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 66

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 66

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Julius H. Cotton, the gentleman whose name stands at the opening of this article, was born June 25, 1835, in the hotel occupied by his father in 1832, and which stood on the spot on which Julius H. now lives in "single blessedness." He was edu- cated primarily in the brick school house on North Main street, and then attended Wells Academy, and was under the instruction of Prof. Hurburt until sixteen years of age, when he went to Hart- ford, and began his business life as an errand boy, sweeper-out, etc., for Lorin Sexton, dry-goods mer- chant. whose store occupied the ground on which the store of Wise, Smith & Co. is now situated. For the first year he received a salary of twenty- five dollars and board, at that time considered to be a very fair rate. This salary was increased year by year until he relinquished his situation five years later and entered the employ of F. & H. Burge, where the Cheney block now is, remaining with that firm several years as clerk and floor-walker. He next acted in the same capacity for Pease & Foster for some time, and next for Wetherby, Knouss & Co. for ten years. After the dissolution of this firm he was employed by Knouss and J. S. Ives, in the Cheney block, being with them until their failure, and since 1880 has been head floor-walker for Brown, Thomson & Co., the largest firm in its line in Hartford .. Mr. Cotton is probably the most popular floor-walker in the State of Connecti- cut, and his influence, acquaintance and popularity are far more than local. He draws patronage for his firm from all the territory surrounding Hart- ford, and from the neighboring cities, and these patrons come to him because they know they can rely on his honest advice and sound judgment as to purchases, and because of their appreciation of the discipline observed by the salespeople under his management.

In 1882 Mr. Cotton erected his present hand- some dwelling in East Hartford, which he occupied in the summer season only, his winters being passed in Hartford in close proximity to the place of busi- ness of his employers, as he is always desirous of being "on deck." Genial and pleasant, he is "downright liked" by everybody, and is honored for having climbed, step by step, from the lowest round of the ladder that leads to fortune until he has reached its apex. In politics Mr. Cotton is a Re- publican, and his religious devotions are paid at the Pearl Street Church in Hartford, to the teach- ings of which he lives up both in letter and in spirit. i

JOHN CLARENCE ROWLEY, a thorough and skillful farmer, and a business man of ability, is a worthy representative of the agricultural in- terests of Berlin.

Mr. Rowley is a native of this State, born in Hebron, Tolland county, May 12, 1857, and was about two years old when the family removed to Chatham, Conn. There he began his education in the common schools, but at the age of seven he accompanied his parents on their removal to East Berlin, where the following four years were passed. After the death of Mrs. Olive Selden, of Berlin, Dec. 25, 1868, his father, David Eleazer Rowley, purchased her farm and located there. The family have made many improvements upon this property, which consists of fifty acres under excellent culti- vation, and since his father's death our subject has had charge of the same. He completed his educa- tion in the Beckley schools at the age of sixteen years, and has since devoted his time and attention to agricultural pursuits, meeting with marked suc- cess in his labors. His farm is pleasantly located on the continuation of Church street, Newington, and is one of the most desirable places of its size in the locality.

On Jan. 1, 1889, Mr. Rowley was united in marriage with Miss Mabel Vernon Adams, who was born in Charlton, Mass., a daughter of Amos and Clarissa (Smith) Adams, of Charlton. They have one son, Stanley Edward, who was born in Beck- ley, Nov. 2, 1893.

Like his father before him, Mr. Rowley is a stanch supporter of the Democratic party and its principles, but has always declined official posi- tions, preferring to devote his entire attention to his farming interests. He is a member of Pequot Council, No. 24, Sr. O. U. A. M., of Berlin, in which he has passed all the chairs, and is also a member of Berlin Grange, No. 24. He attends the Berlin Congregational Church, of which his wife is a member, while their son attends the Sunday- school.

FREDERICK WALDO DOOLITTLE, a prominent farmer of Cheshire, New Haven Co., Conn., and an enterprising flour and feed merchant of Milldale, Hartford county, was born on the old

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homestead in the former place, where he now re- sides, a son of Levi and Eunetia (Hemingway) Doolittle, natives of Cheshire and North Haven, respectively.

The paternal grandfather, Levi Doolittle, Sr., was also a native of Cheshire, and a farmer by occu- pation. He married Esther Tuttle. The paternal great-grandparents of Mr. Doolittle were Ezra and Sarah (Hall) Doolittle, farming people of Cheshire. The maternal grandfather, Augustus Hemingway, was also born in New Haven county, and spent most of his life as a farmer in North Haven. His wife was in her maidenhood Miss Julina Blakeslee, and his parents were Samuel and Sarah ( Brad'ey ) Hem- ingway, of North Haven. Mr. Doolittle's father was reared in Cheshire, and in 1847 located on the farm now occupied by his son, making his home there until his death, which occurred June 30, 1898, when he was eighty years of age. He was a con- sistent and faithful member of the Congregational Church of Plantsville, and belonged to the Grange in Cheshire. His political support was given to the men and measures of the Republican party, and he represented his town in the State Legislature in 1871, and also served as selectman three years. In his family were three children: Elizabeth, wife of George W. Cook, of Wallingford; Frederick W .; and Lina B.

During his childhood Frederick W. Doolittle pursued his studies in the common and private schools near his home. He has always lived on the old homestead, and since reaching man's estate has successfully engaged in agricultural pursuits. Since 1897 he has also conducted a flour and feed store in Milldale, and in this undertaking has pros- pered, having built up a large and profitable trade. He, too, is a member of the Congregational Church of Plantsville, and of the Patrons of Husbandry, Grange No. 23, of Cheshire, while politically he is identified with the Republican party. He is held in high regard in the community where he has so long made his home, and those who know him best are numbered among his warmest friends, a fact which indicates an honorable and upright ca- reer.

JUDAH DRYDEN VIETS, an old-time farmer of Bloomfield, was born in the town of East Granby, Hartford county, Feb. 2, 1823, and paternally is of remote German extraction, as will be seen from the following genealogical record of the family in America.

Dr. John Viets, a highly-educated physician for his day and generation, came from Germany in 1710, and settled in Simsbury, Conn., where, to him- self and his wife, Catherine, four children were born : Catherine, Henry, John and Mary. His son, Capt. John Viets, great-grandfather of Judah Dry- den Viets, was born in Simsbury, Conn., Nov. 3, 1712, was reared a farmer, for a time was employed in cop- per mines, and was also an extensive trader. His

homestead is now in the possession of Virgil E. Viets. Capt. John Viets married, Dec. 12, 1734, Lois Phelps, who was born March 10, 1718, and was a daughter of Nathaniel Phelps. To this marriage were born ten children: John, Roger, Seth, Eunice, Lois, Abner, Catherine, Daniel, Ros- annah and Luke. The father of this family died April 8, 1777, and the mother Nov. 12, 1810.

Capt. Abner Viets, grandfather of our subject, was born in Simsbury Feb. 15, 1747, led the life of a farmer, and died in Granby July 27, 1826. His farm is now in the possession of his grandson, L. C. Viets. Mary, wife of Abner Viets, was born June 27, 1751, and died Sept. 4, 1825, the mother of ten children : Abner, born June 29, 1772, died Nov. 18, 1825 (his wife's name was Sarah) ; Mary, born May 18, 1774, married Henry Viets, and died April 7, 1805; Benoni, born Feb. 13, 1777, died Feb. 11, 1852, married Esther Dewey ; Samuel, born Jan. 17, 1779, died March 6, 1814, married Susan Pratt; Eunice, born Dec. 27, 1780, married Enoch Kellogg; Dan, born Oct. 17, 1783, married Beulah Phelps, and died Dec. 20, 1866; Annice was born March II, 1785; Levi, born June 15, 1786, mar- ried Sarah Dibble, and died Dec. 22, 1857; Eliza- beth, born April 30, 1790, married Russell Loomis ; and Apollos was born July 25, 1794.

Dan Viets, father of Judah Dryden Viets, was born in Simsbury, Conn., Oct. 17, 1783. He was reared a farmer, and for years resided in the west part of East Granby. He married, Jan. 1, 1812, Miss Beulah Phelps, a daughter of Judah Phelps, and born Feb. 21, 1790. To this marriage nine children were born: Mary A. Louisa, born Feb. 15, 1813, was married to Lemuel Holcomb, and died July 12, 1890; Annis Samantha, born Feb. 3, 1815, was married to Aralza Griffin, and died Dec. 13, 1885 ; Julia Ann, born Aug. 17, 1816, married Rich- ardson Griffin, and died May 26, 1897; Harriet Newell, born Jan. 1, 1818, married (first) Gilbert Griffin and (second) Milton Griffin, and died Dec. 19. 1897; Apollos Phelps was born Sept. 20, 1819; Judah Dryden, born Feb. 2, 1823, is our subject ; Dan Alexander was born Nov. II, 1824; Joseph Franklin, Feb. 6, 1827; and Benjamin Erskine, June 12, 1828. The mother of this family was called away Feb. 6, 1862, and the father died in East Granby Dec. 20, 1866, a member of the Epis- copal Church, and in politics a Republican.

Judah Dryden Viets, after finishing his educa- tion in East Granby, served an apprenticeship of three years at carriage-making, which trade he fol- lowed twelve years. He then engaged in farming and tobacco raising. On Oct. 28. 1846. he mar- ried Miss Caroline E. Rowley, who was born Jan. 16, 1826, a daughter of Silas Rowley, of Bloom- field, where Mr. and Mrs. Viets now reside. To this marriage have been born three children: (I) Albert Andrew, who was born Dec. 9, 1847, mar- ried, on Sept. 29, 1868, Miss Mary C. Rowley, born Feb. 8, 1849, and became the father of one child,

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May Alberta, who was born Sept. 27, 1871, was married to Herbert Risley, of East Hartford, and died Feb. 12, 1898. (2) Hattie Phelps, born April 24, 1856, is the wife of J. L. Rowley. (3) Minnie Holcomb Viets, born Aug. 7, 1858, the youngest child, is married to D. C. Newberry.

HEZEKIAH HALE (deceased) was for many years one of the prominent and highly-respected citizens of Glastonbury. He was a man of unu- sually active temperament, and spent many years of his life in travel in the prosecution of enterprises away from his own State.

Mr. Hale was a native of Glastonbury, and a representative of an old and prominent family. He was born Sept. 4, 1814, the eldest son of Heze- kialı Hale, Sr., a large farmer, and grandson of Gideon Hale, Sr. Hezekiah Hale, Sr., had a family of six children: Hezekiah, our subject; Asaph C., who married Adaline Blish; Cecelia Maria, who married Joseph Brown, a banker of Troy, Ohio; Darwin C., who died unmarried; Pamela, who mar- ried James Telford ; and Eunice Cordelia, who mar- ried George Aylesworth.

Hezekiah Hale received a good common-school education, and attended also a select school under Rev. William Lockwood, and Elihu Burritt, the "learned blacksmith." He had no taste in his youth for farm work, and when he left school began to learn the mason's trade with Gideon Kinne. But he was bent upon a life on the water, and at the age of twenty-two shipped aboard a vessel under Capt. Horace Hale, his first trip being to the West Indies. Later he made whaling voyages to the South Seas, and visited the Sandwich Islands, sailing around the world three times. In 1850 he became an Argo- naut, and remained for two years in California, in his search for gold meeting with fair returns. He returned to Connecticut, but in 1857 again went to California as a gold miner, and thence proceeded to Washington Territory, where he remained a year. Returning to Glastonbury, he remained here a short time, leaving to engage in cattle buying at Peoria, Ill., in partnership with Joseph Brown and James Telford. Thence he went to Lafayette, Ind., where he resided for a short time. In 1866 he returned to his native town, and located upon the farm which he continued to operate success- fully until his death, Sept. 28, 1890. He had mar- ried, Jan. 19, 1856, Miss Marcia Maria Turner, and to them were born two children, William Tur- ner and Wallace Lester. William T. was born Nov. 4, 1856, and is now a farmer and stock dealer of Glastonbury. He married Addie Steares, and has one child, Pearl Esther, born Sept. 23, 1883. Mr. and Mrs. Hale are active workers in the Grange. Wallace Lester was born Feb. 6, 1866, resides on the home farm with his widowed mother, conducts the largest ice business in Glastonbury, and is a man of excellent business ability. In politics he is a

Democrat, but he is liberal in local elections. He is a member of Putnam Phalanx.

MARCIA MARIA (TURNER) HALE, widow of Hezekiah Hale, was born Sept. 5, 1824, on the old Turner homestead in Glastonbury, daughter of WILLIAM H. and BATHSHEBA B. (WRISLEY) TURNER, and granddaughter of William H. Turner, Sr., the first of the family in Glastonbury. The latter was drowned in the Connecticut river, in 1810, nearly in front of Mrs. Hale's home. Mrs. Hale's father was a man of unusual intellectual power, and was one of the most prominent citizens of the town, which he represented in the State Legislature ; he held various town offices, including that of selectman. In politics he was a lifelong Democrat, and fraternally he was a Freemason, being a member of Columbia Lodge, F. & A. M., South Glastonbury. He served in the war of 1812

at New London, and later, when peace was de- clared, was on duty aboard a vessel at Sacket's Har- bor. He commanded for many years a coasting vessel, operating from the Connecticut river to various Atlantic ports, and also worked at the trade of shipbuilding. He was a close acquaintance of Cornelius Vanderbilt, who was then engaged in the same business. Mr. Turner predicted the day of his death months before it occurred. He mar- ried (first), in 1812, Miss Mary Nicholson, and their only child, Fidelia, born in January, 1813, died at the age of eight months. After the death of his first wife Mr. Turner married Miss Bath- sheba Brewster Wrisley, a native of Marlboro, daughter of Samuel and Mary (Huxford) Wrisley. Samuel Wrisley was a soldier in the Revolution- ary army, serving as conductor of teams and as captain in his regiment. To William H. and Bath- sheba B. Turner, were born five children: Marcia Maria is the widow of our subject. William H., born Oct. 23, 1826, married Elizabeth C. Richards, of New London, April 16, 1851, and had one son, C. R .; he was a school teacher, merchant and in- surance agent, and a man of unusual brightness of mind. Wells, born Nov. 13, 1828, was married Oct. 2, 1854, to Isabella Plummer Benton, now de- ceased, and has one son, Sturgis P. E. Turner, a merchant at Naubuc. At the age of sixteen Wells Turner entered the mercantile house of H. B. Chaf- fee & Co., at Hartford, and continued several years as salesman, later forming a co-partnership with his brother at South Glastonbury; after his brother's decease he conducted the business alone until the store was burned, in January, 1856, since when he has lived at the homestead. Wallace, born March 16, 1830, died in infancy. Helen Mar, born June 7, 1836, died unmarried May 14, 1876. She possessed rare psychic gifts, often healing the mem- bers of her family of pain by the laying of her hands upon them, and her courage and will-power were indomitable. Her trance sermons and ad- dresses were forcible and eloquent, and listened to

Mrz Hezekiah Hale

Hezekiah Hale

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with much interest by ali who were privileged to hear her. She was a warm advocate of equal rights, and of all humanitarian reforms.

Marcia Maria Turner in her early girlhood at- tended the district schools on "The Green," but after the age of twelve years had private teachers, attended Mrs. Draper's Seminary, Hartford, and Williston Seminary, Easthampton, Mass. She was a devoted wife, and is a kind and affectionate mother. Possessing a memory of remarkable re- tentiveness, she is a recognized authority on geneal- ogy and local history, and many consult her in mat- ters of history. Mrs. Hale is remarkably intelli- gent, is a brilliant conversationalist, possesses that rare gifted quality of mind that approaches prophecy, and is a firm believer and exponent of spiritualism. Her knowledge of past events is un- surpassed, and in the community in which she lives, and throughout a wide circle of friends and ac- quaintances, she is held in the highest esteem.

SHERMAN WINCHELL, a representative farmer and highly-respected citizen of Kensington, was born there June 1, 1852, on the Eliza Dickenson farm, which adjoins his present place.

Winchell, which is a Saxon name and signifies angle, was no doubt derived from the town of Win- chelsea, which was prominent in England at the time the Romans were in power there. The earliest mention of the word Winchel as a proper appella- tion is Feb. 13, 1293, when Robert Winchelsey was elected archbishop of Canterbury. He succeeded to this dignity Sept. 2, 1294, and died May 11, 1313. He was the tenth in succession from Thomas á Becket. To him was addressed the celebrated bull of Pope Boniface VIII, dated June 27, 1299, in which the pontiff asserted his own claim to the throne of Scotland, with which Edward I was then at war, and over which he asserted his royal author- ity. The town of Winchelsea, now an insignificant and dilapidated village in the south of England, was a place of importance in the Roman period. It was then located at the mouth of the Rother, a small river separating the Counties of Kent and Sussex, but between 1280 and 1287 it was des- troyed by the encroachments of the sea. The coat of arms of the Winchel family was "Ar. three eagles' wings, sa." Argent in heraldry signifies white, and sable signifies black; thus the coat of arms was three black eagles' wings on a white field.

The first of the family to come to America was Robert Winchel, who was born probably in the south of England, but perhaps in Wales. His son Nathaniel was born probably in England, before 1635, and was brought by his parents to Dorchester, Mass. He was married April 8, 1664, to Sarah Porter, daughter of Thomas Porter, of Farming- ton, Conn. She was born in that place in 1646, and died in Windsor, Oct. 7, 1725, while his deathi occurred at the same place March 8, 1699. Their son, Nathaniel Winchel, was born in Windsor Aug.

7, 1665, and died in Farmington Oct. 4, 1741. He was a farmer and weaver by occupation, and was a sergeant in the military service. In carly life he removed to Turkey Hill, in Windsor, and later to Farmington. He was married March 15, 1693, to Mary Graves, of Hartford. He tock a very active part in religious affairs, and on Dec. S, 1713, was present at the annual meeting of the Great Swamp parish (now Kensington), near the southeastern boundary of Farmington. He was chosen to take care and get fire wood for Mr. Burnham, the min- ister, and Dec. 8, 1714, was chosen one of the moderators. On Dec. 6, 1716, the Society voted "to give Nathaniel Winchel ten shillings for his son's beating the drum on the Sabbath for the year past, to be paid in Mr. Burnham's rate this year." On Jan. 7, 1716-17, the Society by vote seated the inhabitants in the meeting-house, and Nathaniel Winchel, Sr., was one of the six to occupy the "first seat in the square body." The Daughters of the Revolution of Berlin now have their charter framed with wood taken from the first Congregational Church built in Kensington.

Hezekiah Winchel, son of Nathaniel, was born in Windsor June 20, 1697, and died in Kensington, Dec. 27, 1760. He wedded Mary Cole, of Farm- ington, who died in Blue Hills, New Britain, Jan. 3, 1794. He removed from Windsor to Kensing- ton April 27, 1752. He was a farmer by occupa- tion, and he built what was for many years known as Winchell's Mill, now the chisel shop of the Hart Manufacturing Co. A petition for the division of the parish of Kensington in the town of Farm- ington (not granted) was signed by Solomon, Hezekiah and Hezekiah Winchel, Jr. He and his wife were faithful members of the Church of Ken- sington. By will he left a farm to each of his three surviving sons.

Solomon Winchel, son of Hezekiah and Mary (Cole) Winchel, was born in Kensington, Feb. 3, 1728, and died Sept. 18, 1786. He was a clothier and dresser of cloth, and also engaged in the mill- ing business. On Aug. 23, 1753, he was married to Sibyl Hooker, who was born in Kensington in 1725, and died in 1820. Mr. Winchel lived in a house situated west of and opposite to the residence of Isaac Porter. His father bequeathed him the farm owned by the late Jairus Winchell.

By will Hezekiah Winchel left to his son Daniel a farmi on the mountain of Kensington. The home of the latter was on the north side of the road a few rods west of the present residence of Edward Carey. Daniel was a soldier of the Revolutionary war, and had two sons in the service, William and Ira, the latter of whom fell at Bunker Hill. His gun is now in the possession of our subject.

Solomon Winchell, Jr., the great-grandfather of our subject, and the son of Solomon, Sr., was born in Kensington Jan. 30, 1755, and died July 2, 1810. For thirty years he followed the miller's trade and operated a mill built about 1720, which

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was run as a gristmill until 1867, and then sold to the Hart Manufacturing Company. He was mar- ried, June 15, 1786, to Eunice Doolittle, who was born in Berlin in 1763, and died Feb. 26, 1791. He was again married, Jan. 30, 1792, his second union being with Chloe Atkins, of Blandford, Mass., who was born in 1772, and died May 18, 1848. The house in which Solomon lived is still stand- ing just north of the old mill site.

Jairus Winchell, grandfather of our subject, was born in Kensington July 24, 1794, and was a farmer by occupation. He was over six feet tall. During the war of 1812 he entered the service, and was stationed at New London, Conn. Later he served as a member of the State Legislature. He married Cecelia Weldon, who was born in 1799 in Berlin, and whose father was a minister. She died April 25. 1849, and he passed away Oct. 16, 1879, their remains being interred in the South burying-ground of Kensington.

Eli Winchell, father of our subject, was born in Kensington Jan. 4. 1824, and throughout life followed the occupation of farming with good suc- cess, becoming a large land owner. He cast his ballot with the Democratic party, and held several town offices, but never took a very active part in political affairs. On April 4. 1850, he married Miss Lucinda Goodrich, of Rocky Hill, a daughter or Marvin Goodrich, a farmer and mason. She was born July 5, 1829, and died June 20, 1883, sur- viving her husband but two days, his death occur- ing June 18, 1883. Both were laid to rest in the South burying-ground of Kensington.

Reared upon the home farm, Sherman Win- chell, subject of this review, acquired his early edu- cation in the common schools of Kensington, and later attended the grammer school of New Britain. His school days over, he returned to the home farm, and at the age of twenty commenced work in the chisel shop of the Hart Manufacturing Co., of Kensington, where he remained about a year, but not being pleased with his employment he again turned his attention to agricultural pursuits on the old homestead. In 1878 he and his father erected thereon a commodious and pleasant residence, with all modern improvements, and, being surrounded by a beautiful lawn, it is one of the most at- tractive homes of the locality. As an agriculturist Mr. Winchell has met with well-deserved success, and is not only one of the most highly-esteemed and honored citizens of his community, but is also one of its most substantial farmers. He has al- ways been a stanch supporter of the men and measures of the Democratic party, and has held several minor offices. He and his wife attend the Kensington Congregational Church.

On Dec. 25, 1877, Mr. Winchell was united in marriage with Miss Sarah Jones, who was born April 29, 1853. in New York City, a daughter of William and Jane Jones, the former now deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Winchell have had two children :

Lillian, born April 6, 1879, died March 1, 1898, and her death was a sad blow to loving parents and many friends ; she was a very bright girl, music- ally inclined, and was educated in the Kensington schools. Delos Irwin, born Dec. 30, 1880, was edu- cated in the schools of Kensington and New Brit- ain, and is now at home with his parents.

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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 66

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