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 28
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was well known and very highly respected, pro- gressive, enterprising, honest and honorable in all his dealings, and noted for his frugal habits. Both his wives were good Christian women, faithfully devoted to their families.
GAVETTE BURT HOLCOMB, subject proper of this sketch, an extensive tobacco grower and general farmer of East Weatogue, Simsbury, was born in the town of Granby, on what was known as Barn- door Hill, June 10, 1845. He attended the district schools of Granby and the high school at Westfield. While yet a boy at school, and scarcely past his seventeenth birthday, he enlisted, Aug. 9, 1862, at Hartford in Company E, 16th Conn. V. I., under Col. Beach and Lieut .- Col. Cheney, and Capt. Babcock. In order to enlist at this age he had first to obtain his father's consent. The young soldier saw plenty of active service, and experienced the excessive horrors of war. He participated in the battles of Antietam, Sept. 17, 1862; Fredericks- burg ; Suffolk ; Norfolk, Va. ; and Plymouth, N. C., where he was taken prisoner, April 20, 1864. He was confined in Andersonville prison, and at Flor- ence and Charleston, spending eleven months and six days as a prisoner of war, and was exchanged March 26, 1865. During his prison life he experi- enced the keenest suffering, and was but a living skeleton when released. Rejoining his regiment in North Carolina, he remained until the close of the war, and was mustered out June 24, 1865, with the rank of sergeant.
Returning home, our subject made an effort to improve his education, attending Wilbraham Acad- emy, after which he taught school for two terms in Simsbury. In 1867 he started west and located at Paris, Edgar Co., Ill., where he engaged in mercantile pursuits for a year, and then went to the Pacific slope, where he became an employe on the Union Pacific railroad for more than a year. Mr. Holcomb then returned to Simsbury and settled on the old Humphrey farm, East Weatogue, a tract of 200 acres. He has since been engaged in tobacco culture and in dairy and general farming, making extensive improvements to the property.
In December, 1871, Mr. Holcomb married Ellen Maria Humphrey, daughter of Trumbull and De- luna (Case) Humphrey. One child has been born to this union, Grace Elizabeth, who first attended the district school, and was graduated from Mc- lean's Seminary at the age of sixteen years. She also graduated, after one year's study, from the Connecticut Literary Institute, Suffield, and for the past two years has been teaching school at Sims- bury. She is a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution, Abigail Phelps Chapter, Simsbury, and a young lady of character, educa- tion, culture and refinement, modest and unassum- ing in manner. She visited the Paris Exposition in 1900. Mrs. Holcomb, the wife of our subject, is devoted to her husband and daughter. In her home may be found the expression of beauty and taste, artistic embellishment and modern improve-
ments at once revealing the housewife who de- lights in making home attractive, and whose in- tellectual perceptions and artistic intuitions are thus richly employed.
The Humphrey family, of which Mrs. Holcomb is a representative, is one of the oldest in New England. Michael Humphrey, the founder, set- tled first in Massachusetts. Samuel, his son, born May 15, 1656, in Windsor, removed to Simsbury, then Massacoe, with his parents, and engaged in farming at East Weatogue. He owned a large tract of land, was justice of the peace under the Crown for several years, and represented the town in the General Assembly for the years 1702, 1719, 1722 and 1725. He was commissioned lieutenant about 1709 or 1710 by Gov. Saltonstall, and filled many other positions of honor and trust. He was made justice of the peace of Hartford county by the General Assembly in 1712, 1714, 1715 and 1716; was collector in 1687, and also served as fence viewer. He died in East Weatogue, June 15, 1736, and was buried in Simsbury. He married Mary Mills, daughter of Simon and Mary (Buel) Mills. She was born Dec. 8, 1662, and died in East Wea- togue April 4, 1730. The children of Samuel and Mary Humphrey were as follows: (1) Mary, born Nov. 16, 1681, married Rev. Dudley Woodbridge, Dec. 7, 1699. (2) Elizabeth, born April 22, 1684, married, July 4, 1705, John Collyer, of Hartford. (3) Samuel, born May 17, 1686, died Oct. 6, 1759. married, first, Hannah Phelps, second, Mary Tuller, third, Lydia North, and for his fourth wife Mary Orton. He was the father of nineteen children. (4) Jonathan, born Dec. 2, 1688, died June 4, 1749. He married Mary Ruggles. (5) Abigail, born January, 1716-17, married John Case, son of John and Sarah (Holcomb) Case. (6) Hannah was born April 6, 1697. (7) Charles, who died May 14, 1774, married Hepzibah Pettibone. (8) Noah, born in 1707, married Hannah Case.
Charles Humphrey, son of Samuel Humphrey, was born in East Weatogue, and was also a farmer and a stock and corn raiser. He married, May 8, 1723, Hepzibah Pettibone, daughter of Samuel S. Pettibone, and sister of Col. Jonathan Pettibone. The children born to Charles and Hepzibah Hum- phrey were : (1) Hepzibah, born Oct. 26, 1724, died Feb. 25, 1755. She married, Sept. 25, 1740, Sergt. Elisha Cornish, son of James Cornish. (2) Dorcas, born Feb. 4, 1727, died June 17, 1805. She mar- ried, April 14, 1743, Lieut. Dudley, son of David and Penelope (Buttolph) Case, born Nov. 23, 1723. (3) Judith, born July II, 1729, died June 5, 1808. She married, Aug. 14, 1746, Jeremiah Case, son of Capt. James and Esther (Fithen) Case, born July 13, 1726. (4) Caroline, born Feb. 25, 1731-32, died in January, 1771. She married (first) Benajah Humphrey, and ( second) Sylvanus Case, a son of Richard and Mary ( Holcomb) Case. (5) Charles, born March 6, 1734. died in 1779. He married Sarah Humphrey. (6) Sylvanus, born Feb. 17, 1735, died June 14, 1776. He married Charity
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Pettibone. (7) Marie, born April 11, 1738, died May 12, 1759. She married Lieut. Na- thaniel Humphrey. (8) Abraham, born June 6. 1740, died in 1767. He married Lois Merrill. (9) Lot, born May 19, 1743, died May 26, 1743.
Sylvanus Humphrey, born Feb. 17, 1735-36, in Simsbury, engaged in farming all his life. He married, Sept. 22, 1763, Charity, born June 30, 1744, died Oct. 5, 1803, daughter of John and Damaris ( Humphrey) Pettibone, of Simsbury. His widow married Elisha Cornish, and later Amasa Case. The children born to Sylvanus and Charity Humphrey were as follows: (1) Amaryllis, born June 10, 1764, died May 31, 1845. She married, Sept. 20, 1780, Capt. Fithen Case, son of Capt. Josiah and Hester (Higby) Case, of Canton. He was born in 1758, and died Aug. 25, 1829, in Canton. (2) Sylvanus, born Dec. 16, 1766, died Nov. 23, 1845. He married Betsey Humphrey. (3) Rufus, born Nov. 26, 1770, died March 3, 1844. He married Lucy Case. (4) Maria, born June 26, 1773, died March 15, 1777.
Rufus Humphrey, son of Sylvanus, was born in Simsbury, Nov. 26, 1770. He was well educated, and was quite a prominent citizen. He followed farming all his life, died on his farm March 3, 1844, and was buried in Simsbury. He married, June 26, 1790, at Simsbury, Lucy, daughter of En- sign Moses and Lucy ( Wilcox) Case. She was born Feb. 9, 1772, and died Aug. 17, 1826. The children of Rufus and Lucy Humphrey were as follows : (1) Rufus, born Dec. 14, 1794, died Sept. 20, 1852. He married Harriet Wilcox. (2) Maria, born April 7, 1797, married, Nov. 5, 1829, Averitt, son of Daniel and Esther ( Merritt ) Wilcox, being his second wife. (3) Lucy, born Dec. 29, 1801, died unmarried, while residing with her sister, Mrs. Wilcox. (4) Drayton, born April 13, 1804, died April 14, 1860. He married Rebecca, daughter of Reuben and Laura Roxana (Case) Wilcox. (5) Trumbull, born March 13, 1808, died April 25, 1864. On March 25, 1833, he married Deluna Case, daugh- ter of Friend and Sarah (Case) Case, born June 2, 1809. died Nov. 2, 1880. Trumbull Humphrey was a farmer in East Weatogue all his life. He occupied a part of the original Humphrey farm in East Weatogue, and engaged in tobacco growing and general farming, was well known and highly respected, honorable in his dealings, and one of Simsbury's honored citizens. He died on his farm. and was buried in Simsbury. The children born to Trumbull and Deluna Humphrey were as follows : Scott Bissell, born March 13, 1834, married Julia Henrietta Leonard, and removed to Kansas; Eliza- beth Maria, born May 10, 1836, died April 4, 1843: Herbert Case, born Jan. 4, 1844, removed to Seneca, Nemaha Co., Kans., and died Sept. 19, 1888: Ellen Maria, born Feb. 14, 1847, is the wife of our sub- ject ; Charles Rufus, born Aug. 19, 1849, died Oct. 16, 1899.
Gavette B. Holcomb was elected to the State Legislature in 1878, as the candidate of the Demo-
cratic party, and served on the military committee ; he was again elected in 1888, on the same ticket. Mr. Holcomb has filled the office of selectman for upward of ten years, and is still serving ; has been chairman of the board, and on one occasion was nominated and elected by both parties. He served the people faithfully and well. He has acted as school visitor, and is now a member of the school board. Socially he is a member of the G. A. R., Capt. Joseph R. Toy Post No. 83, and has filled all the offices of the post except chaplain ; is a charter member of St. Mark's Lodge, F. & A. M., Simsbury, having joined the fraternity at Paris, Ill., when he was twenty-one years old; and is a member of the Association of Union Ex-Prisoners of War.
Mr. Holcomb is a director and stockholder of the Simsbury Creamery Co. He is a progressive and enterprising citizen, popular and most highly respected. One of the qualities which has con- tributed largely to his success has been his un- flagging industry. Mr. Holcomb has never been afraid of hard work, nor is he only a man of en- ergy. He has at heart the well-being of society, and has always manifested a deep interest in pop- ular education, and in those things which consti- tute the higher life of man. If good can come from evil, it may be that the year of extreme priva- tion which he experienced in Rebel prisons, where he not only himself endured the keenest anguish, but saw around him almost daily one comrade after another succumb to the final wretchedness, has given him a more serious and more helpful view of life. He has ever done as best he could that which lay before him, and that he has done well is the verdict of his fellow men.
WILLIAM JONES (deceased ) was a re- spected resident of Hockanum, Hartford county, and was the eldest son of David and Mabel ( Cotton ) Jones, who had a family of eleven children : both parents are now deceased.
David Jones was an only son. He was a shoe- maker in his earlier manhood, but later became a farmer, and lived and died in Ilockanum. Mabel Cotton, his wife, was a daughter of John Cotton, a seafaring man, and the eleven children born to Mr. and Mrs. Jones were as follows: Elizabeth .A., who is married to Watson Pebbles, of Hockanum ; Will- iam, whose name opens this article: Maria, who married David Smith, father of the present Sheriff Smith ; Sarah, wife of Nelson Taylor: Edwin, who died in early manhood ; Alphonso (1), who died young ; Albert ( 1), who died in infancy ; Henry, who is a physician, resides in Mount Vernon, N. Y., and is married to Ruth Fleming, of that place ; Albert (2), married to Hattie Kipp, and lived in Hartford ; Alphonso (2), who died in boyhood ; and Roxiana, who also died young.
William Jones was born July 13, 1821, in the house standing directly north of that occupied by Edgar Brewer, in Hockanum. He received but a limited education, and at an early age left home to
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learn shoemaking. Becoming homesick, however, he returned, and, learning bricklaying, was em- ployed at various places in New England, and fol- lowed the trade nearly all the remainder of his life, although engaging also in farming.
On Nov. 25, 1846, Mr. Jones married Miss Han- sey S. Brewer, a native of Hockanum, born March 10, 1822, a daughter of Daniel and Sarah ( Viets) Brewer. To this happy marriage were born two children : Edward Milton and George Sumner. Mr. Jones purchased the farm on which his widow now lives and built the residence in 1853, and six acres of the eight which constitute the farm are de- voted to tobacco growing.
In politics Mr. Jones was a Democrat; in re- ligion he was an attendant of the Congregational Church in youth, but later in life joined the Meth- odist Church, of which he became treasurer, and to which he contributed very liberally of his means. He was a man of medium stature, was very intelli- gent and industrious. He was a kind and affection- ate husband and father, a true friend, and a devout Christian, and died in the Methodist faith May I, 1886, sincerely mourned by his bereaved family and many sorrowing friends.
Edward Milton Jones, the elder son of William and Hansey S. Jones, was born April 27, 1850, mar- ried Sarah E. Winn, of Carpenters, Tenn., and died in Memphis Nov. 5, 1888, his remains being brought home to Hockanum, Conn., to be interred. His children, three in number, are Mabel, who was born March 2, 1880, is married to Charles Taylor, and re- sides in Glastonbury ; Annie D., born June 13, 1883, who also resides in Glastonbury; and Thomas W., born Feb. 1, 1885, who lives with his mother in the same village.
George Sumner Jones, the younger son of Will- iam and Hansey S. Jones, was born June 15, 1855, married Agnes Lusher, who was born in Saxony, Germany, July 23, 1864, and came to the United States June 25, 1881. To this marriage have also been born three children, in the following order : Arthur Sumner, Dec. 17, 1887 ; Hansey Christiana, Nov. 4, 1890; and Paul Anton, July 29, 1892.
With Mrs. Hansey S. Jones, on the home place, lives her sister, Mrs. Caroline ( Brewer) Avery, who has made her home there for the past seven years. The deceased husband of this lady, William Avery, was born in Groton Jan. 7, 1813, was a trav- eling salesman nearly all his life, was quite promi- nent in church affairs, and died, an honored citizen, Dec. 28, 1891. Both Mrs. Jones and Mrs. Avery are greatly respected in the neighborhood, and live in peace and comfort in the seclusion of their neat and comfortable homestead.
HON. ORSON B. MOORE. "Man's sociality of nature," writes the philosopher Carlyle, "evinces itself, in spite of all that can be said, with an abundance of evidence, by this one fact, were there no other-the unspeakable delight he takes in bi- ography." The history of this venerable resident
of Windsor will be of more than usual interest to our readers, his long and useful career having won for him a high place in the esteem of the people of this section. As a useful business man, an able and faithful legislator, and a progressive, public- spirited citizen, his life furnishes an instructive ob- ject lesson.
Mr. Moore belongs to one of the honored pioneer families of his town, his ancestors having followed agricultural pursuits there from an early day. Joseph Moore, his great-grandfather, lived and died upon a farm in that town. Elisha Moore, our sub- ject's grandfather, who served in the commissary department during the Revolutionary war, was a prosperous farmer and left a valuable estate to his He married Hannah Moore, and had a large family, among whom were four sons : William, Elisha. Thomas and Orson.
William Moore, the father of our subject, was born in Windsor in 1780, and after his marriage settled at the present homestead, where he followed farming many years, his death occurring in 1862, when he was aged eighty-two years. He was noted for his musical gifts, and from early manhood was an excellent performer upon the violin, his old violin being now in our subject's possession. As a citizen he was much respected, but he never sought prominence in public affairs, although he was throughout his life a stanch Democrat. His wife, Lydia Case, was born in 1783 in Bloomfield, a daughter of Deacon Amasa Case, and died in 1872, within one month of her ninetieth birthday, her remains being interred in Windsor cemetery. They had ten children: Esther Jane, who died at the age of seventy-three, unmarried; Catherine, deceased, who married Martin Barber ; Amanda, de- ceased, who married Harry Halsey ; Margaret, who married James Roberts, and died in California ; Lydia, who married Horace E. Roberts, and died at Feeding Hills, Mass. ; Julia, who married Ferdinand Calkins, of New York State, and died in New York City ; Eliza, who died unmarried ; Harriet, deceased, who married Henry Holman; Orson B., our sub- ject; and John, formerly a partner with our sub- ject in farming and the brickmaking business, who was a successful business man and a substantial citizen, greatly esteemed in the community, and he died at the age of fifty-nine years, unmarried.
Orson B. Moore was born May II, 1818, at his present homestead, where he grew to manhood. His education was begun in the old "Bucktown, school house," Miss Laura Barber being one of his early teachers, and later he attended Windsor Academy. He was trained to habits of industry, and while as- sisting in the work of the farm was often employed in hauling brick from that neighborhood to Hart- ford with ox-teams for different brickmakers. While yet in his 'teens he was employed in a grocery on North Main street owned by Jeremiah Tuller, his wages being fixed at thirty dollars per year, but his employer failed at the end of the first year and he received only a trunk in addition to his board.
ORSON B. MOORE
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COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
He afterward worked for a time in New York State as a farm hand, and in the middle of a cold winter he walked all the way from Hamilton, N. Y., to Guilford, Conn., to find similar employment. His feet were badly frozen while on this journey, and but for the kindness of the people along the way the results might have been serious. After an absence of five years he returned home and en- gaged in brickmaking and farming in partnership with his brother John, with whom he continued un- til the death of the latter. The firm was known as Moore Brothers, and enjoyed a high reputation in business circles, the product of their brickyard finding ready sale in Hartford, New London and other markets. They purchased the homestead from the other heirs, and as time passed bought other property until they became the most exten- sive real estate owners in the town. On the death of John Moore his share fell to our subject and the eldest sister, Jane, who died at the old homestead, and also left her property to him.
Mr. Moore is a successful manager, and in his early days was an energetic worker, but since 1890 his failing eyesight has compelled him to depend largely upon the help of a private secretary in the transaction of business. With the exception of this affliction he has retained unimpaired his vigor of mind and body, enjoying excellent health for an octogenarian. His interest in local progress is as keen as it ever was, and many instances of his gen- erosity are to be found, notably the gift of seven- teen acres of land to Moore's Park Driving Asso- ciation for use as a park. Politically he is a stanch Democrat, and for many years he has been a leader in the local organization. In 1866 he served as a representative in the Legislature, and at times he has held town offices, including those of constable and collector.
On Sept. 30, 1884, Mr. Moore married Mrs. Margaret J. Archer, widow of Norman C. Archer, and daughter of Daniel and Mary (Cleland) Mac- farlane. She was born April 7, 1839, at Newburg, N. Y., and is a member of a well-known family of that locality. Mr. Moore and his wife are prom- inent in social life, and Mrs. Moore is a member of the Methodist Church at Hartford.
LOUIS AUSTIN AND MAURICE EVERETT WESTCOTT. Few men are more prominent or more widely known in the enterprising village of East Berlin than these gentlemen, who, as general merchants, have been identified with the business interests of the place for several years. They rep- resent a true type of American progress and enter- prise, and their indomitable energy, prudent busi- ness methods and reliable sagacity have all com- bined to make them two of the ablest business men of the county.
The first of the family to come to Hartford county was John Westcott, who was of Scottish descent. In transferring and remodeling the ceme- tery in Hartford, in 1899, a tombstone containing
the name of Waistcoat was found, and in all proba- bility it was the name from which Westcott has been derived. Edwin Westcott, son of John West- cott, and grandfather of our subjects, was a trades- man of Newington, and married Miss Mary S. Hart. He went to New York State, and was never afterward heard from.
Selah Westcott, father of our subjects, was born in Newington Nov. 15, 1823, and was the only child of Edwin Westcott. After the disappearance of his father he was bound out to the Robbins family of Newington, when five years of age, and lived with them for four years. He then went to Farmington, where he learned the blacksmith's trade with his uncle, Chauncey Hart, and later he purchased an interest in the shop, the firm becoming Hart & West- cott. Subsequently lie bought the interest of his part- ner, and for over forty years successfully engaged in business in a shop at the rear of the Methodist church in Farmington. Besides doing a regular blacksmithing business he also engaged in the manu- facture of steel traps, hay-forks, etc. He started out in life penniless, but being industrious, energetic and persevering, he met with well-deserved success in his labors, and at his deathi left a comfortable property, consisting mostly of money. Ile died Aug. 25, 1894, honored and respected by all who knew him on account of his upright and honorable life. On Nov. 17, 1842, he married Miss Catha- rine Lucy Dorman, of Farmington, who was born Feb. 10, 1825, a daughter of Israel and Esther (Stone) Dorman, of Burlington. She died Oct. 30, 1879, and was laid to rest in Farmington cemetery, where her husband's remains were also interred. He married for his second wife Miss Florence Reed, of Farmington, who survives him. By the first union he had a family of four children : Hu- bert, born Feb. 15, 1844, died in Farmington Nov. 2, 1857; Louis Austin, born June 6, 1847, is men- tioned below ; Maurice Everett, born Nov. 8. 1851, is mentioned below ; and Alice Kate, born Nov. 1I, 1858, is the wife of Walter White, superintendent of the Barber Match Co., of Akron, Ohio, and they have two children, Ethiel and Howard.
Louis A. Westcott was born and reared in Farm- ington, and after attending the common schools pur- sued his studies for some time at Deacon Edward 1. Hart's boys' school, in Farmington, from which he was graduated. He began his business career in the employ of the Union Trading Co., of New Britain, where he remained one year, and then served as bookkeeper for John B. Northrop, a contract painter of New Britain, for the same length of time. He next entered James Thomson's general store, as clerk, and after three years in that employ left New Britain and went to Hartford, where he was con- nected with the Citizens Trading Co. for a year. The following year he worked for Alcott & Healey, and at the end of that time formed a partnership with his brother, Maurice E., and opened a gro- cery store on Park street, Hartford, which they sold out to Hastings & Hooper in 1875. In De-
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cember, 1876, they purchased the general store of John Clark, in Poquonock, and carried it on until 1886, when they sold to H. L. Metcalf. Removing to East Berlin in March, 1887, they bought the gen- eral mercantile store of W. K. Butler, which they have since conducted with signal success, and now enjoy a liberal share of the public patronage.
Louis A. Westcott was married Feb. 1, 1870, to Miss Ellen M. Johnson, of Killingworth, Conn., who was born March 6, 1851, a daughter of William and Ellen Johnson, farming people. To this union came one child, Bessie Maurice, born Oct. 27, 1871. She was graduated from the Middletown high school, and was married March 28, 1899. to Rev. Henry Medd, a Methodist minister of East Berlin. Mr. and Mrs. Westcott attend the Methodist Epis- copal Church of East Berlin, and he affiliates with the Democratic party. He is a recognized leader in the ranks of the local organization, and is at present a member of the Democratic town board of Berlin. He was selectman from 1890 to 1895, and resigned in the latter year when appointed postmaster at East Berlin, during President Cleveland's second term, which position he most creditably filled for five and a half years. Fraternally he is a member of Harmony Lodge No. 20, F. & A. M., of New Brit- ain, and of Mattabessett Lodge No. 25, K. P., of East Berlin, of which he was master of finance when the lodge was instituted. He is a pleasant, genial gentleman, very fond of outdoor sports, and takes particular delight in horses, dogs. hunting, etc. Maurice Everett Westcott was also born in Farmington, and was educated in the dis- trict schools and Deacon Hart's school for boys in Farmington. After leaving school he entered Chauncey Rowe's general store in that town, as clerk, and held that position for about two years, after which he engaged in clerking in the grocery store of James Thomson, at New Britain, for the same length of time. He was next with H. J. Hawkins, in the grocery business in New Britain, until the firm was changed to Alcott & Hea- ley, and remained with the successors until they closed out the business in 1870. He then entered the employ of D. C. Judd, in the same line, in New Britain, and was with him until the spring of 1872. when he formed a partnership with his brother. Louis A., as previously stated. In 1885 he was ap- pointed postmaster of Poquonock, during President Cleveland's first administration, but the following year he resigned the office, the brothers having sold their store at that place. His appointment was one of the first in Connecticut during that adminis- tration.
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