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 25

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 25

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Mr. Lyman came east and secured the position of buyer for Cone & Smith, wholesale grocery dealers at No. 118 Greenwich street, New York, remaining with that firm until its dissolution a year later. He was then appointed a policeman by Police Commissioner Manier in 1868, and served the city faithfully in that precarious capacity until the time limit of service-twenty years-was reached in 1888, when he retired. He was on "police detail service" for eighteen years; was ap- pointed special officer by a special Act of the Legis- lature of New York, and served as detective in the Lincoln National Bank five years, when he felt his time of service was completed and poor health forced him to retire. He came to Marlboro, the home of his wife's parents, and is now enjoying a well-earned rest in the quiet of the country. While on duty during the "Orange riot" in New York, when the procession was coming down Eighth ave- nue, near the corner of Twenty-third street and Ford's Opera House, the mob made a charge, and the Ninth Regiment. which was on duty there, fired a volley to frighten the crowd. The mob began firing also, and many who were on housetops took part in the shooting. Mr. Lyman was shot through the calf of the leg, the bullet passing clear through the limb. The shot was evidently fired from a housetop.

On Sept. 18, 1867, Mr. Lyman married Miss Anna Maria Denslow, who was born in New Hart- ford, Litchfield Co., Conn., May 25, 1840, a daugh- ter of Samuel Bailey and Eliza ( Phelps ) Denslow. The father was appointed cornet, Ist Company, Governor's Horse Guards, Jan. 4, 1835, in the militia of this State, where he gave faithful service until his death in December, 1844. The mother subse- quently married Judson Russell. She died in March, 1885. Our subject and his wife have had two chil- dren: (1) Belle V., born April 18, 1870, became the wife of Charles Daniel Way, Jr., an extensive farmer and stock dealer of Gilead, Conn .; she died Nov. 10, 1897, leaving one child, Walter D. (2) Grace D., born April 8, 1875, is the wife of Elton W. Buell, a manufacturer of various kinds of woodenware in Gilead, and they have two children, Deems H. and Dorothy Isabelle.

Mr. Lyman is a splendid specimen of manhood, being six feet in height and weighing over 200 pounds. He receives a pension from the police fund of New York, and has a pretty home in Marlboro, where he expects to spend the remainder of his life in case and quiet. He is a member of Phil

Carney Post, No. 8. G. A. R., Department of New York, and served on the council of administration. Politically he is a stanch Republican. In New York he joined the Church of Strangers, and now attends the Congregational Church of Marlboro. He has made many warm friends during his residence here and is held in high regard by all who know him.

Capt. Albert J. Russell, brother of Mrs. Ly- man, entered West Point in September, 1872, and graduated June 14. 1876. He was first assigned to the Tenth United States Cavalry, but not long afterward was transferred to the Seventh Cavalry, with which he served almost twenty years, being retired in May, 1896, on account of disability. He was wounded fighting Indians. The Captain mar- ried Miss Harrie L. Rumney, who died April 18, 1893, at Fort Riley, Kan., leaving three children : Albert Judson, Larned Rumney and Joseph Haw- ley, who have since made their home with Mr. and Mrs. Lyman. On April 15, 1900, Capt. Russell passed away at Sierra Madre, Cal., and his remains rest in the Government cemetery at Santa Monica, that State. Mr. Lyman is guardian of the children.

WALTER G. MURPHY, M. D., is descended from a Scotch-Irish ancestry. His grandfather, John Murphy, was a pioneer soap manufacturer of Albany, N. Y. His father, Thomas S. Murphy, was born in Albany, and was identified with the bookbinding industry of that city. He married Elinor Crew, of Albany, and their union was blessed with five children: Mary S., Thomas S., James E., Charles S. and Walter G.

Walter G. Murphy was born in Albany. N. Y., Nov. 13, 1868. He received his early education in the schools of that city, and later entered St. Paul's School at Salem, N. Y., where he prepared for col- lege. Matriculating at Albany Medical College, he was graduated from that institution in 1889. He entered Hudson River State Hospital, where he remained six months, and then served eighteen months as interne at the Albany hospital. 111 1801 Dr. Murphy located in Granby, Conn., and in 1893 he settled in East Hartford. He is a member of the City, County and State Medical Societies. In 1892 the Doctor was married to Miss Henrietta Broughton, daughter of A. K. Broughton, of Salem, Washington Co., N. Y., and they have two chil- dren, Elinor D. and Frances B.

REV. JESSE E. HEALD. The world appre- ciates and loves a man of charity and broadened sympathies, and especially does it hold in kindliest reverence and esteem the minister whose close contact with his fellow men is not confined to the members of his own parish. It is one of the dis- tinctive traits of Rev. Mr. Heald, rector of Trinity Church at Tariffville, that he has many friends in every religious denomination. No better tribute than this bare recital can be paid to one of his cloth and calling. An able minister, he is above all else in his relations with men kindhearted and

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genial. He is not clothed in chilling dignity, not wrapped about with any species of exclusiveness. His services at burials and at weddings are in de- mand as often from other denominations as from his own church. He is widely known, and wher- ever known is blessed.

Mr. Heald's preparation for his calling was hedged about with trying obstacles. The family was formerly one of wealth and always one of influence, but this branch of it was in reduced cir- cumstances at the time of the birth of our subject, whose education was obtained solely by his own resources. As a lad he worked in a woolen mill, but his daily companion there was a Greek reader. Rev. Mr. Heald is of Vermont ancestry, descended from an old English family. He was born in Mt. Holly, Vt., Dec. 26, 1834, a son of Elliott and Jerusha (Wellman) Heald. The father was born in Granville, N. Y., in 1811, the mother in Dorset, Vt., in 1812. The paternal grandfather of our subject's paternal grandmother was Capt. John Averil, an early settler of Westminster. Vermont.

Elliott Heald, the father of our subject, was a dealer and worker in marble. He was a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church and an active religious worker. His brother, John Heald, was a Methodist minister. Elliott Heald lived for many years at Amherst, Mass., to which town he re- moved in 1838, and where he lived to the age of seventy; his wife survived him and died in 1889, aged seventy-seven years. They were buried at North Amherst, Mass. To Elliott and Jerusha Heald were born four children: Jesse E., our sub- ject ; Nancy, who died unmarried, aged twenty years ; Charles, of Amherst, Mass .; and Anna, now Mrs. Tracy, of Amherst.

Jesse E. Heald was four years old when his parents moved to Amherst, Mass., where his early schooling was received. He attended Wesleyan Academy, and was graduated in 1853 from Wil- braham, Mass. Being an earnest, progressive stu- dent, he worked to secure the means to pay his tuition and expenses. As noted above, he com- bined the occupations of a mill worker and a Greek student, and very successfully. At the age of eighteen he pursued his studies under the in- fluences of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and at twenty-one was regularly ordained a minister of that denomination. He held several charges, and at the age of twenty-five years became a candidate for orders in the Protestant Episcopal Church. He became assistant minister at Trinity Church, Newtown, Conn., and in 1862 came to what is now Trinity Church, Tariffville. Rev. Heald next be- came rector of the Episcopal Church at Pine Meadow, Conn., for three years. He next took charge of Grace Church at Saybrook, Conn., and the fine stone church, costing $40,000, was erected during his pastorate and dedicated free from debt ; the rectory of that church, an unusually fine struc- ture, was also built through his efforts. He re- mained at Saybrook for ten years, and a six-years'

rectorship at Millville, Worcester Co., Mass., fol- lowed. In June, 1884, he returned to Tariffville, where he has since lived continuously, only a por- tion of the time, however, as rector of Trinity Church.

Rev. Mr. Heald married, May 30, 1855, Miss Betsy Tilden, who was born at North Coventry Jan. 4, 1825, daughter of Walter and Rebecca (Jones) Tilden. Walter Tilden was an extensive Connecticut farmer. Of his eight children three are now living: Betsy, the wife of our subject ; Catherine, now Mrs. P. W. Turner, of Turnerville, Conn .; and Charles W., a farmer of Mansfield, Conn. To Rev. and Mrs. Heald were born two sons, William Elliott and Robert H., both of whom are now deceased. William Elliott was born Nov. 12, 1857, at Gales Ferry, Conn., and was a bright and promising young man when he passed away at Saybrook Aug. 26, 1874. Robert H. was born April 15, 1862, at Newtown, Conn., and died at Tariffville July 26, 1864.

As pastor Rev. Mr. Heald has met with remark- able success. He has frequently been called to officiate in ministerial work at various towns about Tariffville by members not only of the Episcopal Church but of many other denominations, and has been called upon to conduct the funeral services of Congregational deacons and prominent members of other churches. He has buried over 200 people in and about Tariffville, and a very large number else- where since he began his pastoral work. On his twenty-first birthday he officiated at his first wed- ding, and the bridal pairs he has since that occa- sion made happy are numerous indeed. Rev. and Mrs. Heald are most highly respected by all who know them. The influences which have ever radi- ated from their home have been uplifting and cheer- ing, penetrating, like the searching sunshine, many a neglected nook and corner in human hearts. "It is more blessed to give than to receive" might be given as one of the life principles of our sub- ject, and his ministrations have been those that were needed most and have made his name hon- ored and cherished wherever he is known.

THOMPSON SINCLAIR GRANT. For- tunate is he who has back of him an ancestry hon- orable and distinguished, and happy is he if his lines of life are cast in harmony therewith. Our subject is blessed in this respect, for he springs from a prominent family, and is to-day one of the best known and most influential citizens of Hart- ford county. He is now Comptroller of Connecti- cut, and is a recognized leader in public affairs.

Mr. Grant was born in the town of Enfield, Hartford county, June 21, 1843, a son of Harry Al- len and Laura Ann (Thompson) Grant. His pater- nal grandfather, Robert Grant, a native of eastern Scotland and a surgeon by profession, was with the British navy during the early part of the Revo- lutionary war, but later he became a naturalized American citizen and served on Gen. Marion's staff,

ThomfondGrant

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as surgeon, until the close of the war. He then located in South Carolina, where he engaged in raising rice, and subsequently removed to Glynn county, Ga., where he owned a large rice planta- tion, as well as a large cotton plantation on St. Simons Island, near Brunswick, Ga. He died in 1844.

Harry Allen Grant, our subject's father, was born on St. Simons Island, on the Georgia coast, in 1813, and in 1821 was sent North to be educated. After graduating from Union College, in 1833. he studied medicine in Baltimore, Md., under Dr. Geddings, and in the early '3os practiced in Al- bany, N. Y., for a period of two years. In 1836 he went to Europe, where he spent five years studying in the principal hospitals of the Old World. Re- turning to the United States in 1841, he opened an office in New York City, and the following year came to Hartford, Conn., where he engaged in the active practice of his profession until 1854. He then removed to Enfield, where he lived retired un- til his death, in 1884. During the Civil war he served on Gov. Buckingham's staff as surgeon- general of Connecticut, and in 1861 was a member of the Lower House of the State Legislature. At the Baltimore Convention, in 1864, when President Lincoln was nominated for a second term, he was one of the vice-presidents of that body, and during President Johnson's administration he was col- lector of Internal Revenue for the States of Con- necticut and Rhode Island, with office at Hartford, filling that position for four years. He was twice married, his first wife being Louisa, daughter of Lynott Bloodgood, of Albany, N. Y., and to them was born one son, Harry Allen, Jr., a graduate of Hamilton College and a lawyer by profession, who died in Tarrytown, N. Y., in August, 1898. The second wife was Laura Ann, daughter of Orrin and Love (Lusk) Thompson, of Enfield, Conn., and the only child born of this union is Thompson Sinclair, our subject. Orrin Thompson was the founder of Thompsonville, this county, and his sketch will be found elsewhere. He was a son of Matthew Thompson, who drifted to Hartford county during the eighteenth century, and was one of the carly settlers of the town of Suffield, and later of Enfield. He was a man of great force of character, was an extensive land speculator, and accumulated a large property. During the Revolu- tionary war he enlisted in Capt. Walker's company, at Stratford. Conn., and for three years fought for the independence of the Colonies. He was born in 1763, and died in Enfield March 4. 1828. In 1787 he married Betsy Collins, who was born in 1770, and died May 19, 1855. She drew a Revo- lutionary pension under the Pension Act of 1843.

Thompson S. Grant was reared in Enfield, and was fitted for college in private schools. In 1861 he located in New York City, and he was success- fully engaged in the woolen commission trade there until 1872, when he returned to Enfield. He has since carried on business as a farmer, and from

1874 as a dealer in and packer of seed leaf and Havana seed tobacco. He occupies the old family residence erected by his grandfather, Orrin Thomp- son, in 1832. Mr. Grant was married, Oct. 17, 1872. to Miss Alice V. Mintzing, a daughter of Jacob and Louisa (Thwing) Mintzing, of Charles- ton, S. C. Two children blessed this union: Harry Allen, born Jan. 10, 1874. died April 28, 1883; and Fairfax, born March 23, 1875, died May 13. 1883. The wife and mother was called to her final rest Sept. 13, 1894.

Mr. Grant is a leading member of the First Ecclesiastical Congregational Church of Enfield, and has served ten years as chairman of the so- ciety committee. In 1867 and 1898 he was a mem- ber of the Lower House of the State Legislature, and in the latter year was elected Comptroller of Connecticut for a term of two years. His politi- cal support is always given to the men and meas- ures of the Republican party. He is public-spirited in an eminent degree, and has always done much in behalf of the general interests of his community. Pleasant and genial in manner, he is quite popular, and is the center of a large circle of friends and acquaintances who honor and esteem him for liis genuine worth

GEORGE AUSTIN WARREN (deceased) was a member of one of the earliest settled families of East Hartford, which beyond all doubt descended from Richard Warren, who came to America in the historic "Mayflower." They lived in Silver Lane, so called by the French soldiers who en- camped there at the time of the Revolutionary war and who, it is said, stored their money in one of the rooms of the Warren house. The first of the family of whom there is any authentic ac- count was William Warren, who married Mary Andrews, and settled in East Hartford in 1664.

Ashbel Warren married Penelope Pratt, whose mother's name was Margaret Ely, and to them were born seven children : Ashbel, William Ely, Harriet, Sarah, Nathaniel, Frederick and Margaret. Of these, Ashbel married Abigail Hayes: Willian Ely was killed by lightning in 1804. when still a young man : Harriet was married to a Mr. Camp: Sarah never married; Nathaniel married Sarah Bidwell: Frederick went south ; Margaret was mar- ried to James Colvin.

Nathaniel Warren, father of George Austin Warren, was born Aug. 13, 1797, and on Aug. 24. 1820. married Sarah Bidwell, who was born June 8. 1800. He was a farmer, lived on the spot which was the late home of our subiect, and died May 13. 1877. His widow resided on the old home- stead until her death. July 13. 1878. They were the parents of nine children : Harriet F., born Jan. 16, 1821, married Watson Hayes, and lived in South Windsor : Lucius IL., born March 20, 1823. mar- ried Abbey Miner, and was a resident of Milford at the time of his death ; William Ely, born June

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17, 1825, married Louisa Hills ( nce Gillett), widow of Sherman Hills, and lived in East Hartford ; George Austin is the subject of this sketch; Emily A., born July 5, 1830, was married to Edward Miner, and lived in Gilead; Leverett D., born Dec. 12, 1832, married Mary Wheeler, and lived in Bridgeport ; Alfred Newton, born Aug. 8, 1835, married Ann Eliza Stowe, and lived in Dunlap, Iowa; Laura Jane, born April 21, 1838, married George Hills, and lived in Gilead; and Frederick R., born Dec. 5, 18.10, married Amelia Milton, wlio was born Jan. 17, 1844, and lives in Silver Lane.

George Austin Warren was born Oct. 27, 1827, in a house that stood just west of the one in which he died. He was educated at the Willow Brook school, under Horace Cornwall and others, and at Wells Hall, under Joseph A. Hurlburt. After leaving school he assisted on the home farm until his marriage, Nov. 19, 1854, to Miss Almira Risley, who was born June 9, 1829, a daughter of Harvey and Minerva (Loomis) Risley, residents of South Windsor, then a part of East Windsor. In 1877 Mr. Warren erected his new dwelling, and here followed general farming and tobacco growing un- til his death, which occurred Sept. 6, 1898. To his marriage with Almira Risley were born the following six children: Ella M., born March 17, 1856, was married Nov. 19, 1879, to Henry J. Peavy, who was born Aug. 28, 1856, and is a mer- chant in Byron, Ga. Mr. and Mrs. Peavy have six children: Sadie Almira, born Nov. 17, 1880; Bertha W., Dec. 6, 1882; William A., Jan. 3, 1885 (a twin brother died at birth) ; Nellie M., March 4, 1889; Henry W., July 24, 1893; and Annie Rosalind, Aug. 24, 1896. The second child of Mr. and Mrs. Warren was a daughter, born July 24, 1858, who died in infancy. The third, also a daughter. born March 14, 1861, likewise died in infancy. The fourth, Harvey R., was born March 29, 1862, married Harriet B. Lutz, who was born June 10, 1869, and to this union was born one child, Eugene, May 25, 1894; Harvey R. is now en- gaged in the insurance business at Seattle. Wash. The fifth child, Louis N., born Feb. 16, 1864, first married, Sept. 13, 1891, Annie M. Miner, who died Aug. 5, 1892, and Nov. 25, 1897, Louis N. married Mrs. Lillie May (Edgerly) Oliver; their children are Ella May and Austin James. Louis N. Warren is now the manager of the home farm. The sixth child, Sara A., was born Aug. 20, 1866, and has her home with her mother.

George Austin Warren was tall of stature and enjoyed good health nearly all his life. In politics he was a Democrat, but never cared for office. He was a member of no secret society, being very do- mestic in his habits, was an upright man in all re- spects and was honored by all who knew him. His remains were interred in the cemetery at East Hart- ford. and his death was a sad loss to the whole community, but he left to his family the heritage of a spotless name.

Mrs. Almira Warren, a very kind and entertain-

ing lady, still resides in the house erected by her deceased husband in 1877, greatly respected by all her neighbors ; as a rule she passes the winters in Georgia, at the home of her daughter, Mrs. Peavy.

ALFRED EVERETT KILBOURNE. The tobacco interests of the town of South Windsor, ris- ing to paramount importance as an agricultural re- source, have brought into prominence several buyers whose business is not only important to the selling producers, but who require ability of an unusually high order. From year to year there are the same growers of the plant to buy from. They must be satisfied that they are paid a reasonable price. The purchasing manufacturers and merchants on the other hand must be satisfied that their representa- tives have been skillful buyers. The responsible po- sition requires a character of high integrity, keen business sense and judgment of the value of the crop that is unerring. Among the successful buy- ers at South Windsor is the subject of this sketch, whom experience, native talent and sterling honesty have amply qualified for the work.

Mr. Kilbourne was born in the town of East Hartford July 19, 1849, a son of Alfred Kilbourne, a native of South Windsor, who is more fully men- tioned elsewhere. He received a common-school ed- ucation, completing a course at Bryant & Stratton's Business College, Hartford, and remained on the home farm until his marriage, Oct. 12, 1872, at the age of twenty-three years, to Miss Eliza S. Hills, of East Hartford. The young couple began house- keeping on the farm they now occupy, a part of the old homestead. Here he made improvements and for many years continued to cultivate the farm. In 1886, in addition to the management of the place, he assumed the local agency for the well-known firm of Rodgers & Hubbard, of Middletown, dealers in fertilizers, and has continued to represent them ever since. In 1884 Mr. Kilbourne commenced buy- ing tobacco for L. Osterweis, of New Haven. He remained with him until 1892, when he accepted a position with Sutter Bros., of Chicago and Phil- adelphia, as agent and manager of their large to- bacco interests at East Hartford. This firm are perhaps the largest buyers of tobacco in the East, and in the year 1898 Mr. Kilbourne purchased for Sutter Bros. about 3,000 cases of tobacco, and in 1899 4,000 cases. He has charge of their two large warehouses at East Hartford, and during the buying season employs and directs at times about one hundred men. Mr. Kilbourne's farm is located about four miles from Hartford and consists of about sixty acres, under a high state of cultivation. He raises about nine acres of tobacco each year.

In politics Mr. Kilbourne is a Republican. He is a charter member of the Royal Arcanum Lodge at East Hartford, of which he was one of its or- ganizers. He is a member of the Congregational Church and an active religious worker, especially in Christian Endeavor circles, his interest and en- listment in that line dating from the Connecticut

Akıllıuma

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COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

State Conference held in Bridgeport in November, 1888. He became the first president of the East Hartford Society, and was kept in its leadership through eight terms. For several years he has been one of the leaders in the Christian Endeavor work throughout the State, and was for eight consecutive years secretary and treasurer of the State Union. In his labors along these lines he is ably assisted by invaluable helpers in his own nousehold. Mr. Kilbourne is deeply interested in educational work, and is a member of the high school board of South Windsor. Mr. Kilbourne devotes some attention to collecting curios, and has quite a large and hand- some collection of Indian relics and rare articles of value. To Mr. and Mrs. Kilbourne have been born four children, namely: Edith L .; Alfred S., who died in infancy; Ethel S .; and Herman R., who died in 1897.

HON. WALDO S. KNOX, formerly a repre- sentative from the town of Suffield in the Con- necticut Legislature, is one of the leading busi- ness men of that town. As senior partner in the firm of Knox Brothers he was connected with the hotel in Suffield village for many years, and under their able management it was known to the travel- ing public as the best in the locality. The brothers have also been engaged in other lines of business with marked success, and their upright dealings and far-sighted enterprise have given them a high standing in financial circles. During their twenty- eight years of partnership, with thousands of dol- lars passing through their hands, they had their funds in common, and for years they and their re- spective families occupied the same residence in perfect harmony. As citizens they are public- spirited, taking a generous attitude toward all pro- gressive movements, and their geniality and good nature attract the friendship of all who know then.

Our subject was born Aug. 4, 1845, in Bland- ford, Hampden Co., Mass., and comes of good Colonial stock, his ancestors having located at Blandford, Mass., at an carly day. Eli Knox, his grandfather, married a Miss Watson and made his home in Hampden county, Massachusetts.

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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 25

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