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 41

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 41

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Hilarion A Lasall

Edward F. Thrall

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COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

ments of many of his friends. In that year he was the party candidate for State Senator, and at dif- ferent times he served as delegate to conventions, State, Senatorial, etc. When urged to become a candidate for local office he has almost invariably declined, preferring to devote his energies to his pri- vate business, but he filled the position of selectman ably some years ago, and has served ten years on the board of relief, as assessor, etc.

In 1864 Mr. Thrall married Miss Flavia A. Howe, and three children have blessed the union : Charles, who died Nov. 3, 1898, aged thirty-one years ; Frank E. who died when three months old ; and Leliaone, who in 1898 married George Merwin, of Windsor, a son of J. J. Merwin, of Windsor, and is connected with the Phoenix Insurance Co., of Hartford. Mr. and Mrs. Merwin reside with her parents in Windsor, and are highly esteemed in the best social circles of that city. She possesses elo- cutionary powers of no small order, and has assisted in many public entertainments. Mr. and Mrs. Thrall have also reared two boys, Nicholas Manelli, who had his home with them for fourteen years, and is now a business man of Bridgeport, Conn .; and another, now living in the town of Windsor, who shared their roof for seven or eight years.

Mrs. Flavia A. Thrall, whose magnetic person- ality and wonderful powers as a spiritual healer have .won world-wide notice, is deserving of special mention in this volume. One who is at all skeptical concerning the efficacy of mediumistic healing has but to read a few of the thousands of testimonials that have come to her unsolicited, or to converse with the people who have known her from child- hood, and have seen with their own eyes the results of her work. Her immense practice, both at home and at her office in Hartford, speaks for itself as to her fame and popularity, while the character and standing of her patients, who number among them some of the most aristocratic and intelligent peo- ple, prove that her methods are of genuine worth and value. Clergymen, lawyers and even physi- cians, eminent in their profession, have consulted her, and her patients include adherents of every creed or belief. Her remarkable powers enable her to diagnose a case unerringly and, where medicines are necessary, she prescribes strictly herbal prep- arations, which operate like magic. Although she has never advertised, her marvelous cures could not escape public attention, and calls for her aid have come from every State in the Union and various European countries, the "absent treatments" being given with perfect success. Her gift has not been utilized by her as a source of revenue only, as her highest charges to the wealthy are but trifling in comparison with the relief given them, while hun- dreds of poor people have been cured entirely with- out charge. She is a native of the town of Windsor, and daughter of Cyrus Howe, a well-known citi- zen of that section. He was of Scotch-Irish blood, but owing to religious persecution in Ireland his family was compelled to go elsewhere for freedom

of conscience, and as a young man he came to Amer- ica and located at Windsor, being one of the first of his nationality to settle there. For sixty-eight years he was a Freemason, being one of the oldest in the United States. For many years previous to his death he was a member of the Spiritual Harmonical Society at Poquonock, its constitution having been written by him, and Mr. and Mrs. Thrall are now leading supporters of the organization. His wife, Sarah ( Phelps), also deceased, was a daughter of Timothy and Ruth ( Wilson) Phelps, and a member of one of the oldest families in Windsor. Mrs. Thrall was the youngest of five children, of whom only one other is now living, Maria, widow of Charles Darby, of Windsor.

During her early days Mrs. Thrall attended Dis- trict School No. 7, of the town of Windsor, obtain- ing a good practical education for that day. As a child she manifested powers beyond the ordinary, but so far were they then misunderstood that her parents regarded them with uneasiness, fearing them as evidences of mental blight. Her clair- voyant power was characterized by herself in child- ish phrase as "seeing away off." At the age of fourteen her ability as a healer was revealed to her, and, having accepted the call to this high service, she has practiced for forty-seven years, during which she has performed some of the most remarkable cures on record.

HENRY DWIGHT HAWLEY, a prominent and representative citizen of Farmington, was born in that town May 25, 1828, and is a representative of one of the oldest families of the State, as he traces his ancestry back to (I) Joseph Hawley, a farmer and tanner of Stratford, Conn., who was. born in 1603, and in 1646 married Katharine Bird- sey.

(II) Samuel Hawley, the next in direct descent, was also a farmer and tanner by occupation. He was born in 1647, and was married, May 20; 1673, to Mary, daughter of Thomas and Anın ( Welles) Thompson.

(III) Capt. Joseph Hawley, born June 6, 1675, was married June 7, 1697, to Elizabeth, daughter of Timothy and Joanna ( Birdsey) Wilcoxon, of Stratford.

(IV) Joseph Hawley, born March 25, 1702, was the great-grandfather of our subject.

(V) Gad Hawley, the grandfather, was born in Farmington Sept. 9, 1746, and was married Feb. 8, 1776, to Lydia Gillett, of Avon, Connecticut.

(VI) Amon Hawley, the father of our subject, was born in Farmington July 12, 1785, and died Dec. 16, 1863. Throughout life he made his home in the house where he was born, and there his death occurred. By occupation he was a farmer. On Oct. 27, 1814, he was united in marriage with Miss Flora Thompson, of East Avon, Conn., who was born March 3, 1788, and died Feb. 17, 1866. They were the parents of six children, of whom our sub- ject is the youngest, the others being as follows :

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Lydia Mariette, born Feb. 23, 1817, died Jan. 22, 1899; Mary Ann, born Jan. 23, 1819, died Feb. 19, 1819: Lucy Ann, born Aug. 23, 1822, was married, March 1, 1848, to Charles Richards ; Harriet Statira, born April II, 1824, was married, April 20, 1846, to Charles Ramsey, and died April 5, 1899; and Charles Augustin, born April 24, 1826, died Aug. 10, 1844.

Henry D. Hawley, subject of this sketch, was educated in the schools of Farmington and Hart- ford, and throughout his active business career has successfully engaged in general farming on a part of the original ancestral acres in the former place. Upon this farm he erected, in 1873, a comfortable residence adjoining the old homestead, and has made many other useful and valuable improvements, which add greatly to the attractive appearance of the place. Since 1849 he has been a faithful and earnest member of the Congregational Church, and for almost a quarter of a century has filled the office of deacon, always taking quite an active and prominent part in church work. His life has been manly, his actions sincere, and his example is well worthy of emulation.

On April 30, 1867, Mr. Hawley married Miss Elizabetlı Ann Keeler, a daughter of John Keeler, of Ridgefield, Conn., and to them were born five children : Charles Dwight, born March 23, 1868, is a farmer ; Henry Kceler, born June 3, 1870, was graduated from Oberlin College, Oberlin, Ohio, in 1899, and is now preparing for the ministry ; John Amon, born July 8, 1873, is also a graduate of Oberlin College and the Theological Seminary of Hartford, Conn., and is now pastor of the Congre- gational Church of West Avon, Conn .; Willie Moses, born Nov. 19, 1876, died Feb. 24, 1877 ; and Flora Eliza, twin sister of Willie, has been educated at Oberlin College.

WASHBURN EDGERTON is one of the most prosperous and highly esteemed agriculturists of West Granby. Old age is not necessarily a synonym of weakness or inactivity. It need not suggest, as a matter of course, want of occupation or helpless- ness. This is worthily illustrated in the life of Mr. Edgerton, as he still gives his attention to his farm- ing operations and his extensive business interests. Mr. Edgerton was born in West Granby April 20, 1820, and is a worthy representative of a fam- ily that has been identified with that portion of Hartford county for over a century and a half. His great-grandfather, Ebenezer Edgerton, was born in Long Meadow, Lebanon, Conn., and on coming to Hartford county located at Simsbury (then West Granby), where he engaged in farming and stock raising until called from this life. His sympathies were with the Colonists during the struggle for in- dependence, and he took an active part in the Rev- olutionary war. Religiously he was a member of the Congregational Church.

Jacob Edgerton, grandfather of our subject, was born on the old homestead in West Granby, and there spent his entire life, following the occupa-

tion of farming. His education was limited, as schools in those days were few and the teachers were very incompetent. He was a successful farmer, a good citizen and highly respected by all who knew him. He owned a tract of 300 acres near the pres- ent hone of our subject, and there both he and his wife died, their remains being interred in West Granby. Both were true and carnest Christians, and in politics he was a Jeffersonian Democrat. He married Miss Nancy Lee, of Granby, and to them were born eighteen children : Alanson, Nancy, Lee, Desiah, Charlotte, Lester, Ashel, Jef- ferson, Josephus, Jude, Jerusha, Maria, Angeline, Willis, Margaret, Caleb and two who died in in- fancy.

Alanson Edgerton, father of our subject, was born on the old homestead, was educated in the common schools of the neighborhood, and remained with his parents until he attained man's estate. On leaving the parental roof he located upon a tract of sixty acres of land, where he engaged in farming for some years, but finally ; purchased one hundred acres in West Granby, where he engaged in general farming and stock raising until his death, in 1851. A man of high moral character and upright and honorable in all his dealings, he commanded the respect and confidence of all with whom he came in contact. His political support was given to the Democracy. He married Asenath Case, a native of Barkhamsted, Conn., and a daughter of Simeon Case. Five children were born of this union: Asenath, now the wife of Thomas Scott Gould ; Washburn, our subject; Alonzo, a resident of West Granby ; and two who died in infancy. The mother departed this life in 1873, and was laid to rest by the side of her husband in West Granby cemetery.

Washburn Edgerton received only a common- school education, pursuing his studies in district school No. 3, West Granby. On leaving home, at the age of thirty-two years, he located upon one of his father's farms, comprising eighty acres, to which he has added 300 acres in subsequent years, being now the largest owner of farming land in West Granby. In connection with general farming he has also extensively engaged in stock raising and dealing with good success, and still attends to his business interests.

In 1852, in Granby, Mr. Edgerton was united in marriage with Miss Adaline Wilcox, a native of that place, and a daughter of Owen and Harriette (Holcomb) Wilcox, and to them were born eight children: Kossuth B., at home; Eva, who died at the age of three years ; Hattie, who died at the age of five years : Lutia, who first married Willis Clark, and after his deathi wedded James McCuther, of Simsbury ; Ascnath, wife of Edward C. Hayes, of North Granby; Lucinda, who died at the age of sixteen ; Willis Washburn, a farmer of Granby town ; and Adelaide, who died at the age of thirty- five. The children have been provided with good practical educations, which have well fitted them for life's responsible duties. The wife and mother, who was a most estimable woman, was called to

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COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

her final rest in 1865, aged thirty-eight years, and was buried in West Granby.

In early life Mr. Edgerton was a supporter of the Democratic party, but when the Civil war broke out he gave his allegiance to the Republican party, with which he has since been identified. He has filled a number of local offices, such as juryman, school director and as member of the board of re- lief, the duties of which he has most faithfully and conscientiously discharged. In religious faith he is a member of the M. E. Church at West Granby, and in all the relations of life he has been found true to every trust reposed in him, while as a busi- ness man and citizen he ranks among the best in his community.

FREDERICK R. CURTIS. Elected and re- elected, for three successive terms, as town clerk of Glastonbury, an office which he now fills, the subject of this sketch has only thereby attested a measure of the high esteem in which he is held. He pos- sesses that cordial personality, that friendliness of manner and willingness to oblige, which character- ize a man of kindly disposition and broad human sympathies.

The advent of the Curtis family in the annals of Glastonbury and vicinity occurred more than a half century ago, and to it is due the credit for founding an important industry. J. S. Curtis, great- uncle of our subject, migrated from Massachusetts, and started in Glastonbury the Curtis factory, man- ufacturing silverware, spectacle rims and silver work of various kinds. A silver-plating industry was established at Curtisville, now called Naubuc, and here was manufactured the first German silver in America. It was hauled by wagon to Waterbury and then rolled to the desired thickness. Russell Curtis, a brother of J. S., was the grandfather of our subject. He was a skilled mechanic, and spent the greater part of his life at Springfield, Mass., later coming to Connecticut with his son, George R. Curtis, the father of our subject, and passing away at Last Hartford.

George R. Curtis was born in Springfield, Mass., Oct. 17, 1823, and he there received a good com- mon-school education. Upon his arrival at Curt s- ville he opened a store, became the first postmaster at Curtisville, and for many terms served as justice of the peace. In politics he was a Democrat, and he served as a member of the school board and as school visitor. He was the first Democratic registrar under the law which required a registrar from each political party. He was a man of superior intel- ligence and keen judgment, was conservative, and his opinions were held in esteem so high that fre- quently his advice was sought by friends and neigh- bors. He married, Jan. 1, 1845, Elizabeth R. Forbes, who was born Dec. 17, 1822, daughter of Orrin (born April 18, 1794) and Mary (Treat) Forbes (born Nov. 15, 1801), his second wife. Or- rin Forbes was a grandson of Capt. Moses Forbes, an officer of the Revolutionary army. The mother of our subject died Oct. 22, 1886. To George R.

and Elizabeth R. Curtis were born three children : Julia, who died in young womanhood; Celia, who married Winfield S. Bremer, and lives at Meriden ; and Frederick R., our subject.

Frederick R. Curtis was born July 4, 1850, in Glastonbury, and attended the district schools. When a boy he removed with his parents to New- ark, N. J., and attended the schools of that city. His parents removing to East Hartford, Conn., and residing on Naubuc avenue, Hockanum, he at- tended the East Hartford high school under Joseph O. Hurlbut, and later received instruction in Bryant & Stratton and Remington's Business College, at Hartford. While yet a student at school he met with a painful and serious accident. He fell on the ice and sustained injuries which made him a cripple for life, and an attack of typhoid fever fol- lowing his mishap confined him to the sick room for many weary months. From the effects of this accident he has never fully recovered. When con- valescent he secured employment in the store of F. C. Covell, of Glastonbury, and later, during the first administration of President Cleveland, he succeeded Mr. Covell as postmaster. When the ad- ministration again changed William E. Gates was appointed postmaster, and our subject became his assistant. After leaving the store of Mr. Gates our subject accepted a position with S. P. Turner, where he is now employed.

Mr. Curtis was married, June 29, 1892, to Miss Minnie J. Couch, who was born in Glastonbury April 26, 1864, daughter of Jerome and Clarissa (Dart) Couch, old and highly respected residents of the town. In politics Mr. Curtis is a Democrat. In July, 1896, he was elected town clerk of Glas- tonbury to fill a vacancy occasioned by the resigna- tion of Clinton O. Talcott, and twice since then has he been re-elected. He is also a justice of the peace and notary public. He is one of the estimable citizens of Glastonbury, a man of splendid personal character and very popular.

THOMAS FAGAN, an old and experienced farmer of Bloomfield, was born in County Carlow, Ireland, June 16, 1816, and is a son of Patrick Fa- gan, who was a farmer of that county. He comes of good stock, and the family has attained some prominence, two of our subject's brothers having become prominent attorneys in Dublin, Ireland.

Thomas Fagan attended the parochial schools of his native town, receiving a good education, and was reared to agricultural pursuits. After leaving school he served a regular apprenticeship to the tailor's trade, at which he worked before coming to America. In 1845 he left the Emerald Isle, and after a voyage which lasted from April I until June 6 landed at the United States. With the ex- ception of two or three years since his arrival in this country he has made his home in Bloomfield, and has here confined his attention exclusively to farming.

Mr. Fagan n.arried, in Bloomfield, Miss Mary Cullen, and their union was blessed with five chil-

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dren, born in the following order: Mary A., de- ceased wife of Hezekiah E. Case; Michael J., de- ceased ; Thomas H., of Bloomfield; James E., also of Bloomfield and one of the town assessors; and John C., in California. Mrs. Fagan died April 21, 1899, and her remains were interred in St. Ber- nard's cemetery, Tariffville. Mr. Fagan has voted with the Democratic party ever since he was nat- uralized. He has lived in strict accordance with the teachings of the Catholic Church, of which he has been a lifelong member, and to the support of which he has liberally contributed of his means. He retains all his faculties, enjoying good health, and takes much interest in current events, reading the daily papers regularly. His days have been passed industriously and temperately, and he has won for himself the unfeigned respect of all his neighbors.

HENRY CASE RICE, a well-known citizen and worthy representative of the agricultural inter- ests of Farmington, was born in the town of Gran- ville, Ohio, Feb. 10, 1834, and is a son of Rev. Sedgwick Rice, a Baptist clergyman, who was born in Wallingford, Conn., a descendant of one of the honored pioneer families of that place, and died in 1840.

In Farmington, Conn., Rev. Mr. Rice married Miss Caroline Case, of Canton, this State, a daugh- ter of Ozias Case, and granddaughter of Capt. Dud- ley Case, both residents of Canton. Five children were born to this union: Sylvester Woodruff, who was captain of a colored company during the Civil war, and died in Baton Rouge, La .; George Sedg- wick, who is now living in Hartford, Conn. ; Henry Case, our subject ; James M., who died in Australia ; and Sarah, deceased at the age of nine years.

Henry C. Rice was reared on a farm in Durham, Conn., and attended the public schools of the neigh- borhood. One of his teachers was Deacon Gaylord Newton, father of Hon. Henry Newton, of New Haven, Conn. In early life our subject learned the trade of silver-plating with the firm of James L. Howard & Co., of Hartford, and followed the same for a few years. Later he engaged in carriage-mak- ing at Willimantic, Conn., with his brothers Sylves- ter and George, until after the breaking out of the Civil war, when, in 1862, they discontinued busi- ness. Our subject then removed to Springfield, Mass., and for fourteen years was engaged in the manufacture of guns in the United States Armory. In 1876 he came to Farmington, and here he pat- ented (April 8, 1879) Rice's "calf weaner and cow muzzle," since which time he has been engaged in its manufacture and sale in connection with farm- ing. In 1884 he opened the "Elm Tree Inn." He now owns and operates a fine farm of 200 acres in Farmington, and in his labors is meeting with a well-deserved success. This place has been in the family of his maternal ancestors since the original purchase from the Indians, when the town of Farm- ington was settled. Mr. Rice takes a commendable

interest in public affairs, especially educational mat- ters, and for many years has been an efficient mem- ber of the school board.

In Middletown, Conn., Mr. Rice married Miss Jessie Jamieson, and to them have been born four children : Agnes C., Harry S., Jessie M., and John Wier (of New York City).

JOHN P. GRISWOLD. The Griswold family is one of the oldest in this section, and the high character maintained by its members in every gen- eration has invested the name with an enviable pres- tige. The direct descendants are now numerous, while intermarriages with other leading families have established wide connections. Among the notable representatives of the name in this genera- tion is the subject of this biography, an enterpris- ing young agriculturist of Windsor town, whose estate, while yet a boy in years, has won him a high reputation for business ability. In giving a. brief account of his career it will be of interest to trace his line of descent from one of the pioneer settlers of Windsor, George Griswold.

Levi Griswold, a son of George, married Zuba Griswold, and had the following children: Ware- ham, our subject's great-grandfather ; Hiram, a blacksmith by trade, who died in Windsor town ; Jerome, a wheelwright by trade, who followed farm- ing near Poquonock on a small scale in his later years ; Jason, a farmer, who died in Onondaga coun- ty, N. Y .; Myra, who married William Thrall, and died in New York State; Candace, who married a Mr. Filer, and died in New York State; Gilbert, a mechanical genius, who lived in Windsor for some time, but spent his later years in Hartford; Will- iam, formerly a farmer in Windsor town; Edwin, who died in Windsor ; and Lucia Ann, who married (first) Cadwell Strickland, (second) Daniel De- well and (third) a Mr. Gaines. She died in the summer of 1897 at the residence of her son, F. G. Strickland, in Windsor, being the last survivor of the family.

Wareham Griswold, the great-grandfather of our subject, was born Sept. 29, 1792, in a house which was built in 1761, and is still standing, near the latter's residence. He was a stanch Democrat and a regular voter, but avoided public life, never allowing his name to appear as a candidate for any office. Throughout life he was an opponent of secret societies, his ideal being always to be "open bold and brave." By occupation he was a farmer, and with the exception of two years spent at Bloomfield he resided at the homestead where he was born. He was of distinguished appearance, fine physique, weighing about 200 pounds, and lived to the age of seventy-one, his remains being in- terred at Poquonock. Mr. Griswold first married Sylvia Clark, who died in 1848; she was born in what is now known as Blue Hills, where her fa- ther, Asel Clark, (a very large man physically), was a prominent and influential citizen. The chil- dren of this union were: Olive H., who married

Henry Case. Rice

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COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

Roland Fox, of East Hartford, now deceased ; Wareham A., our subject's grandfather ; George M., a resident of Poquonock, who died in 1853, leaving one son, George M .; Delia (deceased), who mar- ried Nathan Franklin, and removed to New York ; Candace, who married George H. Muller, and died in New York; Samuel S., who died at Poquonock ; John R., a farmer of Windsor; Thomas N., once a farmer and later a hotel-keeper at Windsor, and now a resident of New York; Juliette, who married Samuel Phillips, and died in New York; Mary, widow of Horace Gorton, of Hartford, Conn .; and Sylvia, who died at the age of two years.

Wareham Aralzie Griswold, our subject's grand- father, was a successful farmer, and resided near the present homestead. He died June 2, 1881, and wife, Hannah A. (Pinney), on Aug. 1, 1890. He was an influential citizen, was first selectman of Windsor for a number of years, represented the town in the General Assembly of 1865, and held various other offices of the town. Physically le was a very large man, standing nearly six feet in height and weighing 360 pounds.

Allen P. Griswold, our subject's father, was born Oct. 25, 1844, the only child of Wareham A. and Hannah A. Griswold. He was educated in the local schools and the academy at Windsor, and became a farmer by occupation, his prudent and energetic management enabling him to leave a handsome competence to his children. In politics he was a Democrat, and at times held local offices, serving as juryman and as member of the school board. In 1867 he married Miss Eliza M. Mack, and for six years they resided with his parents, then removing to the present homestead, where he made many improvements. Mr. Griswold was of medium height-five feet, eight inches-and thick- set. He died Sept. 26, 1889, at a comparatively early age, and his remains were laid to rest in the Poquonock cemetery. His wife died Feb. 12, 1892. They had one daughter, Jeannette, who died in infancy, and five sons: John P., Allen M., Ware- ham P., Aaron C. and Thomas N., all of whom are living.

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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 41

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