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 78

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 78

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The early life of Henry M. Beecher was passed Prospect and Southington, and he learned the machinist's trade in South Boston, where he re- ained six years. For a time he was in the employ f Peck & Co., of Southington, and from there ent to Watertown, where he was engaged in get- ng out machinery for the manufacture of pins. h 1858 he entered the employ of the firm now nown as the H. D. Smith Co., of Plantsville, and ad charge of their machinery department for fif- ten years at one time, and five years at another. or thirteen years he was also engaged in the man- facture of Peck's drops, for forging purposes, in le city of New Haven, and he retired from active isiness in 1890, in 1894 removing to Plantsville, here he has since made his home. He seems to ave inherited much of his father's inventive enius, and during his business career invented carriage shaft coupling, dies for forming carriage aft shackles, carriage clips, blank and dies for aking same, plate for carriages, carriage spring ips, dies for forging carriage shackles, eyes, clip

King bolts, machinery for making axle clips, and a design for a carriage slip pad.

Mr. Beecher was married, April 10, 1854, to Miss Sarah M. Payson, a daughter of Hiram and Philena (Fuller) Payson, the former a native of Rhode Island, the latter of South Coventry, Conn., and both of Revolutionary stock. To our subject and his wife has been born one daughter, Ida P., now the wife of Jesse Mallory.

During the Civil war Mr. Beecher enlisted, Nov. 14, 1861, in Company A, Ist Connecticut Cavalry, and took part in the battles of Moorefield, W. Va., April 3 and 22, 1862; McDowell, Va., May 8, and Franklin, Va., May II. He was honorably discharged from the service Aug. 25, 1862, and is now a member of Admiral Foote Post, No. 17, G. A. R., of New Haven ; he also belongs to Wooster Lodge, F. & A. M., of the same place. Politically he is a supporter of the men and measures of the Republican party. Mr. Beecher's career has been one of usefulness, and he has not only met with well-deserved success, but has gained the confidence and high regard of those with whom he has come in contact, in either business or social life.

CHARLES EDGAR FINCH, a well-known and highly esteemed citizen of Southington, was born in that town, Dec. 3, 1834, a son of Augustus E. and Mirza (Lowry) Finch. His paternal grand- father was Asahel Finch, a native of Wolcott, New Haven county, and a farmer by occupation. He spent his last years in Waterbury, Conn. The maternal grandfather was Richard Lowry, a carpen- ter and joiner by trade, and a resident of Southing- ton. He married Polly Cogswell. Our subject's father was born in Wolcott, and was reared upon a farm. In early manhood he removed to Southing- ton, where he worked as a machinist and mechanic on tinners' machines for Seth Peck & Co., and their successors for forty years. He died in New Haven, July 10, 1879. His children were Dennis : Charles E .; Lowry ; and Anna, wife of J. R. Cook.

Charles E. Finch grew to manhood in Southing- ton, where he attended the common schools and Lewis Academy, and at the age of sixteen years entered the shop of Peck, Smith & Co, as an employe on general job work. Subsequently, as a machinist and engineer, he remained in their employ until 1870, and was then connected with the tool depart- ment of the Southington Cutlery Co. for one year. In 1872 he entered the employ of the Etna Nut Co. as a machinist, and remained with them until 1878, after which he spent one year with the Meriden Screw Co., at Meriden, Conn. ; but in June, 1879, he returned to the AEtna Nut Co., of Southington, where he has since held the position of engineer.

On June 23, 1868, Mr. Finch married Miss Sarah Freeman, daughter of Caleb and Jane (Gardiner) Freeman, of Waterbury, and of the children born to them six are living: Charles E., Jr., a graduate of the Lewis high school, South-

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ington, began a successful career as a school teacher at the age of eighteen years, and became principal of the Prattsville school of Meriden from 1892 to 1895. In the latter year he married Miss Mary Beatty, of Meriden, and removed to Quincy, Mass., where he has since held the important position of master of the Wollaston and Massachusetts Fields schools. Caleb, the second son, was educated in the common schools of Southington, and is now a machinist and toolmaker, holding the position of foreman of one of the departments of the Scoville Manufacturing Co., at Waterbury; he married Daisy Tiffany. The other children of the family are Harry B., George M., Helen M. and How- ard M.

Mr. and Mrs. Finch are earnest members of the Gospel Mission Chapel of the Second Advent Church, and are held in high regard by all who know them. He has been a member of Friend- ship Lodge, No. 33, F. & A. M., since twenty-one years of age, and politically has always been a supporter of the Republican party and its prin- ciples.

JOHN SMYTH (deceased), for many years a prominent farmer and tobacco grower of Enfield, and a leading coal merchant of Thompsonville, was born Nov. 25, 1835, in Cork, Ireland, son of John Henry Smyth, also a native of County Cork. The father was three times married, and by the first wife had one daughter, Mary, who became the wife of David Humphress. To the second union were born : John, whose name opens this article ; Margaret, who died in California; Susan and Ellen, residents of California; Michael, a wealthy resident of that State; Anthony, of Colorado; and William, of Cali- fornia. By his third marriage John H. Smyth had one daughter. He died in Ireland.

Our subject came to America about 1848, and located in Enfield, Hartford Co., Conn., where for ten years he was in the employ of the Lusk family. He then followed the occupations of farming and teaming on the place now occupied by his widow, and was also engaged in the coal and wood busi- ness at Thompsonville for fourteen years. Being a man of enterprise and keen business sagacity, he was successful, accumulated money, and left his family a comfortable competence at his death, April 16, 1898, since when his widow has very success- fully continued his extensive business.

About 1854 Mr. Smyth was married to Margaret Roche, and to this union were born five children : John H., of Chicago ; Elizabeth, wife of Dr. Andrew Creighton : William, deceased ; James, a dentist : and Edward, deceased. His second wife was Ellen A., daughter of John and Mary (O'Halloran) Boucher, of East Windsor, and formerly of Cork, Treland. To this union were born seven sons : Thomas, Francis, George, Henry, Charles, Richard and Raymond, of whom the last named died Dec. 6, 1863.

Mr. Smyth in religious connection was a mem- ber of the Catholic Church, in which his family now hold membership. In politics he was a Democrat, and he served as a member of the board of relief one term.

LEMUEL STOUGHTON ELLSWORTH, of Simsbury, can lay claim to being a member of one of the most distinguished families of New Eng- land. To the Ellsworth family, commonwealth and church, the civil and military service, commerce and agriculture have owed a debt since Colonial days for men eminent for their piety, patriotism, learn- ing, statemanship and sound sense. The men are celebrated in local, State and National affairs, and there have been Ellsworths whose fame has re- sounded through two continents. Linked to the family by marriage are other prominent New Eng- land names, so that through the veins of the pres- ent generations courses some of the best blood of the men who chose voluntary exile in preference to proscription and persecution because of re- ligious faith. It is from such ancestors as these that Lemuel S. Ellsworth is a worthy descendant.

The first American progenitor of the family to settle in Connecticut was Sergt. Josias Ellsworth, who took up his home in Windsor, where he died Aug. 20, 1689. His early residence is known as the house of Chief Justice Ellsworth. His son, the great-great-great-grandfather of Lemuel S., was Lieut. John Ellsworth, one of the earliest settlers of Ellington. The latter married Esther White, born at Hartford in 1671, a daughter of Daniel White. Their six children were named John, Daniel, Esther, Anna, Martha and Ann. Lieut. Ellsworth was accidentally killed at his home Oct. 26, 1720, his widow surviving him until Sept. 7, 1766. John, the first son of this union, who was known as Capt. John Ellsworth, lived at East Windsor. He was married, Nov. 8, 1734, to Ann, daughter of Rev. Timothy Edwards. Their children were John, Sol- omon, Frederick and Ann. Capt. John Ellsworth died Jan. 4, 1784, and Mrs. Ellsworth on April II, 1790, at the advanced age of ninety-one years. Solomon (Lieut.) Ellsworth, the great-grandfa- ther of Lemuel S., was born April 30, 1737. He married, Dec. 27, 1758, Mary, a daughter of Abner Moseley, of Glastonbury, who was born Dec. 8, 1737. Lieut. Solomon died Oct. 19, 1822, and his widow four months later, Feb. 16, 1823. They were the parents of thirteen children: Mary, Ann, Solomon, Elizabeth, Stoddard, Abigail, Abner Moseley, John, Marilda, Timothy, Timothy (2), Joseph and Ann (2). Of this large family, Abner Moseley El'sworth, the grandfather of Lemuel S., was born Jan. 4, 1771, and on Dec. 31, 1797, ma"- ried Elsie, a daughter of Hugh Thompson, who was born May 8, 1766. They were the parents of four children. The eldest, Frederick, was born Nov. 8, 1798, and died June 7, 1827. Mary Moseley, the second child, born Aug. 28, 1800, married Asa

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V. Mann, and died at Forsyth, Ga., April 9, 1870, without issue. The second daughter and third child, Martha Stoughton, was born Aug. 29, 1802, mar- ried Samuel M. Hayden, of Essex, Conn., and died at Forsyth, Ga., April 26, 1857. The youngest child, Abner Moseley, Jr., born July 13, 1804, was the father of L. S. Ellsworth. The grandfather, Abner M., Sr., died Dec. 24, 1853, his wife hav- ing preceded him to the grave on Nov. 20, 1840.

Mr. Ellsworth's father married Lucy Wetmore Stoughton, a descendant of Elder Brewster, on April 26, 1832. She was born July 15, 1806, at East Windsor, and was a member of one of the most highly respected families of that town. He died Sept. 24, 1846, and on Sept. 25, 1866, his widow also entered into rest. Seven children blessed their union, a brief mention of whom will be found interesting: Frederick, born Jan. 25, 1833, married Abigail Georgia Phelps, and resides at Hartford. Samuel Hayden was born April 7. [834, and went South while very young ; he returned home to die, in July, 1856, at the age of twenty- two. Lucy Stoughton, born March 12, 1835, mar- ied Rev. Samuel B. Forbes, of Hartford, and died at Simsbury June 23, 1863; she was a woman of remarkable personal beauty, and exceptionally ovely character. Sarah Elsie was born Nov. 18, 837, and died Jan. 26, 1841. Lemuel Stoughton s the subject of the present biographical sketch. ohn, born Jan. 7, 1842, left Philip's Academy, Andover, Mass., at the outbreak of the Rebellion, o enter the Union army; after his return from the var he completed his course at Andover, spent nie year in Williams College, and studied law with Messrs. Hubbard and McFarland, in 1867 re- moving to California, where he became a successful practitioner ; in 1888 he was elected judge of the Superior Court of Almeda county, in which ca- acity he still serves. Hugh Thompson, the seventh hild, was born March 18, 1844; he married Flora English, of Danbury, Conn., and later removed to California, where he died in 1872.

Lemuel S. Ellsworth was born at the Ellsworth omestead on Rye street, in East Windsor, Jan. 1840. When he was but six years old his fa- , her died, and his boyhood and youth were spent huch as were those of other young men reared pon Connecticut farms in those days. His scho- astic education was obtained in the district schools, nd at an academy at East Windsor Hill. On DOct. 17, 1866, he married Miss Anna J. Toy, who was born in Simsbury Feb. 23, 1842, a daughter f that old and prominent citizen of Simsbury, lev. Joseph Toy, a biographical sketch of whose fe and labors may be found on another page. The year following his marriage Mr. Ellsworth loved to Brooklyn, Cal .; where he erected a plant or the Toy-Bickford Fuse Co. His connection ith that company there lasted until 1871, when e returned to Hartford, remaining there until 876, in which year he settled in Simsbury. Here

he has since resided, and until 1888 was engaged in agricultural pursuits. Since then he has been identified with the Ensign, Bickford & Co., of Sims- bury, although still retaining his farming inter- ests, which he continues to supervise. His resi- dence is one of the finest in Simsbury, and the family occupy a high social position. In politics Mr. Ellsworth is an ardent Republican, taking a lively interest in his party's success.

Mr. and Mrs. Ellsworth are the parents of five children: Lucy Stoughton, born Feb. 1, 1868, at Brooklyn, Cal., died April 13, 1870; George Toy, born April 24, 1869, at the same place, died Oct. 24, 1869; Annie Stoughton, born Sept. 22, 1873, is now Mrs. Emmet Schultz, of Arlington, N. J .; Henry Edwards, born March 27, 1878, was grad- uated from Yale University in the class of 1900; and John Stoughton, born Aug. 21, 1883, it at pres- ent preparing for college.

JAMES J. MERWIN, a prominent and influ- ential citizen of Windsor, and one of its leading business men, was born March 18, 1837, in Milford, Conn., where his ancestors located at an early day. He is descended from Miles Merwin, the progenitor of the family in America, who located at Merwin's Point, Milford, in 1645.

Jared Merwin, our subject's father, was a shoe manufacturer at Milford. He was twice married, his first wife being Miss Sarah G. Stow, by whom he had two sons : Charles, who is now engaged in teaching in Oakland College; and James J., our subject. By his second union there were three sons and one daughter, of whom Albert, a resi- dent of Milford, has charge of the machine depart- ment of the Eureka Hose Co., of Jersey City; George, a grocery merchant at Waterbury, died in Milford; and Sarah M. married Nelson L. Stow, a prominent citizen of Evanston, Ill., where they now reside.

The first seventeen years of his life James J. Merwin spent in Milford, where he attended the common schools and later graduated at the high school. Going to New Haven at the age of seven- teen, he entered the store of George W. Goodsell as bookkeeper, and remained in his employ for ten years as head bookkeeper. His preparation for that occupation was received at Robbin's Busi- ness College, New Haven.

In 1865 Mr. Merwin wedded Miss Mary A. Hodge, a native of Westville, Conn., and a daugh- ter of George L. and Hannah ( Pelton) Hodge. They now have four children, one son and three daughters, the latter being Sadie M., Mary G. and Frances G., all at home. George J., the son, is one of the best known young men in Windsor, and is employed in the office of the Phoenix Mutual Life Insurance Co., of Hartford. He married Miss Leliaone Thrall, of Windsor.

In 1866 Mr. Merwin came to Windsor and en-

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tered into partnership with George L. Hodge, his father-in-law, and Senator George W. Hodge, his brother-in-law, in the manufacture of paper, the firm being known as "Hodge, Son & Co." Upon the death of George L. Hodge our subject left the firm and went into the paper business on his own account, at Holyoke, Mass., for eight years, at the end of which time he returned to Windsor to re- side, and opened an insurance office. He has built up a large business in that line, and the insurance companies which he now represents are the Spring- field ; Caledonian; Continental ; Delaware; New York Underwriters Agency; Niagara ; Phoenix, of Hartford; Boston, of Boston; Middlesex Mutual; and Fidelity and Casualty. Upon his return to the town of Windsor from Holyoke he also be- came interested in the undertaking business, which he has since followed uninterruptedly.

Mr. Merwin is a prominent worker in the Re- publican party in the town of Windsor, and is one of its stanchest supporters. He has served as a member of the grand jury for six years, notary public for eighteen years, justice of the peace ten years, and was assessor seven years. In 1896 he was elected to the State Legislature by the largest majority (318) ever given a candidate for that office. While a member of that body he served as a member of the committee on Humane Institu- tions, of which Gov. Lounsbury was chairman. On July 25, 1900, Gov. Lounsbury appointed Mr. Mer- win a member of the State Board of Trustees of the State Historical Museum and Library, known as the "Old Stone House," at Guilford, Conn. Mr. Merwin is one of Windsor's best-known citizens, and possesses probably as thorough an acquaint- ance with the town and its people for the past twen- ty-five years as any man within its borders. He and his wife are connected with the Baptist Church, in which he has served as deacon and superintend- ent of the Sunday-school, and the family is prom- inent in the church and the best social circles of the community.

HENRY HAMLIN NEWELL, a prominent and successful merchant of Marion, and one of the most energetic and progressive business men of Southington, was born in that town Aug. 23, 1867, and traces his ancestry back to (I) Thomas Newell, one of the original settlers of Farmington, and the founder of the family in Hartford county. He was born in Herefordshire, England, and located in Farmington about 1640. In Oct., 1669, his name is on the list of freemen; and in 1672 he was one of the eighty-four proprietors of that town. The following year he was one of the preliminary committee to visit what is now Waterbury, for the purpose of examining the land for settlement, and the same year was one of the petitioners for "liberty of planting same." He signed the articles, but did not join the new settlement. He died Sept. 13, 1689.

(II) Samuel Newell, son of Thomas, was born in 1660, and was married, Dec. 20, 1683, to Mary Hart, daughter of Thomas and Ruth ( Hawkins) Hart. He held the military rank of ensign, and died Feb. 15, 1753.

(III) Samuel Newell, son of Samuel, Sr., was born in Farmington Feb. 19, 1686, and was mar- ried, Aug. 8, 1710, to Sarah Norton, daughter of John and Ruth (Moore) Norton. He located in the south end of Southington Parish, and there died Feb: II, 1751.

(IV) Asahel Newell, born May 5, 1725, was the son of Samuel, Jr., and also lived in the south end of Southington, where he died April 5, 1769. He married Hannah Woodruff, daughter of Daniel and Lydia (Smith) Woodruff.

(V) Samuel Newell, son of Asahel, was born Jan. 28, 1763, and was married Dec. II, 1786, to Martha Lewis, daughter of Lemuel and Sarah (Royce) Lewis. He died Aug. 13, 1804.

(VI) Levi Newell, son of Samuel, and grand- father of our subject, was born June 28, 1792, and married Julia Hamlin. He died Oct. 15, 1869.

(VII) Henry J. Newell, the father of our sub- ject, was born in Southington Jan. 9, 1827, and was married, Sept. 8, 1863, to Sophia Bayrer, a daughter of William and Mary (Rexroth) Bayrer, of the Marion District of Southington, formerly of Erbach, in Oden Wald, Germany. By that union two children were born: Henry H., our subject; and Layette, wife of Edwin S. Todd. By a former marriage the father also had two children: George, deceased ; and Flora J.

(VIII) Henry H. Newell, whose name intro- duces this review, grew to manhood in Southington, and was educated in its public schools. He began business life as a partner of Newell & Todd, in the general mercantile business at Marion, in 1888, and in 1889 continued the same business as a part- ner of his father. When his father died, two years later, he succeeded to the establishment, which he has since carried on in a highly commendable man- ner. He is a wide-awake, energetic business man, of known reliability, and enjoys a good trade. On April 23, 1893, he was united in marriage with Miss Lillian Dunham, a daughter of Dwight and Laura Dunham, of Southington, and to this union two children have been born, Ruth and Gladys. Mr. Newell is a supporter of the Republican party, and has most creditably and satisfactorily served as postmaster of Marion since 1894. Socially he is a member of Eureka Lodge, No. 75, I. O. O. F.

NORMAN ADELBERT BARNES, the well- known secretary and treasurer of the Atwater Man- ufacturing Co., and a prominent business man of Southington, was born in Marion, in that town, Aug. 18, 1843, and is a representative of quite an old Connecticut family, tracing his ancestry back to Stephen and Mary Barnes, who were among the first settlers of Branford, Conn., and were from

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Long Island. Their son Stephen was born Jan. 2, 1704, and was married, Jan. 5. 1726, to Martha Wheadon, of Branford. They removed from Bran- ford to Southington during its early settlement, and located in the southwestern part of the town, where he died March 27, 1777, and his wife March. 18. 1773, the latter being the first interred in the Plants- ville cemetery.

Jonathan Barnes, son of Stephen and Martha (Wheadon) Barnes, was born Feb. 2, 1731, and was married, Aug. 4, 1757, to Elizabeth, daughter of Hezekiah and Sarah ( Macon) Woodruff, of South- ington. He died Jan. 7, 1807, and she Feb. 8, 1814. Their son, Joel Barnes, was born in 1779, and mar- ried Rebecca Stevens, a daughter of Jared and Elizabeth (Tyler) Stevens, of Southington. He died March 15, 1819, and his wife passed away Aug. 13, 1827. Their children were Caroline, wife of Lewis Botsford; Norman S .; Matilda, wife of Joseph Neal; Emma, wife of Lambert E. Sloper ; Rosanna, wife of Alfred Lewis; Joel H., the father of our subject ; and Reuben. Joel H. Barnes, a me- chanic by trade, was born in Southington June 7, 1813, and was married, Aug. 28, 1836, to Anna B. Clark, a daughter of Seth and Chloe ( Bailey) Clark. Their children were Franklin H .; Matilda A .; Norman A., our subject ; and Ann E., wife of William Cook.

Reared in Southington, Norman A. Barnes ac- quired a good practical education in the common schools and in Lewis Academy, and began life for himself as a teacher, an occupation he followed suc- cessfully for six or eight years. He then engaged n clerking in the store of Amon Bradley & Co., intil the dissolution of that firm. In 1866 he em- barked in mercantile business with Merit N. Wood- ruff, as M. N. Woodruff & Co., and was a member of the firm for two years. When the Ætna Nut Co. was organized, in 1868, he was elected secre- tary and treasurer of the same, a position he held for about four years. He, with others, was after- vard engaged in the manufacture of velocipedes for about a year, and then removed to Simsbury, where he was accountant for the distillery firm of Will- am Konold & Bro. for five years. In 1873 he en- ered the employ of George W. M. Reed & Co., wholesale merchants of New Haven, and remained with them until 1878, when he became connected vith the Atwater Manufacturing Co., of Southing- on. He was soon elected to the offices of secretary ind treasurer, which position he has held ever ince, to the entire satisfaction of the company, ind with credit to himself.

On Oct. 9, 1873, Mr. Barnes was united in mar- riage with Miss Alice B. Bradley, a daughter of Amon and. Sylvia ( Barnes) Bradley, of Southing- on. She died June 30, 1897, leaving one son, Brad- ey H., who was born Jan. 27. 1883. Religiously Mr. Barnes is a member of the First Baptist Church of Southington, and fraternally he belongs to Friendship Lodge, No. 33, F. & A. M., of the same

place. His political support is always given to the men and measures of the Democratic party, and since the consolidation of the school districts he has been a prominent factor in the board of ed- ucation, at the present writing (1899) serving as president of that body.

MISS HELEN M. KING, the present historian of Sybil Dwight Kent Chapter, of the D. A. R., at Suffield, is the only representative in that locality of a well-known family, her father, the late Abel King, having been for many years a leading busi- ness man of the town.

As the only child and heir of his large estate, Miss King became familiar with business methods under his instruction, and so capable did she prove to be as a pupil that in his later years he regarded her as a valued adviser. She still takes personal control of her business, managing it with rare skill and discretion, her securities being among the most desirable held in the town. To a careful edu- cation, obtained in the Connecticut Literary Insti- tute, at Suffield, she has added by a liberal course of reading, and as her summers are always spent in travel she has learned much by observation, giv- ing her a most intelligent view of life and making her conversation full of interest. She is prom- inent in the best social circles of Suffield, and is a generous contributor to local philanthropies and to the work of the Baptist Church, of which her par- ents were also members. Among other organiza- tions to which she belongs is the Suffield Woman's Club, a reading society, and she is a charter mem- ber of the local chapter of the D. A. R., her num- ber in the order being 15,464.

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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 78

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