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 35

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 35


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On Dec. 30, 1875, Mr. Marshall married Miss Charlotte A. Phelps, who was born Oct. 6, 1854, a daughter of Eli and Abigail ( Humphrey) Phelps, well-known residents of Poquonock, of whom an account is given elsewhere. Her education was begun in the same schools which our subject had attended a few years earlier, but on completing the course there she was given opportunities for more advanced study in the Connecticut Literary Insti- tute, Suffield, acquiring an excellent preparation for her duties as the mistress of a refined home. Two children have blessed the union: David Wilton, born July 15, 1877, and Carrie Phelps, born June 22, 1883, both of whom reside with their parents. The family is identified with the Congregational Church, of which Mrs. Marshall and her daughter are active members.


LORENZO PORTER AND JAMES TODD LEE. The first American ancestor of these brothers was John Lee, who came to America in 1634. It is known that he was born Aug. 8, 1620, in Essex, England, and probably at Colchester, and he left England while yet a mere child, under the care of William Westwood, for a year living with that gentleman at Cambridge, Mass., and in 1635 remov- ing with him to Hartford, Conn., where he passed his early years. There is no authentice record as to his course of educational training, but it is supposed that he studied under the tutorship of Samuel Stone, a famous pedagogue of that day, who died in 1659. In 1640 white men first settled in the territory where the town of Farmington now 'stands, and the follow- ing year young Lee, then in his early manhood, joined their company, and became one of the eighty- four original proprietors of the town. The terri- tory acquired by them embraced an area fifteen miles square, and included the present towns of Farmington, Southington, Bristol, Burlington, New Britain, Berlin and Kensington. Many hundred acres of land were assigned to him, and portions of the same, lying in Southington, Bristol and New Britain, are yet owned by his descendants, the title thereto having remained in the family for 250 years. In 1658 he took to himself a wife, Mary, a daughter of Deacon Stephen Hart.


Stephen Lee, second son of John Lee, was the first settler in the tract which came to be called the "Great Swamp" in 1707. Kensington in 1720 and New Britain in 1754. He took an active part in


effecting the organization of the New Britain So- ciety, and was a substantial man, accounted wealthy for his time; and his home, long known as the "Hinsdale House," has been described by an early chronicler as "one of the grandest houses in New Britain," and remained standing until 1834. On Oct. 1, 1690, he married Elizabeth Royce, a daugh- ter of Isaac and Elizabeth (Lathrop) Royce, and died June 7, 1753.


Dr. Isaac Lee, son of Stephen Lee, born at Kensington, was a physician of wide repute at Farmington and Middletown, as well as at the place of his nativity. On Dec. 3, 1713, he married Mary Hubbard, who was born at Hartford in February, 1688, a daughter of Samuel and Sarah (Kirby) Hubbard. Dr. Lee died Aug. 6, 1780. His son, Col. Isaac Lee, in 1754 gave New Britain her name. The Colonel was thrice married, first, on July 10, 1740, to Tabitha, a daughter of Isaac and Elizabeth (Galpin) Norton, who was born at Kensington Dec. 20, 1718, and died Nov. 2, 1770. His second marriage was on Dec. 30, 1772, to Elizabeth Grant, of East Windsor, who died May 17, 1782, and on Oct. 9, 1783, he was united to Mrs. Mary Hall, widow of Amos Hall, and daughter of Ephraim Johnson, of Wallingford. Col. Lee died Dec. 13, 1802, and his widow on Dec, 22, 1810. He was a man of prominence in the community, and his name frequently occurs in the records of town, church and State. No one of his day exerted a more potent influence upon public affairs, both civil and religious, and for many years he was familiar- ly called the "Father of the Town." For thirty years he was a magistrate, administering justice with wisdom and impartiality, and his counsel was constantly sought in matters affecting the general policy of the Colony and later of the State. With the exception of four years he represented his town in the Colonial Assembly from 1761 to 1775, in the State Legislature from its first session, in 1776, until 1779, and again from 1783 to 1791. He was a member of that earnest and devoted band of patriots, members of the General Assembly of the Colony, who, headed by Gov. Jonathan Trumbull and other State officers, took the oath of fidelity to the United States in October, 1776.


During the dark days of the Revolution and throughout the years which followed Col. Lee stood shoulder to shoulder with the patriots of his time, and shared with them the arduous duties and the grave responsibilities of those years when wisdom and statesmanship alone could guide the ship of State through a tempestuous sea and along a rocky coast. He served for many years in the militia, being appointed captain in the Sixth Co- lonial Regiment in May, 1767, lieutenant-colonel in the following October, and colonel of the 15th Regiment in 1775. His manner was courtly and dignified, his presence commanding. He was one of the two citizens of New Britain-Rev. Dr. Smal- ley being the other-who were always accorded a respect akin to reverence. His physical strength


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joy, had been murdered in Alton, Ill., but a short time before. Just before the organization of the Republican party the Free-Soil party nominated their last candidate for United States senator from the Third District of Connecticut, and. Mr. Hum- phrey was their choice. Though he failed of elec- tion to that position he served the Republican party afterward in many local offices, including that of justice of the peace, and in 1859 and 1872 he repre- sented Canton in the State Legislature. Socially he was much esteemed in his community, and as a music teacher and public singer he achieved notable success. He was a member of the Congregational choir for sixty years, dating from the time he was eighteen years old, and he was a member of the Church for fifty years, and a deacon for twenty- five years. On Sept. 4, 1835, Mr. Humphrey mar- ried Mary A. Adams, daughter of Gen. Ezra Adams. She died March 21, 1843, and on April 3, 1844, he married Mrs. Eliza Ann Moses, who died April 3, 1873. On Oct. 22, 1874, he formed a third union, this time with Mrs. Henrietta R. Bidwell, who is mentioned below. Mr. Humphrey died Feb. 6, 1896. He left no children.


Mrs. Henrietta R. Humphrey, the widow of our subject, is a descendant of one of the oldest fam- ilies of Massachusetts. Her father, Hiram Pike, was born in New Marlboro, Mass, May 25, 1799, and was reared a farmer. . He married Olive Rood, who was born in Canaan, Conn., Sept. 25, 1797, daughter of John Rood, and soon afterward set- tled in Canton, where he spent the rest of his life in agricultural pursuits. He died Nov. 13, 1838, his wife on July 21, 1887, and their remains were interred in the cemetery at New Hartford. They had the following children: Julia A., born June 20, 1826, married, on Jan. 25, 1849, William Wil- cox ; Henrietta R. is the wife of our subject; Celestia, born June 17, 1829, married William Wil- cox ; Olive, born Aug. 9, 1830, married Nelson Humphrey; Mark H., born Feb. 4, 1832, died in 1892; Mary E., born July 5, 1833, married Ed- mund Chapin ; John R., born Nov. 26, 1836, is now a farmer of Canton; Aretus, born March 2, 1837, died Aug. 30, 1837; and Catharine, born Feb. II, 1839, married William Case, of New Hartford. Mrs. Humphrey was born in New Marlboro, Mass., June 27, 1827, and now resides at Canton, where she has spent much of her life. She is a good Christian woman, and possessed of much business' ability. Her first husband was Albert Frederick Bidwell, and by him she had five children, three of whom are now living: Frederick A., George E. and Thomas Scott.


GEORGE WILCOX, trustee, elder and busi- ness manager of the Church Family of Shakers, Shaker Station, in the town of Enfield, was born in Foster, Providence Co., R. I., March 14, 1819, a son of David and Betsey (Fry) Wilcox, natives of the same town and county, who, with a family


of five sons and one daughter, joined the Shaker Community of Enfield in 1827. Both parents lived and died with the Shakers, the father passing away April 5, 1836, and the mother in August, 1877. Their children were: Richard, John, George, Dan- iel, Phebe and Ezra. Of these, Richard was killed by accident in 1884; Daniel drifted away, married and reared a family, and died in Quincy, Ill., at the age of fifty-six ; Ezra died April 6, 1836, at the age of eleven; and John died Feb. 4, 1900, aged eighty-three. George and Phebe still survive and are members of the Church Family of Shakers, Enfield.


In the latter part of the eighteenth century there was an active revival of religion through the various churches in this region. In due time they heard of a small band of people located near Al- bany, N. Y., who had migrated from England in the year 1774, and were preaching and practicing a true Christian life, after the pattern of the Apostolic Church shortly after the crucifixion of Jesus, embracing the principles of peace, virgin purity and community of goods. Finally some of the subjects of the revival visited those strange people, and ultimately became convinced and con- verted to their doctrine, and after awhile some of those people visited Enfield and planted their testi- mony in the hearts and souls of a few families, principal among them being the Meachams, Tif- fanys, Billings, Slate Allen and others with their families, who grew up and established these com- munity families, living together as brothers and sis- ters. They have continued thus, with various ac- cessions, for something over one hundred years.


George Wilcox, our subject, has been identified with the Church Family of Shakers since the age of eighteen years, one year after the deatlı of his father. He has been an elder since 1844, first as assistant to Elder Asa Tiffany, whom he succeeded upon the retirement of the latter in 1851, and this important position he has since · successfully continued to fill, having supervision of over one thousand acres of land belonging to the Church Family. The North, South and Church Families have in all about three thousand acres in one body.


The Shakers are engaged principally in agri- cultural pursuits, but also own and operate a ma- chine shop, a sawmill and a gristmill. They deal to some extent in stock, and grow their own dairy stock. They sell from eighty to one hundred and twenty-five tons of hay annually. The work is done principally by the members of the commun- ity, though in the busy season outside help is some- times employed. The women do fancy work, which is disposed of to visitors.


At the age of eighty-one Elder Wilcox is hale and heartier than most men of sixty, and bids fair to reach the century mark. He is a genial and courteous gentleman, and has served in the ca- pacity of trustee for thirty years, and as chairman of the board of trustees for the three families in Enfield during the latter part of that time.


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Pro. Noleaf


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COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.


ELAM S. KILBY, for many years a prominent business man of Kensington, is a native of Weth- ersfield, Hartford county, born March 14, 1848. His grandfather, who died while he was very young, was a farmer, and his father, Franklin Kilby, was a blacksmith.


Franklin Kilby was born in 1818 in Wethers- field, and died July 4, 1870. Both his name and trade harmonize with the sturdy integrity of his character. In 1840 he was married to Harriet Slater, of New Britain, who passed away when young Elam was a child of six years, and was laid to rest in her native town. During her fourteen years of married life she bore her husband three children: Benjamin Franklin, Hattie and Elam S. The eldest son received serious injury while a child, but lived until 1893, in which year he died, unmarried, at the age of forty-nine. Hattie mar- ried Abraham Howell, a tea merchant of New Britain. After the death of his first wife Franklin Kilby married Mary Ann O'Rouke, of Wethers- field, and of this union four children were born, two daughters and two sons. The eldest child, Lena, married Edward Carter, of Los Angeles, Cal. ; James E., the first-born son, is serving in the United States army at Wingate, N. M .: Frederick, the second son, also located in the regular army in 1882, but since that year his family has heard nothing of his whereabouts; Isabella, the youngest child of the second marriage, is now the wife of Elmer Ripple, of Berlin, who is in the employ of the Russell & Erwin Co., of New Berlin. Mr. Kilby's second wife survives him, making her home with her daughter, Mrs. Ripple. At the outbreak of the Civil war Franklin Kilby, despite his forty- three years, felt his pulse throb and his heart beat quicker when Beauregard fired the first Rebel gun aimed at Sumter. He promptly enlisted in the Conn. V. I., his regiment being the first three-year one to go to the front from the State.


Such early education as Elam S. Kilby received was obtained at the Wethersfield common schools, but necessity compelled him to go to work at an early age, his first practical experience being as a farm hand. He worked some seven months for Deacon Stanley Griswold, of Wethersfield, and about the same length of time for Deacon Stillwell, earning six dollars a month. His next employers were Franklin Griswold and Deacon Chauncey Welles, for each of whom he worked one summer. He then removed from Wethersfield to Kensington, where he secured work as a polisher in the shops of the Hart, Bliven & Meade Co. After a year he entered the "square" department of the same fac- tory, where he was employed for eighteen months. At the expiration of that period (in 1871) he opened the "Kilby House," near the Berlin station of the N. Y. & N. H. railroad. In mentioning this, his first business venture on his own account, attention should be directed to the fact that on coming to Kensington Mr. Kilby's entire cash capital con- sisted of three dollars, and the fact that within two


and a half years he was able to undertake an en- terprise of this sort speaks volumes for his industry, sobriety and economy. For twenty-one years he remained in charge of the original "Kilby House," which he conducted with such skill and attention to business that in 1892 he erected a new "Kilby House," on the line of the New Britain and Berlin trolly road. He continued to manage this estab- lishment until 1897, when he leased the hotel to John Carey. Since then he has devoted himself to the conduct of his livery stable, which is one of the best equipped of its size in the county. Through business sagacity, perseverance and integrity he has accumulated a comfortable competence. In 1896 he erected a handsome modern residence adjoin- ing his new hotel. In addition to his hotel property and residence he owns eight dwellings in Kensing- ton, besides several business buildings, known as Kilby's Corners, which he put up in the immediate vicinity of the "Kilby House," as well as the post- office building, the storerooms occupied by Nelson Taylor and by the West Market, the adjacent bar- ber shop and the building nearest the Berlin depot. He is also a property owner in New Britain, among his other holdings there being the Fielding block on Main street, adjoining Dennis Riordan's dry- goods store.


On Aug. 31, 1869, Mr. Kilby was married to Miss Annie M. Cushman, who was born in East Hartford April 5, 1853, and they have one child, a son named Louis Elam. The latter was edu- cated at the Kensington common schools and the New Britain high school, and after graduating from the last named institution took a commercial course at Hannum's Business College in Hartford. For two years he was engaged in the grocery busi- ness in Kensington with William Taylor under the firm name of Kilby & Taylor, and is at present connected with the W. L. Davis Brick Co. ; he also has charge of his father's business in New Britain. He has been a grand juror since he was twenty-two years of age, and in 1898, greatly against his wish, was nominated by the Democratic party for the office of representative, but was defeated.


Mr. Kilby is thoroughly independent in poli- tics, his motto being "men rather than party." For himself, he has never sought office, finding that the successful conduct of his own extensive business · affairs called for all his time, thought and energy. He is a member of the Sons of Veterans and of Meriden Lodge, No. 35. B. P. O. E. He is one of the best-known men of either Kensington, Berlin or New Britain, in all of which places his frank, genial nature, no less than his high moral char- acter, has made for him many friends.


Mrs. Elam S. Kilby, whose maiden name, as has been said, was Annie M. Cushman, is descended from original Puritan stock, some of the best blood of the carly Pilgrims of New England coursing through her veins. She is of the eighth genera- tion in direct line from Rev. Robert Cushman, who was born in England before the year 1600. He


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was one of the passengers on the "Speedwell," the sister ship of the "Mayflower," which sprang a leak and was obliged to return to port, while the "Mayflower" proceeded on her voyage. In 1621, however, Robert Cushman crossed the water, land- ing at Plymouth, where he preached the first ser- mon ever heard in New England. He remained at Plymouth for a few months, when he was sent to England as an agent for the Colony, and while pre- paring to return to America he died. His son, Thomas, who was a boy of fourteen years when he accompanied his father to the New World, became a ruling elder in the church, dying in that part of Plymouth which afterward became a portion of Kingston. He was the father of a family of sons, one of whom, Isaac, was the first minister settled at Plympton. He also had a numerous progeny, one of his sons, Nathaniel, being the great-great- grandfather of Mrs. Kilby. Nathaniel settled at Lebanon and his eldest son, also named Isaac, re- moved to Stafford, Conn., where he died in 1813, aged seventy-seven years. This Isaac (2), Mrs. Kilby's great-grandfather, had three sons, David, Solomon and Jonas. Solomon was born Oct. 13, 1778, and was the father of ten children, the young- est of whom, Ambrose, was the father of Annie M. (now Mrs. Elam S. Kilby). He was born in West Stafford Feb. 18, 1813, and after leaving school worked upon his father's farm. In Feb- ruary, 1837, he married Abigail L. Stowe, the daughter of a farmer of Mooers, N. Y. Six chil- dren were born to them, whose names and dates of birth are as follows: Lucinda, Oct. 31, 1839; Candice, in 1841 ; Jefferson, Feb. 18, 1846 ; Erskine, Aug. 25, 1848; Annie M., April 5, 1853; and Arthur J., April 5, 1855.


HON. EDWIN MORGAN RIPLEY, M. D., of Unionville, has won for himself an eminent po- sition in the medical world. He is a man of deep research and careful investigation, and his skill and ability have won him a large and lucrative practice. Prominence in his profession comes through merit alone, and the high position which he occupies attests his superiority.


The Ripley family is of English origin, and their coat of arms is thus described: Per chev. dove- tailed, and vert., three lions ramp., countercharged. Crest, a demi-lion, ramp-reguard, vert., collared or holding between the paws an escutcheon per chev. or. The first to come to the New World was Will- iam Ripley, who with his wife, two sons and two daughters, left Hingham, England, in 1638, and located in Hingham, Mass. For his second wife he married Elizabeth, widow of Thomas Thaxter, on Sept. 29, 1654. He died July 20, 1656. His children were John, who died Feb. 2, 1684; Abra- ham; Sarah, who was married, Oct. 18, 1653, to Jeremiah Beale ; and another daughter.


(II) John Ripley, of this family, had land granted him at Hingham, Mass. He married Eliz- abeth Hobart, daughter of Rev. Peter Hobart, the


first pastor of the church at Hingham. They had seven children; John, born Jan. 20, 1055, died Sept. 7, 1720; Joshua. born May 9, 1658, lied May 18, 1739; Jeremiah, born in September, 1562; Jo- siah, born May 12, 1667; Peter, born Oct. 21, 1668, died April 22, 1742; Rebecca, born Jan. 18, 1670, died Oct. 1, 1670; and Hezekiah, born Lec. 15, 1672.


(III) Joshua Ripley was married, Nov. 28, 1682, to Hannah, daughter of William Bradford, Jr., deputy governor of the Plymouth Colony, and granddaughter of Gov. William Bradford, who came to this country in the "Mayflower" in 1620. She was born May 9, 1662, and died May 28, 1738. From Hingham, Mass., Joshua Ripley and wife moved to Norwich, Conn., Oct. 10, 1688, and to Windham March 23, 1691. He was the first town clerk and treasurer of the latter place, and also served as justice of the peace. His children were Alice, who was born Sept, 17, 1683, and married Samuel Edgerton, of Norwich, Conn .; Hannah, who was born March 2, 1685, and married Samuel Webb, of Windham; Faith, who was born Sept. 20, 1686, and married Samuel Bingham; Joshua, born May 13, 1688; Margaret, born Nov. 4, 1699; Rachel and Leah (twins), born April 17, 1693; Hezekiah, born June 10, 1695, died Feb. 7, 1779; David, born May 20, 1697, died Feb. 16, 1781; Irene, born Aug. 28, 1700, married Samuel Man- ning; and Jerusha and Ann (twins), born Nov. I, 1704, the former of whom married Edward Brown, the latter wedding Dr. Wheat.


(IV) Joshua Ripley, born May 13, 1688, died Nov. 18, 1773. On Dec. 3, 1712, he wedded Mary Backus, of Windham, Conn., by whom he had nine children: Mary, born Nov. 18, 1714, married Joshua Abbe, and died in October, 1769; Phineas, born Nov. 21, 1716, died Aug. 4, 1746; Hannah, born June 12, 1719, died Nov. 18, 1773; Nathaniel was born June 30, 1721; Elizabeth, born Nov. 4, 1724, married John Alden; Joshua was born Oct. 30, 1726; Ebenezer, born June 22, 1729, died June II, 18II; William was born Feb. 12, 1734; and john, born March 31, 1738, died Jan. 27, 1823.


(V) John Ripley, born March 31, 1738, died Jan. 27, 1823. He was married, June 7, 1769, to Abigail Marsh, of Hartford, and had eleven chil- dren: Henrietta, born March 13, 1770, died Oct. 23, 1795; Elisha Payne, born Dec. 12, 1771, died May 26, 1773; Abigail, born Sept. 28, 1773, died Nov. 24, 1777 ; Polly, born Nov. 3, 1775, died Nov. 22, 1779; Hannah, born Oct. 7, 1777, died Oct. IO, 1777; Lucy, born Sept. 12, 1778, died Jan. 23, 1853; John Bradford, the grandfather of our sub- ject, was next in the order of birth; William Brad- ford, born July 14, 1784, died Sept. 15, 1785; Jabez, born May 24, 1786, died in 1822 ; Oliver, born Nov. 12, 1788, died April 19, 1860 ; and Julia, born May 16, 1792, married Henry Terry, of Enfield, Conn., April 29, 1810.


(VI) John Bradford Ripley was born July 6, 1780, and died May 14, 1852. He made his home in Hartford for many years, and served as sheriff


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COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.


of the county, but about 1812 he moved to Bland- ford, Mass., where he engaged in farming until his death. He married Elizabeth Barnard, of Hartford, and to them were born twelve children: Hen- rietta, born Sept. 11, 1803, married Edwin Bar- nard, of Waterville, Wis .; Mary Bradford, born March 21, 1805, married Horace Newberry, of South Windsor, Conn .; Abigail Marsh, born Jan. 30, 1807, married H. B. Harris, of Blandford, Mass .; John Darrow, born Jan. 15, 1809, died March 4, 1886; Oliver, born Oct. 19, 1810, died March 23, 1892; Frederick A., born Aug. 8, 1812, died July 21, 1891 ; William Johnson, father of our subject, is next in the order of birth; Henry May, born May 4, 1816, died Nov. 17, 1840; Elizabeth Lane, born May 2, 1818, married David Bates, of Blandford, Mass. ; Lucy, born Nov. 8, 1820, married Dr. P. M. Hackley, of Berlin, Wis. : James. Dyer, born Oct. 13, 1822, lives in Granville, Mass. ; and Edwin Barnard, born Nov. 27, 1823, lives in South Windsor, Connecticut.


(VII) Rev. William J. Ripley, an Advent min- ister, was born in Blandford, Mass., Aug. 30, 1814, and died Jan. 15, 1884. He first married Weltha Noble, who died April 17, 1842. Later he mar- ried Eveline Jones, a daughter of Orville Jones, and to them were born two children : Edwin M., our subject ; and Orville H., born May 24, 1864. The mother died Sept. 22, 1899.


(VIII) Dr. Edwin M. Ripley, whose name in- troduces this sketch, was born at Pleasant Valley, in the town of Barkhamsted, Litchfield Co., Conn., July 31, 1847, and was educated for his profession at the New York Eclectic Medical College, from which he was graduated Feb. II, 1871. Immedi- ately afterward he formed a partnership with Dr. Albert Fox, of Pawling, N. Y., with whom he en- gaged in practice for a year, when ill health com- pelled him to return home. A year later he went to South Dover, N. Y., where he practiced his pro- fession for nearly four years with great success, and in 1876 came to Unionville, Conn., opening an office in Merriam's block. In his many years' practice in this place he has met with gratifying success, and is widely known as a learned physi- cian and agreeable gentleman. Dr. Ripley has been president of the Connecticut Eclectic Medical Association for three years ; has been a member of the National Association since 1879, and was sec- retary of Section A, World's Fair Medical Con- gress, held in Chicago in 1893. He is local medi- cal examiner for the Ætna Life, Travelers, the Masonic Life Association of Trenton, N. J., Hart- ford Life, New York Life and National Life In- surance Companies, and the Ancient Order of United Workmen. He is not a believer in the germ theory of disease, and is an active enemy of com- pulsory vaccination, concerning which he has writ- ten some interesting papers.




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