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 6

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 6

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farm. Here, for twenty-three years, he was en- gaged in general farming and dealing in live stock.

In 1843 Mr. Clark was united in marriage, at Washington, Berkshire, Co., Mass., to Miss Louisa Emaline Thompson, and to the union were born three children: Evelyn King, wife of Francis E. Hastings, of Suffield, and the mother of one child, Grace L .; Amanda, married to Fred A. King, of Thompsonville, Conn. ; and Louise, A., wife of Henry B. Russell, a journalist and author.

Rufus Thompson, father of Mrs. Clark, was a native of Simsbury, Conn., where he passed his boy- hood days, then went to Columbia, same State, where he learned house-carpentering, and later set- tled in Washington, Mass., where he assisted in building the first church erected in that town, and also worked on other structures. He eventually settled down to farming, passing the remainder of his life in Washington and died greatly respected by the entire community. In politics he was a Whig, and he was a truly Christian gentleman. Mr. Thompson married Miss Affia Miller, a native of Washington, and a daughter of Isaac and Affia (Hillyer) Miller, the latter of whom was a daugh- ter of Capt. James Hillyer, of Revolutionary fame. To Rufus Thompson and wife were born six chil- dren, in the following order: Marilla, who died young ; Philo Erastus, also deceased; Amanda, who was married to Isaac Holmes, of Washington, and both of whom are now deceased; Horace, who died in Pittsfield; Louisa E., wife of Mr. Clark, our subject, and one child that died in infancy. The mother of this family died July 9, 1826, a devout member of the Congregational Church and a truly good woman, and her remains lie interred at Wash- ington ..

Mrs. Clark died at her home May 22, 1900, after a distressing illness of six months. She was a lady of refinement, kind and generous, and a sin- cere Christian. For fifty-six years she led a happy and contented married life, and faithfully aided her husband in all his endeavors to advance his for- tunes.

Mr. Clark died at his home in Suffield, March 5, 1899,, his death resulting from a stomach trou- ble which had continued for about two months. His death was a severe shock to a wide circle of friends and acquaintances. With the aid of his life partner he made a success in life, backed by good sense, strict honesty and a business tact. He was a genial and hospitable gentleman, and an interesting conversationalist. As a Republican he took great interest in local affairs, served his adopted town three years as selectman, and in 1882 was elected to the State Legislature, in which he served a term with much credit to himself and to the entire satis- faction to his constituents. He was a stockholder in the Suffield Water Works, also in the Suffield Creamery, and was a stockholder and director in the National Bank of Suffield. He was likewise a member of the Suffield Congregational Church, in which he held positions as trustee and member of

the building committee. In all the years of his resi- dence at Suffield he never missed an annual meet- ing of the Congregational Church except that held during his fatal illness. He was recognized by the congregation as one of the most liberal contribu- tors to its support. As a business man his word was never impugned, and as a citizen he was hon- ored by all as being truly public-spirited and gen- erous.

ELISHA ROOT (deceased). Only those lives are worthy of record that have been potential factors in the public progress, in promoting the general wel- fare or advancing the educational or moral inter- ests of the community. Mr. Root was ever faith- ful to his duties of citizenship, and by the success- ful conduct of his business interests not only pro- moted his individual success, but also advanced the general prosperity.

This in his lifetime well-known and honored · resident of the town of East Granby, was born in Southwick, Mass., Feb. 11, 1815, and was the son of Elisha and Ann ( Kellogg) Root, farming people of that section, in whose family were four children : Anna; Eliza; Elisha, who died in infancy ; and Eli- sha, the subject of this sketch.

On attaining man's estate Mr. Root was mar- ried, in East Granby, Nov. 18, 1840, to Miss Cyn- thia S. Alderman, the ceremony being performed by Rev. Mr. Hemmingway. Mrs. Root was born April 4, 1819, and was a representative of an old and prominent New England family, of English ori- gin. Her grandfather, Epapiphras Alderman, was born in Simsbury, Hartford Co., Conn., Dec. 14, 1760, and was a son of Daniel Alderman, who was born in 1738, and died in Hartford July 18, 1790. At the age of sixteen years the former was drafted for service in the Revolutionary war, but the father found a substitute for his son. He devoted his life to agricultural pursuits, and became quite an exten- sive land owner and farmer. His younger years were passed in Simsbury, but later he made his home in Granby town, where his death occurred, his remains being interred in the East Granby ceme- tery. He was an Episcopalian in religious faith, and late in life became a supporter of the Demo- cratic party. He married Miss Chloe Hayes, of Simsbury, who was born March 13, 1762, and they became the parents of the following children : Chloe, born May 20, 1782, married Suman Holcomb; Al- mira, born Jan. 26, 1784, married Ebenezer S. Hol- comb; Daniel T. was born Dec. 22, 1785; Cornelia, born Feb. 22, 1788, married Benjamin Holcomb ; Lydia, born April 19, 1790, married Gramson Hol- comb; Harvey, Mrs. Root's father, was next in the order of birth; Sarah, born Aug. 20, 1794, married a Mr. Fox; Harriet, born Aug. 27, 1796, married Albert Hedges, of Westfield, Mass .; Norman, born Sept. 13, 1798, married Hattie Moore, of Chester, Mass; Eliza, born Sept. 16, 1800, married Mosely Noble; Flora, born Dec. 1, 1802, married S. R. B. Lewis, of Westfield, Mass .; Cynthia, born Nov. I,

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. 1805, married a Mr. Miller ; Esther, born March 20, 1808, married a Mr. Hodges, of Granville, Mass .; and Orpha, born in 1810, married a Mr. Glazier, and after his death wedded a Mr. Hodges.

Harvey Alderman, Mrs. Root's father, was born April 22, 1792, in the town of Granby, received a common-school education and throughout life fol- lowed the occupations of farming and stock deal- ing. In 1827 he removed to East Granby, where he spent the remainder of his days. He took a very prominent and influential part in public affairs, and at one time represented the town of Granby in the State Legislature, besides holding other local offices of honor and trust. In politics he was first a Whig, later a Democrat. He was broad-minded and liberal in his views, and was well known and much re- spected in the community where he so long made his home. He was united in marriage with Miss Sarah Holcomb, who was born in 1796, a daughter of Asahel Holcomb, Jr., and a granddaughter of Asa- hel Holcomb, Sr. Eleven children were born of this union: Mary, who died unmarried; Martha, who married Milo M. Owen (both are now de- ceased) ; Solomon F., deceased; Cynthia S., now Mrs. Root; Laura, deceased wife of Luke Bush; Chloe H., widow of Henry Remington ; James Har- vey, a resident of East Granby ; Allan, a farmer of East Granby; Esther, who died unmarried; Brai- nard L., a resident of West Suffield; and Ellen, widow of Saurine Loomis, of West Suffield. Upon the old home farm in East Granby, the father died in 1875, at the age of eighty-three years, the mother in 1888, at the extreme old age of ninety-two, and both were buried in East Granby.

Mr. Root, our subject, on leaving home, removed to Westfield, Mass., where he engaged in farming and butchering for twenty years with marked suc- cess. He started out in life for himself in limited circumstances, but by industry, perseverance, good management, and the able assistance of his estima- ble wife, he became the possessor of a comfortable competence. In 1863 he came to the town of East Granby and purchased the Hillyer farm of seventy- five acres. Here for eighteen years he successfully engaged in tobacco raising and general farming, and by his honorable, upright life gained the confidence and esteem of all with whom he came in contact. He was a well educated man and quite a reader ; in poli- tics was a Whig, later a Republican, but cared noth- ing for the honors or emoluments of public office. Rather liberal in his religious views, he was yet a strong advocate of temperance, and did all in his power to abolish the liquor traffic and destroy the evils of strong drink, as a faithful member of the Blue Ribbon organization, he was untiring in his efforts to promote its interests. He was very do- mestic in his tastes; to him there was truly "no place like home," and he found his greatest enjoy- ment in the companionship of his wife and chil- dren. He was one of nature's noblemen, and the world is certainly better for his having lived. He

passed away July 29, 1881, and was laid to rest in East Granby cemetery.

Mr. and Mrs. Root became the parents of two children: (1) Mary A., born Oct. 3, 1841, is a well-educated lady, and possesses considerable artis- tic taste along various lines ; she is now the wife of LeRoy J. Northrup, of Cheshire, Mass., and has one son. George. (2) Charles E., born July 16, 1849, is also well educated, and now operates the home farm, making a specialty of tobacco culture ; he mar- ried Nellie Taylor, and they have one child, Elisha, attending school. Mrs. Root was educated in the public schools of Granby, and also at Westfield, Mass., and later she successfully engaged in teach- ing school for five years, in both Westfield and Southwick, Mass. She was a lady of culture and refinement, beloved and respected by all who had the pleasure of her acquaintance. During her girl- hood she united with the Methodist Episcopal Church, but in her later years held membership in the Congregational Church of East Granby. For many years she was a teacher in the Sunday-school, had charge of the Bible class for over half a century, and was a true and earnest Christian, a faithful worker in her Master's vineyard. She was called from earth April 9, 1900.

COL. E. N. PHELPS, a gallant ex-soldier of the Civil war, and at present a noted civil engineer of Windsor, was born Feb. 9, 1826, in the house he now occupies, and is the younger of the two chil- dren born to Samuel and Emily ( Newberry) Phelps, the former of whom was born near the Colonel's house, on what is known as the "Island," at Windsor.

Samuel Phelps was born July 25, 1791, and was a son of George and Anna T. (Fitch) Phelps, the latter being a daughter of James Fitch, a teacher and surveyor, and well known as Capt. Fitch. To George and Anna T. Phelps were born five children : James L., Walter, Samuel, Rhoda and Theresa. Samuel, father of the Colonel, was reared on his father's farm, and was educated mainly by his grand- father, who was a graduate of Yale. To his mar- riage with Miss Newberry were born two children : Ellsworth N. died at the age of five years, from lockjaw, which was caused by a scratch on his ankle by a pitch-fork while playing in the barn; the younger being the subject of this sketch. Samuel Phelps had been very active in church matters until Parson Rowland was deposed, when he became less attentive, but was always a good Christian man. He was quiet and reticent, was a constant reader of the Scriptures, was kind, fond of his home, but a strict disciplinarian, and was an interesting conver- sationalist. He died May 3, 1851, his widow on Dec. 26, 1870.

E. N. Phelps, our subject, was reared on the home farm, his birthplace, and was educated pri- marily at the "Stony Hill" school. He later at- tended academies at Windsor, East Hampton, Wil-

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braham and Ellington, and at the age of nineteen years taught his first term of school, beginning at Ellington, receiving a recompense of $18 per month. and "boarding around." This vocation he followed five winters, teaching in his home district, the Bell district, also at Windsor Locks, and was quite suc- cessful.

Mr. Phelps married at Windsor, Nov. 25, 1850, Miss Lucy A. Marshall, a native of the town, born Nov. 14, 1827, a daughter of Warren and Elizabeth (Wolcott) Marshall, she being the only survivor of seven children. Elizabeth Wolcott was a daughter of Dr. Christopher Wolcott, a renowned practitioner at Windsor, and a granddaughter of Dr. Alexan- der Wolcott, who also practiced at Windsor, and was a very prominent and distinguished man in his day. Dr. Alexander Wolcott was a son of Gov. Roger Wolcott, of Connecticut, who was a son of Simon, son of Henry, one of the first settlers of Windsor, and the progenitor of the family in Amer- ica. Mrs. Lucy A. Phelps was prepared for teach- ing at Windsor, and for several terms taught in that town and New Hartford. At marriage Mr. and Mrs. Phelps located on the farm of the former's parents, and this has since been their home. To their union have been born two children: Samuel E., postmaster at Windsor, married to Adella J. Fil- ley, who has borne him one child, Adda E .; and Annie M., now Mrs. Hugh Harbison, of Hartford, and the mother of three children, Lucy A., Hugh, Jr., and Alexander W.

On Aug. 18, 1862, E. N. Phelps enlisted in Com- pany A, 22nd Conn. V. I. and was at once elected captain of the company. Between the hours of two and nine P. M. he recruited 130 men, and was offered a commission as colonel, but this he declined, and was then commissioned lieutenant-colonel by Gov. Buckingham, which commission he accepted. He was in the Shenandoah Valley when Gen. Sheri- dan made his famous twenty-mile ride, and was quite close to him as he passed by. While in the field Col. Phelps was commissioned, or detailed, to take the votes of the men of the regiment for the Presidential election, then pending, and at the close of his nine-months' term of service he returned to Windsor.

In politics Col. Phelps was first a Whig, later a Republican, and has held many offices, including those of selectman, justice of the peace, grand juror, representative, etc. In religion he is an Episcopa- lian, and freely contributes to the maintenance of his church. As a surveyor Col. Phelps has been fifty-five years in active service, having been pre- pared for the profession at Easthampton. He was assistant civil engineer on the Connecticut River railroad, when first built from Springfield to North- ampton, and has surveyed all over Hartford county, establishing some very important lines that neces- sitated a search of records as far back as 1700. He at one time succeeded in putting back into the juris- (liction of Suffield 102 acres that had for 175 years been in the jurisdiction of Granby town. This

was a very important proceeding, and added greatly to his reputation. He has established lines that the younger school of engineers has pronounced impos- sible, and he is known by the courts as a man who can give a most comprehensive description of civil engineering wherever found. As a farmer, since twenty-five years of age Col. Phelps has had much of his work done by hired help, under his personal instruction.

Col. Phelps is well preserved for his age, his form is erect and straight as an arrow, his intellect as bright as ever it was, and his humor as jovial as. that of a school boy. He is known all over his town, county and State, and wherever he goes he is greeted as a friend, and with the most courteous respect.

FRANKLIN WHEELER, A. B., A. M., M. D. One of the most exacting of all the higher lines of occupation to which a man may lend his energies is that of the physician. A most scrupulous prelim- inary training is demanded and a nicety of judg- ment little understood by the laity. Then again the profession brings its devotees into almost constant association with the sadder side of life-that of pain and suffering-so that a mind capable of great self-control and a heart responsive and sympa- thetic are essential attributes of him who would essay the practice of the healing art. Thus when professional success is attained in any instance it may be taken as certain that such measure of suc- cess has been thoroughly merited. Among the most successful physicians of Hartford county is Dr. Wheeler, who has been engaged in practice in and around Farmington for almost half a century.

A native of this county, the Doctor was born in the town of Avon, May 16, 1827, and belongs to one of its oldest and most honored families, his great-grandfather, Joel Wheeler, having been a resident of Avon. His grandfather, Amos Wheeler, was born there, and there made liis home through- out life, engaged in agricultural pursuits. He gave the land for the Congregational church and cem- etery in that town. He married Miss Helen Wood- ruff, and to them were born eight children: Seth; Luther ; Emma, wife of Evelin Woodford; Daniel ; Nancy, wife of Ellsworth Thompson; Leonard ; Elizabeth, wife of John Kimball ; and Amos.

Seth Wheeler, father of our subject, was born and reared in Avon, and attended school there, but completed his education at the old academy in Farmington. For a short time he was a clock ped- dler. In early life he imported mules for the West India trade, and subsequently he traveled through- out the South as a salesman for the Wheeler & Wilson Sewing Machine Company. He was quite a prominent and influential man in his community. and was called upon to serve as judge of probate in Avon, at which place his death occurred. Re- ligiously he was a member of the Congregational Church. In Avon he married Miss Harriet Wood- ford, a native of that town, and they became the parents of two children : Franklin, our subject ; and

1 Franklin Wheeler A. M. M.D.

John Thompson

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Helen, who was born in September, 1830, and died in infancy.

Franklin Wheeler was reared in his native town and at the age of twelve years became a student at Dr. Simeon Hart's boarding school in Farming- ton. In 1843 he entered Yale College, where he pursued a classical course, graduating in 1847, and where later he received his A. M. degree. He then entered the College of Physicians and Surgeons, in New York City, from which he was graduated in 1852. For one year thereafter he engaged in prac- tice in Avon, at the end of that time coming to Farmington, where he has since made his home and prosecuted his profession, having built up an excellent practice. He is probably the oldest phy- sician in the western part of the county, and is one of the charter members of both the Hartford County and Connecticut State Medical Societies. He has been president of the Farmington Savings Bank since 1891, and prior to that time served as its vice-president. Dr. Wheeler is a fine, well-pre- served old gentleman, one who commands the re- spect and esteem of all with whom he comes in con- tact, and his circle of friends and acquaintances is extensive. Religiously he is a member of the Ec- clesiastical Society at Farmington.

Dr. Wheeler married Miss Emily Cowles, a daughter of William L. Cowles, and now occupies the old home built by Jonathan Cowles over one hundred years ago. Mrs. Wheeler died July 22, 1889.

HON. JOHN THOMPSON, a veteran of the Civil war, is a prominent resident of Tolland county, but as his farm in the town of Ellington extends "over the line" into the town of East Wind- sor he may be claimed as a citizen there. His fam- ily has been more or less closely identified with East Windsor from an early period, and, in fact, is well- known throughout the State, many of its members having served in public office or been prominent in other lines.

Mr. Thompson was born Jan. 11, 1840, on his present homestead, a son of John and Anna E. (Ellsworth) Thompson, of whom farther mention is made elsewhere, and is one of a family of nine children. His brother, E. F. Thompson, is now a leading agriculturist of the town of East Windsor. The family is of Scottish origin, and has been iden- tified with Connecticut for nearly two hundred years, our subject's ancestors having been among the early settlers of East Windsor. William and Margaret Thompson, natives of Scotland, left their early home in 1716, with their family of seven chil- dren, setting out for New England. They first went to Ireland, however, and while there the father was taken sick and died. Before death he advised his wife to continue the journey, and in 1718 she came with her family to this country. Samuel, one of the sons, was the progenitor of the Thompsons of East Windsor. His son, James, was the father of John McKnight Thompson, who was the father of

John, and grandfather of the gentleman whose name introduces this article.

During his youth our subject attended the com- mon schools near his home and the high school at Ellington, and at the age of twenty-one he took charge of the homestead, where he has continued to reside. On Aug. 25, 1862, he enlisted in Company F. 25th Conn. V. I., in which he served as first corporal, and was wounded in his first engage- ment, the battle of Irish Bend, La., April 14, 1863, a minie ball passing through his right jaw. From April until August, 1863, he was under treatment in a field hospital, also at the Institute Hospital in New Orleans, and on Aug. 26, 1863, he received an honorable discharge at Hartford. On his re- turn home he resumed the management of the farm, but as time passed his attention was given to other interests and the place is now operated by his son. It is a fine estate of 200 acres, upon which he has made substantial improvements, keeping fully abreast of modern agricultural methods. He is president of the Ellington Creamery, and is con- nected with other enterprises, being the director of the Patrons Mutual Fire Insurance Co., for Tolland county. His sound judgment on business matters is valued by his associates, and of late years his time has been largely occupied with duties as a pub- lic official. In 1885 he was elected, on the Repub- lican ticket, to the State Legislature, and was again so honored in 1895, while in 1897 he was elected county commissioner of Tolland county, in which office he has served since July 1, of that year. Among other responsible offices which he has held we may mention several years 'of service as select- man of the town of Ellington; two years as a member of the State Board of Agriculture; and two years as county auditor, in 1895 and 1896. He is a leading worker in the Patrons of Husbandry, having served two years as master of Ellington Grange, also first master of East Central Po- mona Grange for two years from the date of its or- ganization. Mr. Thompson is a member of the Congregational Church at Ellington, and unites with Burpe Post No. 71, G. A. R., at Rockville.

On Feb. 10, 1870, our subject married Miss Amanda J. Bancroft, daughter of Bissell and Jo- anna (Morton) Bancroft, of Warehouse Point, and four children have blessed the union: (1) Morton E. has charge of the homestead. (2) Lizzie M. mar- ried B. F. Pinney, of Somers, Conn. (3) Royal W. is the private secretary of Senator Joseph R. Haw- ley, of Hartford, Conn. (4) Emery J. is quarter- master's clerk on board the United States steamer "Chester." He was at Porto Rico during the war with Spain, and is now stationed at Havana.

HON. J. CLEVELAND CAPEN, of Bloom- field, descends from an ancient New England fam- ily, of English origin, which settled in America in 1628. In that year Barnard Capen and six sons came from Dorchester, England, and founded the

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town of Dorchester, Mass., and many of the de- scendants of these pilgrims are still numerous in the city of Boston and vicinity.

Josiah Capen, a lineal descendant of Barnard, and the grandfather of J. Cleveland Capen, was born in Braintree, Mass., Aug. 8, 1772, came to Hartford, Conn., and in 1797 married Miss Betsey Wadsworth, who was born in Hartford, Aug. 3, 1776. They first made their home on Front street, later removing to what is now known as Windsor avenue, and still later to Charlestown, Mass. To their marriage children were born as follows: Josiah, Jan. 8, 1798; Henry, May 14, 1799; Sally, Dec. 16, 1800; Joshua, Dec. 8, 1802; Mary, April 12, 1804: Eliza, March 26, 1806 (all born in Hart- ford) ; Abigail, March 6, 1808, and Samuel T., Dec. 13, 1810, (born in Charlestown, Mass.). The mother of these was a descendant of William Wads- worth, of Cambridge, Mass., the founder of the family in New England, who located there in 1632, and in Hartford, Conn., in 1636. For his second wife he married Eliza Stone, and it was their third child, Joseph W., born in 1648, who hid the Charter in the historic oak. Joseph W. Wadsworth mar- ried (first) Elizabeth Barnard, and their eldest child, Joseph W., born in 1682, married Johanna Hovey. Their eldest child Joseph, born in 1707, married Elizabeth Cook; and the second of this union, Joseph W., born in 1738, married Jerusha Marsh, Betsey, our subject's grandmother, being one of their children. Joseph W. Wadsworth served in the Revolutionary war, being a captain in Washington's Life Guards, so that our subject is eligible for membership in the Sons of the Revo- lution.

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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 6

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