in his native town, and his early education, acquired in its common schools, was supplemented by a course at the Bristol Academy. During the Civil war he was engaged in mechanical work, and also spent much time in caring for the sick. In 1871 he began the study of medicine with Dr. Henry N. Byington, of Southington ; later attended lectures at the medi- cal school of Yale College for three years, and spent part of one year in the Homeopathic Medical College of New York. In 1875 he received a diploma from the Eclectic Medical Society of the State of Connecticut, and at once opened an office in Plain- ville, where he remained for six years, in 1881 re- moving to Plantsville, where he has since been actively and successfully engaged in the practice of his chosen profession, having by earnest and honest endeavor built up quite a remunerative prac- tice and gained a first-class reputation as an able and skillful physician. He is a member of the Eclectic Medical Society of Connecticut, and in politics is a Republican.

THEODORE B. ROGERS (deceased) was born in the town of West Springfield, Mass., Sept. 16, 18II, his parents being Asa and Lydia ( Fuller) Rogers.

Mr. Rogers' father had but small means, and Theodore's early educational advantages were lim- ited to such as were afforded by the primitive dis- trict schools of that carly date. Even as a boy. however, he manifested a thirst for knowledge, and so well did he improve his meager advantages, and so thoroughly did he supplement them by reading and study at home that he was able to lay a broad, solid foundation for his remarkable success in after life. At an early age he found himself forced to face life's stern realities for himself. Going to Hartford he mastered the wheelwright's trade, and after serving his time as an apprentice went to Rocky Hill, where he entered the employ of Neff & Merriam, carriage builders. He remained with that firm for several years, his industry, natural aptitude, skill and fidelity securing for him the position of foreman, and later that of manager of their branch establishment at Wilmington, N. C. After filling this post for several years with credit

to himself and to the entire satisfaction of his em- ployers, he returned to Rocky Hill, where he em- barked in business on his own account. After a few years so spent he removed to Wethersfield, where he passed the remainder of his life. He was a man of rare inventive genius and had at the same time a thorough knowledge of practical me- chanics. He brought these powers to practical use in the invention of the Wethersfield Seed Sower, a seed-drill at once simple, compact, strong, durable, portable and thoroughly efficient. He secured a patent for this machine and at once entered upon its manufacture and sale, in which business he was successful almost from its inception. The career of such men as he affords at once an example and an encouragement. Beginning life as a poor boy, with no influential friends to aid him by purse or voice, he hewed out his own way through pertinac- ity and pluck, and of him it may be said that he was one of the truest and noblest types of the self-made man. He lived to attain the age of eighty years, dying at his home in Wethersfield on Dec. 30, 1891. His intellect was unimpaired and his physical powers showed little decay, even at that advanced age. He was buried in Cedar Hill cemetery. He naturally gravitated from the Whig to the Republican party, and, although never desiring office, was a stanch supporter of its po- litical creed. In his religious belief he was a Con- gregationalist. He was a fond husband and a true friend : charitable in his judgment of others, upright in his dealings, generous in his benefac- tions, a friend of higher education and an earnest champion of the cause of temperance.

Mr. Rogers was three times married. His first wife was Martha Warner, who bore him two daugh- ters, A. Louisa and Martha H. The first named married E. G. Woodhouse, of Wethersfield, and the younger became the wife of Prof. Henry E. Sawyer, of Washington, D. C. His second mar- riage was to Meribah Ashley, of West Spring- field, Mass., by whom he had no issue. Ilis third wife was Mrs. Jerusha (Smith ) Good- rich, a daughter of Levi Smith and widow of Joseph B. Goodrich, who was a son of Deacon Joel Goodrich. This marriage was also without issue. By her first marriage Mrs. Rogers was the mother of four children: Gertrude A., Frederic G., Edward J., and a child who died in infancy. None lived to reach mature years. She is still living at Wethersfield, active and energetic despite her fourscore years, which rest so lightly upon her. Her mind is clear and her memory re- tentive, which characteristics, joined to culture and native refinement, combine to make her a delight- ful conversationalist.

The Smith family, of which Mrs. Rogers is a member, is one of the oldest in that part of Wethers- field, now known as Rocky Hill. Ezekiel Smith, hier grandfather, was born there May 18, 1756, son of Levi Smith, who died Sept. 15. 1758, leaving two sons. Ezekiel Smith was a farmer and land

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owner, and a soldier in the war of the Revolution. He married Mrs. Ruth Ames, a widow, and was the father of six children. Levi Smith, the father of Mrs. Rogers, was also born at Rocky Hill, where he spent his life. He was a successful farmer and an earnest member of the Congrega- tional Church. In politics he was first a Whig and on the disruption of that party became a Repub- lican. On May 7, 1806, he married Betsy Gibbs, who was born in March, 1785, and died Nov. 15, 1865, at the age of eighty years. Like her hus- band, she was connected with the Congregational communion. Mr. and Mrs. Levi Smith were the parents of ten children, whose names, with the respective dates of their birth and some brief bi- ographical data, are given below: Emmeline, born April 7, 1807, married Allen W. Miller. Eliza Ann, born May 14, 1809, became the wife of A. C. Arnold. Norman, born Oct. 26, 1811, married Lucy Cooley. Henry married Emmeline Goodrich. Delia was born Sept. 10, 1816. Jerusha (Mrs. Rogers) was born April 20, 1819. Martha, born June 22, 1821, married Elisha Gilbert, who died Jan. 19, 1900, aged eighty-three years. Levi H., born June 5. 1824, married Rebecca Young and became the father of four children, Mary (Mrs. Dwight Wells), Harriet (Mrs. Edmund M. Wil- cox, who is the mother of one child, Dorothy), William E. (who married Kate Harding) and Margaret E. (who married C. R. Spencer). Mary S., born June 24, 1827, married Samuel Dimmock, of Rocky Hill. John L., born June 23, 1830, mar- ried Lucinda G. Blinn, who died Feb. 17, 1897.

GEORGE LYMAN. one of the highly-esteemed citizens of Marlboro, is an honored veteran of the Civil war, and is also on the retired list of the New York police force. His present life of ease and quiet is in direct contrast to the exciting and ad- venturous career that he has passed. Brave and fearless in disposition, his duties were always dis- charged in a most commendable and satisfactory manner both as a soldier and as a policeman.

Mr. Lyman is descended from an old and hon- ored New England family. His grandfather, Jacob Lyman, was a surveyor of Bolton, Tolland Co., Conn., where he also engaged in farming, and where his death occurred. He married a Miss Bolles, and to them were born five children: Johanna, wife of Joseph Eaton, of Bolton ; Ezra, who married, and lived in Bolton and later in Saybrook, where he died ; Mary, who wedded Henry Gallupp, and lived in Illinois for a time, but is now a resident of Iowa ; Jacob, father of our subject ; and Sophia, who mar- ried a Mr. Chapman, and lived in Bozrahville.

Jacob Lyman, father of our subject, was born in Bolton in 1805, and in early life, as a solicitor and canvasser, he traveled throughout the West. He also engaged in the lumber business, and followed farming in Bolton, where he died in December. 1884. He married Dorcas Chapman, a native of Vernon, Conn., and to them were born eight children: Al-

mira married John Lord, and lives in Marlboro ; Marietta is the wife of E. M. Burdick, of South Manchester ; William C. married Martha Barrows, and lives 'in Willimantic; George, our subject, is next in the order of birth ; Charles married Ame- lia Campbell, and lives in Washington, D. C., where he is chief of a government department, and was a member of the civil service commission and presi- dent of the board; Benjamin married Nancy A. Bowers, and lives in Boston; Norman is a paper manufacturer of Talcottville, Conn .; and John died in Holyoke, Mass., at the age of twenty-one years.

Our subject was also born in Bolton, Conn., September 13, 1841. He began his education in the common schools, later attending the Manchester Academy and the Mt. Carroll ( Ill.) Seminary, grad- uating from the latter in 1863. He then engaged in traveling for about six months, selling A. B. Is- rael's outline maps.

On March 8, 1864, in St. Louis, Mr. Lyman en- listed in Company L, 12th Missouri Volunteer Cav- alry, and shortly after his enlistment was made sec- ond sergeant. The troop had charge of the military stores in St. Louis in 1864, and then joined Gen. Hooker's expedition through western Tennessee and northern Mississippi, en route to re-enforce Gen. Sherman's army in front of Atlanta. When they arrived at Holly Springs, Miss., orders were re- ceived to intercept Gen. Hood, who had evacuated Atlanta and had made a stand in front of Nashville, Tenn. In the three-days' battle at the latter place. Gen. Thomas almost annihilated Hood's army. While at Holly Springs, during the fall of 1864, Mr. Lyman was detailed to deliver convalescents and recruits to various points along the Mississippi river from Memphis to New Orleans, and joined his regiment in time to take part in the battle of Nashville, Dec. 15, 16, 17, where his battalion (the 3rd) was almost destroyed. Later the regiment went on Gen. Stewart's expedition or raid through the South, but our subject was not with them, as he was general ward master of the United States marine hospital at St. Louis for about six months at that time. He was wounded three times in about a quarter of an hour while on a little expedition at Holly Springs. He was ordered to pick fifteen men for an advance guard to go to the Tallahassee river, where the regiment was repairing a bridge on the Tallahassee & Memphis railroad, the bridge being over an important point for the regiment to cross. This little band suspected that the Con- federates were in the vicinity, and when they ar- rived on the spot they found the bridge burned. On their way back they met an advance guard of Col. Chalmer's out-pickets, the time being about nightfall, and the Rebels, armed with Mississippi rifles and saber bayonets, surrounded our subject's little company. The lieutenant who was with them said, "Boys, it is either fight or Andersonville prison," and they fought. After firing all their ammunition they made a charge, fighting hand to hand. Some escaped, but others were captured or

Ges Lyman

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killed, and our subject received three bayonet wounds, but escaped. After the return of his regi- ment to St. Louis from Gen. Stewart's expedition he joined them there. They were remounted, joined Col. Cowles' Powder river expedition, and made a circle round the Black Hills against the Aspersias, Sioux, Comanche and Arapahoe Indians, who were on the warpath. They had several skirmishes, ac- companied by a few losses, and dispersed the In- dians. They returned to Fort Leavenworth, Kan., and were mustered out April 9, 1866.

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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 24

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