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 33

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 33

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were natives of the town of Hebron. John P. Ford was a lifelong farmer, remaining in the town of He- bron until 1873, when he purchased the fine resi- dence now occupied by Mr. and Mrs. Spencer, and where he lived until his death, which occurred Jan. 7, 1894, when he was eighty-four years of age. He was a devout member of the Congregational Church from the age of fifteen years, and was always an active worker and regular attendant, taking a deep interest in religious work. He contributed $5,000 toward the building of the new Second Congrega- tional church at Manchester. He married Miss Lucy J. King, a native of Vernon, Conn., daughter of Joel King, and they had two children, Lucy G., Mrs. Spencer ; and Ellen G., who died in 1884. Mrs. Ford, now in her eighty-first year, makes her home with Mr. and Mrs. Spencer.

Mr. Spencer was active in the commercial life of Manchester for about twenty years as an exten- sive dealer in coal, and he also erected what is known as the Spencer block, in that town, in 1874. He was never active in public life as an office-seeker or holder, but he has always taken a loyal interest in the progress of his town, and as a prosperous mer- chant was an important factor in the building up of the town in which he has made his home. He is respected wherever known, and his acquaintance in Manchester and surrounding towns is a wide one. Politically he has always been an ardent supporter of the principles of the Republican party. He and his wife are active and earnest members of the Second Congregational Church of Manchester, and they hold a high place in the esteem of their neigh- bors and friends, who are numerous in the com- munity.

HON. HENRY E. PHELPS. Few citizens of this section are as widely and as favorably known as this prosperous and enterprising agriculturist of Windsor, and his popularity speaks well for his personal worth. The following history of his life and ancestry will be of general interest, as any rec- ord of purposeful effort and achievement has for humanity an inspiration.

Mr. Phelps comes of good old Massachusetts stock, and is not related, so far as known, to the families of that name who have been identified with Windsor from pioneer times. Elijah Phelps, our subject's grandfather, was born in Massachu- setts May. 13, 1754, and became a successful farm- er near Wilbraham, in that State, where he died May 16, 1823. His wife, whose maiden name was Mary Gibbs, was born Aug. 16, 1755, and died March 25, 1849, at the advanced age of ninety-four years. This worthy couple had the following chil- dren : Nathaniel, born Jan. 22, 1770 .. died June I 1815. Polly, born May 21, 1780, died Feb. 9, 1855. Elijah, born Jan. 31, 1782, died in 1819. Betsey, born July 12, 1783, died May 2, 1831. Benjamin, born June 3. 1787, was a hotel-keeper in Spring- field, where he died in 1838. Seth was born on April 12, 1789. Asenith, born Marchi 10, 1791,

Wiemy E. Pheeft

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COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

died Jan. 6, 1832. Francis, born Sept. 9, 1793, died in May, 1836. William was born Oct. 3, 1795; Henry, our subject's father, is mentioned more fully below. Caroline, born March, 1799, married a Mr. Tidd, and lived in New York. Doratha (now deceased) was born March, 1801, and married a Mr. Coman, of New York State.

Henry Phelps, our subject's father, was born April 20, 1797, at Wilbraham, Mass., and was reared to farm work at the old homestead. As a young man he came to Windsor, being the first of his family to locate there, and although he began in business without other capital than his own ability and energy he managed to acquire a hand- some competence. He became the owner of a farm, near Hayden's Station, and for many years manu- factured brick on the place. About 1836 he bought the "Stiles farm," now occupied by our subject, and the present residence, which is one of the most sub- stantial houses in the town, was partly built by him from brick made in his yards. As a citizen he was much respected, and at times he held local of- fices, being an active worker in political lines, first as a Whig and later as a Republican. He was a member of the Congregational Church, to which his wife also belonged. His death occurred Feb. 20, 1875, and his remains were interred in the cem- etery at Windsor. In 1819 he married Miss Ra- chel Jacobs, who was born July 19, 1799, and died June 29, 1882. She was the youngest of four chil- dren of William Jacobs (born Dec. 22, 1766) and his wife Sarah Owen (born July 16, 1768), who were married Feb. 9, 1792. Her father was a cab- inet maker near Hayden's Station for some years, but his last days were spent in New York State. Henry and Rachel Phelps had a large family of children, as follows: Nathaniel G., born Feb. 17, 1820, went to Missouri and later to Texas, where he now resides. Samuel O., born April 8, 1823, died in early manhood. Edgar, born Jan. 23, 1826, is a farmer at Wilson's Station, Windsor town; Mary A., born Nov. 17, 1828, married Chas. Den- slow, and removed to Mendocino, Cal., where she died in 1884: Ebenezer Tidd, born July 9, 1833, died at Needham, Mass., where he was engaged in business as a horse collar maker ; Henry E., our subject, was next in the order of birth ; William J., born Jan. 12, 1838, was a prominent railroad man, rising from a clerkship to the position of General Passenger Agent of the Connecticut River railroad, and his death occurred at Springfield, Mass., April 21, 1882. Abraham, born Jan. 24, 1840, is a ma- chinist at Brooklyn, New York.

Our subject was born near Hayden's Station Nov. 14, 1834, and for some years attended the schools of his neighborhood and the Bell school in District No. 5, so named because it boasted a bell, which was a rarity in those days. Among his early teachers was Col. Phelps. He also attended the academy at Windsor and a private school con- ducted by J. B. Woodford, while he was given prac- tical instruction at home in the ancient and honor- able science of agriculture, under the able direction

of his father. Having a desire to see something of the world he went West, and later settling at Pe- tersburg, Pike county, Ind., spent two years as a clerk in a store; but this experience satisfied him, and since his return home he has followed farming at his present homestead. For a time he worked the place "on shares" for his father and afterward for his mother, but he now owns it, having pur- chased the claims of the other heirs. He has twen- ty-five acres, and is engaged to some extent in rais- ing tobacco. He is a thrifty manager, obtaining good results from his work, and in addition to the cares of his farm he is interested in other lines, be- ing director in the Moore's Park Driving Associa- tion and a stockholder in the Windsor Creaniery, which he helped to organize as a member of the first board of directors. In politics he is a strong Republican, and he has served his town as first se- lectman, tax collector and representative in the Gen- eral Assembly. Socially he and his wife are prom- inent, and he belongs to Washington Lodge, No. 70, F. & A. M., at Windsor, and to the Episcopal Church, in which he holds the office of vestryman.

On Oct. 18, 1876, Mr. Phelps married Miss Su- san Olin, and one daughter, Carrie E., brightens their home. Mrs. Phelps possesses unusual mental gifts, and when she first met her husband was en- gaged in teaching in Windsor. She was born April 22, 1853, at Packersville, Conn., daughter of George W. and Zippiette Elizabeth (Green) Olin, and was the third youngest in a large family of children.

CORNELIUS ANDREWS is a descendant, in the seventh generation, of John Andrews, one of the early settlers of Connecticut, who emigrated from England with his wife, Mary, in 1640. From him the line of parentage runs as follows: Daniel (Sr.), Daniel (Jr.), Hezekiah, Ezekiel, Alfred and Cor- nelius. The family has ever been one of the most honored in the State, and a biographical record of this branch, even though necessarily brief, cannot fail to be of deep interest.

John Andrews, the American progenitor, was one of the first eighty-four proprietors of the ancient town of Tunxis, now Farmington. He was an in- telligent man, of simple tastes and plain habits, and cultivated a farm some two miles north of the pres- ent location of Farmington, at what came to be called Waterville, in 1871. The property remained1 in the possession of his descendants until the year last mentioned. His wife, Mary, united with the Congregational Church, April 12, 1654, and he him- self on May 9, 1658. They were the parents of nine children : Mary, John, Hannah, Abraham, Daniel, Joseph, Rachel, Stephen and Benjamin.

Daniel Andrews, Sr., was born in 1650. His name occasionally appears in the town records of those early days as taking part in public business, and in 1702 the General Assembly, having been in- formed that great differences had arisen in Far- mington about the choice of town officers, confirmed the appointment of John Hooker, Samuel Gridley,

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COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

John Wadsworth, Samuel Cowles and Daniel An- dross. The latter name, as spelled, is without doubt a corruption of Andrews. He was a large land- holder, and left several distinct parcels of realty at his death. He united with the Church, May 24, 1692, and died April 16, 1731, in his eighty-second year. He was the father of ten children, whose names and dates of birth are as follows : Daniel, Jr., March 9, 1672; Mary, Dec. 9, 1674; Joseph, Aug. 10, 1676; Thomas, June 3, 1678; John, June 10, 1680; Martha, July 17, 1682; Han- nah, Jan. 13, 1684; Paul, June 2, 1686; Stephen, Aug. 6, 1689; and Ebenezer, Aug. 28, 1692.

Daniel Andrews, Jr., the eldest son, married, Oct. 30, 1707, Mabel, a daughter of Jacob and Margery (Ingersoll) Goff, of Wethersfield. She was born Oct. 31, 1690. Her family claimed rc- lationship with Goffe, the regicide. In 1729 Daniel and his brother, John, gave a note, or bond, for £50, to the town of Newington, in con- sideration of permission to connect themselves with the "Great Swamp Society," a parish lying in the town of Farmington. His home was near the boundary line between the towns of Farming- ton and Wethersfield. He died Aug. 21, 1748, in his seventy-seventh year, and his widow on May 9, 1768, at the age of seventy-seven years and six months. He was buried near the southwest corner of Christian Lane cemetery in New Britain, his grave being marked by a red sandstone. His eight children were as follows: Joseph, born about 17II; Abigail, July 22, 1713; Mabel, June 6, 1715; Eunice, Sept. 18, 1717; Daniel, May 12, 1720; Hannah, Sept. 8, 1723; Jacob, June 24, 1729; and Hezekiah, Aug. 14, 1731.

Hezekiah Andrews, the youngest child of Daniel Andrews, Jr., was born on the homestead. He was the first of those who "owned the half- way covenant," and became a full member of the Congregational Church in full communion on Aug. 17, 1768. He built the first saw-mill on the Quin- nipiack river (called the "Pond river" in the early records), although a fulling mill had been prev- iously established on that stream a little below the "Dead Swamp," and it is probable that there had already been a saw-mill erected near the "Great Pond" in White Oak. His wife was Anna Stead- man, a daughter of Thomas Steadman and Mary Sage. She was born on Steadman Hill, in Weth- ersfield, June 20, 1736, and married Mr. Andrews May 26, 1757. Shortly thereafter her parents re- moved to New Britain. Hezekiah Andrews was of a gentle, quiet temperament, respected by all who knew him for his many virtues, and beloved because of his amiable sympathetic disposition. He died April 19, 1796, at the age of sixty-four, leav- ing a very considerable estate, accumulated from his farm and mill through his own industry and thrift. His widow united with the church Dec. 6. 1802, and followed him to the grave on Sept. 17, 1809, aged seventy-three years. The issue of their marriage was a family of eight children,

named and born as follows: Hezekiah, June 22, 1758; Anna, Sept. 6, 1760; Lois, Dec. 1, 1763; Elizabeth, June 8, 1766: Hannah, June 1I, 1768; Be Thankful, April 17, 1771; Rebecca, March 21, 1773; and Ezekiel, May 25, 1775.

Ezekiel Andrews, son of Hezekiah and grand- father of Cornelius Andrews, inherited his father's homestead, together with the saw-mill and a large farm, much of the latter consisting of woodland. In person he was rather above the average height and of singularly handsome-almost faultless --- form and features. While he inherited from his mother a proud spirit and indomitable will, his impulses were generous and noble. He was public- spirited and patriotic. In May, 1809, Gov. Jona- than Trumbull commissioned him a captain in a militia regiment, and he was ever afterward given that title. He also served through the war of 1812 with the same rank. While deficient in the training to be derived from study at school, his education was obtained in the broader field of en- ergetic action. He was fearless in the face of dan- "ger, resolute in action and strong in endurance. He was a hard worker, and at his death, which oc- curred at New Britain on Sept. 3, 1852, he left real property exceeding $16,000. The bounty lands to which he was entitled as a soldier were only partially entered by him, the remainder being claimed and reduced to ownership by his widow. He was a member of the Congregational Church. Mr. Andrews was twice married. His first wife was Roxana Hinsdale, a daughter of Elijah Hins- dale, of New Britain, by his first wife, Ruth Bid- well. She was born June 10, 1778, and was the mother of his large family of children. She was an earnest Christian and a member of the same church as her husband. She died Jan. 14, 1832, aged fifty-four years. She left behind her some most interesting literary reminiscences of her own religious experience and spiritual life. The chil- dren of this marriage were as follows, their names and the dates of their birth being given below: Alfred, Oct. 16, 1797; Thesta, Dec. 16, 1798; Al- lura, April 16, 1801 ; Edwin Norton, June 27, 1804; Mary Bidwell, April 13, 1807; Ezekiel, July 19, 1809; Nathan Hosmer, June 22, 1812; Roxana, April 6, 1815; Jane Louisa, Feb. 2, 1818; Elijah Hinsdale, Aug. 11, 1820; and Ellen Maria, Sept. 18, 1824. On Oct. 21, 1833, Mr. Andrews married for his second wife Huldah Goodrich, the widow of Luther Moses, who was born Jan. 6, 1788, at Simsbury, Conn. She died at Hartford May 10, 1871.

Alfred Andrews, son of Ezekiel, and next in line of descent from John, was a man of versatile genius and rare moral worth. He attended the district schools and an Episcopal academy at Cheshire, Conn. In 1815, at the age of eighteen, he began teaching the common branches in the common schools, and later became an instructor in academie branches. He had a natural aptitude for the work, and, being an carnest Christian

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COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

worker, began his career as a Sunday-school teacher in 1816. For fifty-five years he labored in the latter field, as teacher and superintendent, and it may be said of him that as a secular and religious instructor he probably trained the minds of neariv or quite four thousand pupils. No good work appealed to his sympathy in vain, and he was a zealous worker in the cause of temperance. His home was nearly opposite that of his father and grandfather, on the southern side of West Main street, about two miles west of the center of the city of New Britain. The house was built in 1820, and is still standing, near the Quinnipiack and Gilbert rivers, the first named of which flows into Long Island Sound, while the latter is a tributary of the Connecticut, into which it empties neart Middletown. While yet a young man Mr. Andrews was a partner in the firm of A. & E. Andrews, manufacturers of wagons and carriages, who made the first cast-iron plow ever turned out in that locality. In 1836, however, losses occasioned by a disastrous fire and Southern repudiation forced the concern to the wall. He was a pronounced anti-slavery man, and it is likely that his failure thus brought about did not tend to modify his po- litical views. He filled several offices of public trust and was repeatedly called upon to act in the set- tlement of estates. He was always an active worker in the cause of religion, having been appointed on the standing committee in 1823, and made deacon in the First Congregational Church of New Britain on Oct. 23, 1851. He took a lively interest also in the genealogical history of both his own and his wife's families, of both of which he published historical memorials. He entered upon this work con amore, and completed the former in 1870 and the latter a few years later, after he had reached the age of seventy-five. Previously, in 1867, he had published the "Ecclesiastical History of New Britain," the preparation of which he had con- menced nine years before. He went to his reward April 13, 1876.

Mr. Andrews was twice married. His first union was with Caroline Bird, daughter of Abijah Hart, of New Britain and New York City, and his wife, Anna Hall, of Middletown. She was born April 15, 1798, at New York, where she was a school teacher before her marriage, which was solemnized Dec. 16, 1818. She died Aug. 22, 1823, of spotted fever, in her twenty-sixth year, leaving two children: Julia Ann, born Nov. 15, 1819, and Caroline Hart, born Dec. 4, 1822. Mr. An- drews' second marriage took place Sept. 15, 1824, when he wedded Mary, daughter of Joseph Ship- man and Polly Lee. She was born April 14, 1805, and in her earlier years was a school teacher. She bore her husband four sons and four daughters: Margaret, Aug. 30, 1826; Eliza Shipman, April 8, 1828: Edwin Norton, Sept. 1. 1833: Cornelius, Nov. 1. 1834; Alfred Hinsdale, Dec. 25, 1836; Jane Louisa, April 22, 1842; Herbert Lee. Tune 6, 1844 ; Jane Louisa (2), Aug. 10, 1847. The youngest

daughter married Lyman A. Mills, now lieutenant- governor of Connecticut.

Cornelius Andrews, a citizen of New Britain, whose name appears at the commencement of this article, was, as has already been said, born Nov. I, 1834, and he was baptized in the following May. He graduated from the New Britain high school at the age of eighteen. He remained at his father's home, and still resides on the old homestead, which he owns, and to which he has made valuable modern additions. Although having learned a mechanical trade, he prefers an agricultural life, in which he has met with success. Ile has also been some- what interested in the manufacture and sale of school furniture.

While taking no active part in politics, Mr. Andrews' political faith is that of his ancestors, and his affiliations are with the Republican party. His religious creed is also that of his forefathers dur- ing half a dozen generations. He united with the First Congregational Church of New Britain on April 8, 1854, and has always taken a deep interest in promoting its welfare. For two years he has been clerk and standing committee of that body. In 1899 he was elected deacon to fill the office formerly held by his father. On June 25, 1862, lie was married to Miss Ann Eliza Andrews, a daughter of Samuel J. and Chloe Ann ( Francis ) Andrews, of Wethersfield. Mrs. Cornelius An- drews was born Jan. 19, 1836, and had been a school teacher. Two children have blessed their union : Mary Lincoln, born April 14, 1865, who died at the age of twenty-eight years; and a son, born Oct. 31, 1871, who died on the day of his birth.

NORMAN LOOMIS ANDERSON (de- ceased) was in his day one of the best-known and prosperous agriculturists and officials of the town of East Hartford, where he was born May 7, 1830, on his father's homestead.

The Andersons are of Scottish origin, and Nor- man Anderson, father of Norman Loomis Ander- son, was born on the present family homestead July 8, 1799, and there passed his entire life, dying in 1864. He married Emeline Culver, who died in 1887, the farm being now occupied by Mrs. Nor- man L. Anderson and A. S. Bidwell, who married a niece of our subject.

Norman L. Anderson received his preliminary education in the district schools of his native town, and later attended the academy in East Hartford, now known as Wells' Hall, after which he re- turned to the homestead, which he materially as- sisted his father in improving. Being the second in a family of seven and the eldest having become settled in life, he naturally became the main reliance of his father in the management of the home place, even assisting in the erection of the present dwelling about 1860.

In the year last named Mr. Anderson married Miss Jennette Burnham, daughter of Alfred and

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COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

Eliza (Dart) Burnham, and granddaughter of Ely Burnham, a descendant of one of the earliest set- tlers of Hartford county. Mr. and Mrs. Alfred Burnham had a family of three children, Jennette, Mrs. Anderson, being the eldest; Martha died young and was buried in the Vernon cenietery; and Alfred married, and died in Norfolk, Neb. Mrs. Anderson was born in South Windsor Jan. 10, 1833, lived in Vernon and then in Rockville, Tolland county, until her marriage, when she came with her husband to her present home. No chil- dren having been born to Mr. and Mrs. Anderson they adopted, as their own, Emma Brewer, men- tioned above as the wife of A. S. Bidwell. She was born in 1856, daughter of Elisha C. and Sarah (Anderson) Brewer, the former a prominent citi- zen of East Hartford, the latter a sister of Mr. Anderson. Emma Brewer passed the greater part of her early years with Mr. and Mrs. Anderson, who most tenderly cared for her until her mar- riage.

Mr. Anderson served as selectman of his town in 1874, and also filled several minor offices, in all of which he was faithful and efficient, and as as- sessor he was ever impartial and just. In religious faith he was a Spiritualist, and consequently liberal in his views, as he was with his purse in aid of the religious societies of his neighborhood. He was a profound reader and possessed a remarkably re- tentive memory, which enabled him to keep pace with current affairs and make his mark as one of the remarkable men of his neighborhood. A lov- ing husband, an affectionate and steadfast friend, he passed away Nov. 13, 1889, leaving a void in his family and in the community never to be filled.

HON. SHERMAN SANFORD. The pros- perity of any community depends upon its business activity, and the enterprise manifest in commercial circles is the foundation upon which is builded the material welfare of town, State and Nation. The most important factors in public life at the present day are therefore men who are in control of successful business interests, and such a one is Mr. Sanford, whose attention is now principally given to lumbering.

Our subject was born in the town of Avon, Hartford county, March 18, 1835, and belongs to one of the old families of the county. His grand- parents, Jesse and Ellanor ( Collins) Sanford, were farming people, and spent most of their lives in the town of Berlin. The father, Jesse Sanford, Jr., was born, reared and educated in Berlin, but when a young man removed to Avon, where he followed farming throughout his active business life. In politics he was first a Whig and later a Republican, and as one of the leading and influential citizens of his town he was elected to the State Legislature. He died in Avon at the advanced age of eighty- eight years. There he had married Miss Almira North, and to them were born four children: (1) Ellen, who died in childhood; (2) Edmund, who

died leaving three sons, Henry (now deceased), Frank and Charles; (3) Truman, deceased; and (4) Sherman, our subject.

The boyhood and youth of our subject were passed in Avon, at the schools of which locality he received his earlier education, later attending a select school in Norfolk, Conn. In Avon he con- tinued to make his nome, engaged in farming and lumbering, until 1861, when he removed to his present residence in Unionville, which had been built by him. Of late years his principal business has been that of lumbering.

In Avon Mr. Sanford was united in marriage with Miss Helen M. Humphrey, of Pennsylvania, and to them were born five children: (I) Ed- win, a resident of Unionville, married Flora Mason, and had three children, Edwin ( deceased), Helen and Harold. (2) Clara is deceased. (3) Will- iam died in infancy. (4) Bertha married Gustave Lawson, of West Haven, Conn. (5) Blanche is the wife of Oliver Tew, of Unionville.

Mr. Sanford's political support is always given to the Republican party, and in his community he ranks among its most honored counselors. He has been called upon to fill a number of minor of- fices, and in 1884 capably represented the town of Farmington in the State Legislature. He is a member of the Congregational Church of Union- ville, to which his wife and daughter also belong. and commands the respect and confidence of all with whom he comes in contact.

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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 33

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