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 89

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 89

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"He possessed great simplicity and humility in his prayers ; he told the Lord everything that con-

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cerned him and asked His guidance. He was quick at repartee; was remarkable now and then for flashes of genuine wit and humor ; but especially for uttering striking, pertinent and even profound thoughts. His imagination was affluent and his conceptions vivid, sometimes outrunning his words and leaving them incoherent. He was more than a match for caviler or skeptic, and would soon silence them by some unlooked-for question or proposition. He had never seriously been sick but once before his last illness, but kept about and at work more or less till within a few weeks of his death. He felt that the end was near, and he calm- ly and even joyously awaited the result, arrang- ing his affairs and settling all matters that he wanted closed up. He said he should go no more out, not even to visit again the precious spot where he had so many hours of communion with his Saviour. On the day of his death, in great and sweet patience he said, as he had often said during his sickness, 'Though the earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, I have a building of God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.' 'I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith.' He said he had no pain, and had got almost home, and be- fore his body should be laid out he would be walking the golden streets of the New Jerusalem. At last, when asked if all was well with him, he replied, beginning very faintly, but uttering the words with a deepening emphasis, 'Yes, yes, yes.' So, in clear- ness of mind, heavenly peace, and triumphant faith, his long, useful, patriarchal life closed like a child going to sleep. 'His rest shall be glorious.' Oh, is it not emphatically true, and a most blessed ex- perience, as among his last words he said, 'I have a hope that I would not part with for mountains of gold or rocks of diamonds.'"

(VIII) JUDAII PHELPS was born Feb. 6, 1845, at his present homestead near Warnertown, and during youth was trained to agricultural work un- der the oversight of his father. He received a public-school education, and has always followed farming as an occupation, being extensively inter- ested at present in dairying and stock raising. His industry and thrift have had their due reward in a fine competence, and he has made investments in other lines of enterprise, including the Suffield Creamery Co., in which he is a stockholder. Po- litically he is a strong Republican, and at times he has held office, having served two terms in the local board of relief, and at present is a member of the school board. He and his wife are much respected, and the family hold a prominent place in social life.

Mr. Phelps was married, May 2, 1866, to Miss Ellen C. Cannon, of West Suffield, daughter of William and Olive (Messenger) Cannon, and ten children have blessed the union: ( 1) Franklin A., born Aug. 22, 1867, is a railroad engineer at Holyoke, Mass. He married Anna Hunter, and

has one child, Vella Irene. (2) Henry W., born Dec. 27, 1868, married Idella Gertrude Houghtal- ing, of Ansonia, who died in April, 1899. (3) Jud- son L., born Oct. 11, 1870, is a farmer on the homestead. He married Miss Jessie Hubbard, and has two children, Helen and Jasper Apollos. (4) Lawrence C., born April 22; 1874, is a street rail- way motorman in Hartford; he is unmarried. (5) Miss Rhoda M., born Feb. 18, 1876, resides at home, and is a leader in the best social circles of the neigh- borhood. (6) Benjamin J., born Oct. 4, 1877, is a student at Yale College. (7) Charles D., born Jan. 23, 1880. (8) Myra L., March 4, 1882. (9) Warren J., Jan. 15, 1884, and (10) Nora B., Oct. . 23, 1885, are all at home.

ALBERT H. GRANT. Among the most at- tractive homes of this section is that of the subject of this biography, an enterprising young agricult- urist of the town of East Windsor, and in its well- planned arrangements the charms of country life are combined with the improvements that science has devised for comfort, convenience, and the grati- fication of refined and artistic taste. The house, which is heated by steam, is modern in construc- tion, and all the buildings on the farm are supplied with water through pipes, while in every part of the estate are to be seen evidences of the progress- ive ideas and executive ability of its owner.

Mr. Grant was born March 3, 1867, on a farm near Broad Brook, in the town of East Windsor, a son of Luther and Ann E. (Allen) Grant. As a boy he attended the public schools near his home, while the work of the farm gave him a practical knowledge of the best methods of agriculture. At the age of twenty-two he purchased an interest in his present homestead and engaged in farming on his own account, and so well did he succeed that in 1896 he bought the entire title to the place. He owns altogether about 150 acres of land twenty acres of which lie in the town of Ellington, Tolland county, and in connection with general farming he raises tobacco, planting about twenty acres each year to that crop. Politically he is a Republican, but he has never aspired to office, although he takes keen interest in the issues of the day and is always ready to endorse any worthy movement.

In 1890 Mr. Grant married Miss Belle Roberts, of the town of Suffield, and two children brighten their home, Boyd and Lynn.

NELSON ORSINO KEYES, a well-known and highly-respected citizen of the village of Farm- ington, was born in Warren, N. H., May 4, 1847, and is a son of Ezra W. and Julia M. (Clough) Keyes, who died at that place. The father, who was a carpenter by trade, was born in Orford, N. H., but spent the greater part of his life in War- ren. He had a brother, David Keyes, who was a manufacturer of small hardware at Unionville, Conn. Our subject is second in the order of birth

a. H. Grant

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in a family of three children, but the others, Ezra and Harvey, are both now deceased.

The boyhood and youth of Nelson O. Keyes were passed in his native town, where he learned the carpenter's trade with his father. In 1871 he came to the town of Farmington, Hartford Co., Conn., there worked for Samuel C. Colt, and made his home in the East Farms District for about thir- teen years. In 1884 he removed to the village of Farmington, where he has since resided, and now has a pleasant home on Main street. For the past five years he has been dealing in agricultural im- plements to some extent. He is one of the prom- inent and influential citizens of the place, and has been called upon to fill the offices of constable, justice of the peace and selectman, having served in the last named office for nine years.

On Dec. 24, 1872, Mr. Keyes was married, in Farmington, to Miss Laura A. Chamberlain, also a native of Warren, N. H., and to them has been born one daughter, Helen J. As a citizen Mr. Keyes has the good of the community at heart, and in an official capacity his abilities have all been ex- erted to make his adopted town and county rank among the best in this great Commonwealth.

EDWARD BEDELL PECK, of Bloomfield, was born in that town Jan. 29, 1847, which has been the home of the Peck family for at least three generations, although his grandfather was a native of Lyme, Conn. The grandfather, a blacksmith by trade, early settled in Bloomfield, and married a Miss Griswold, of Windsor, and in Bloomfield their children were born in the following order : Jasper, Hayden G., George, Muchin Pinder and Sardis, all deceased, and Mrs. Mary Wilcox.

Hayden G. Peck, father of our subject, was born in Bloomfield in 1796, and died in Granby in July, 1877, but his remains were brought to Bloomfield for interment. He was educated in that town and in Windsor, learned dyeing. dressing and cloth pulling, and had a shop in Simsbury. On Dec. 9, 1825, he married Miss Lucinda Griswold, a daugh- ter of Noah Griswold, and aunt of Timothy E. Griswold, whose life history will be found on an- other page of this volume. To this marriage were born seven children : Jane, deceased wife of Dwight Hillman, of Windsor Locks; Deforest Hayden, of West Hartford; Luzerne J., of St. Louis, Mo .; Helen, also the deceased wife of Dwight Hillman, of Windsor Locks; George W., of North Granby ; Edward Bedell, our subject ; and Lucius J., deceased. Hayden G. Peck, the father, was for many years in the cloth business in Simsbury, then for seven years peddled throughout the Southern States, and finally settled down to farming in Bloomfield, where his wife died in 1860. Mr. Peck was a member of the F. & A. M., was a Democrat in politics, served as selectman of Bloomfield, and died a highly-re- spected citizen.

Edward Bedell Peck passed his early days in

the north middle district of Bloomfield, and at the age of thirteen years left the parental roof, and worked as a farm hand until he had attained his majority. On Dec. 16, 1868, he married Miss Cath- erine Malvina Scailes, a daughter of George Scailes, of Granville, Mass., and then returned to Bloom- field, Conn., where he has since lived in a house built by his uncle, George L. Peck, and is engaged in tobacco growing and dairying. To his marriage with Miss Scailes have been born five children : George G., who died at the age of twenty-five years ; Sadie M., wife of John L. Hague, of South- ington, Conn .; Mary L., wife of A. D. Stevens, of Ivoryton, Conn. ; Ellen M., who died at the age of five years; and Charlotte R. In politics Mr. Peck is a sound Democrat. He is a temperate, frugal and industrious man, and he and his family are well entitled to the high regard in which they are held by all their neighbors.

MRS. SARAH E. BARNEY, a well-known resident of Farmington, belongs to one of the old and honored families of Hartford county. She is a descendant of (I) Jacob Brandegee, who was born in 1729, and died at sea March 25, 1765. A monu- ment has been erected to his memory in the Berlin cemetery. In 1753 he married Abigail Dunham, and to them were born six children: Elishama is mentioned below; Rhoda, born Oct. 5, 1756. died in 1781; Persis was born Aug. 31, 1758; Abigail, born Aug. 31, 1760, died in 1820; Mary, born Dec. 18, 1763, died in 1764; and Jacob, born Jan. 4, 1765, died in January, 1786.

(II) Elishama Brandegee, born in Berlin, Conn., April 17, 1754, was a sea captain, at one time en- gaged in the West India trade, and owned the "Minerva," which is supposed to have been cap- tured by the French. He died Feb. 26. 1832. In 1778 he married Mrs. Lucy Weston, who died Feb. I, 1827. They had five children, whose names and dates of birth were as follows: Jacob, Nov. 11, 1779; Lucy, July 15. 1781 ; Elishama, Nov. 5. 1784; John, Nov. 19, 1786, and Sally Milner, Aug. 2, 1793.

(III) Elishama Brandegee, the father of Mrs. Barney, was born in Berlin, Hartford Co., Conn., Nov. 5, 1784. and was reared and educated at that place. Later in life he was for many years one of the most prominent and influential business men of Berlin, where he conducted a large and well-stocked store, and also owned and operated two thread mills, one on the site of the Blair factory, and the other on the site of the Berlin Iron Bridge Co.'s build- ings. As a public-spirited and progressive citizen, he always took a very active and prominent part in town matters, and gave his support to every enter- prise for the public good.

On Oct. 14, 1811, for his first wife Elishama Brandegee married Emily Stocking, of Cromwell, Conn., and Nov. 28. 1835. he was again married, liis second union being with Mrs. Aruna ( Booth)

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Mygatt, a daughter of Joseph Booth, of Berlin. By this union was born one child, Julia Sophia. To the first marriage were born seven children : (I) Jacob Sheldon is deceased. (2) Elishama (also deceased) was for over forty years a prom- inent physician of Berlin. He married Florence Stith, of Petersburg, Va., and to them were born eleven children, Townshend S., now a resident of San Diego, Cal .; Charles, of Farmington, this county ; Florence S., of Berlin ; Robert B., of Farm- ington ; Emily Stocking and Catherine, both of Ber- lin ; Henry, Edith Victorina and Horace S., all de- ceased; Arthur L., of Berlin; and Edward N., of Helena, Mont. (3) John (now deceased) wedded Mary A. N. Bulkley, and they had two children, William, a resident of Berlin; and Mary Emily, deceased. (4) Camillus Marius is deceased. (5) Marius married Catherine A. Fountain, of New York, and died in 1885; they had three children, Emily Stocking, deceased; William Partridge, a physician of New York City ; and Elizabeth Gallan- dette. (6) Henry Justus married Sarah Kipp Mil- ler, of Brooklyn, New York.

(7) Sarah Elizabeth, whose name introduces this sketch, was united in marriage with Danford Newton Barney, a native of New York City, whose father was the founder of the United States Ex- press Co., and a member of the Wells Fargo Ex- press Co. He died four years after their marriage, and Sarah B., the youngest of their two children, died in infancy. Danford Newton Barney, Jr., was born in Berlin, and began his education at Edward Hart's School in Farmington. Later he attended the Hartford Public High School and also Yale College, from which he was graduated with the class of '81. He married Miss Laura Dunham, a daughter of Austin Cornelius Dunham, of the Electric Light Co., and to them have been born four children, Mary E., D. Newton, Jr., Laura J. (de- ceased), and Austin Cornelius. Elishama Brande- gee, father of Mrs. Barney, passed away April 10, 1854.

FREDERICK ARTHUR SUTLIFFE, a well- known bookkeeper for the Peck, Stow & Wilcox Co., and a highly-esteemed citizen of Southington, was born in Cooperstown, N. Y., Sept. 18, 1860, and was married, Feb. 27, 1884, to Miss Mary J. Vivian, by whom he has two children: Raymond V., born June 28, 1885; and Minnie Lazelle, born Nov. 23, 1891.

Mr. Sutliffe is descended from some of the oldest and most highly-respected Connecticut fam- ilies. His father, Frederick Sutliffe, was born April 15, 1833, in Southington, and was married, Nov. 17, 1859, to Adelaide C. Raymond. He served with credit in the Civil war as a member of Com- pany A, 7th Conn. V. I., and later was a prominent member of the Grand Army of the Republic. He also belonged to the Order of United American Mechanics, the Masonic Fraternity and other so-

cieties, and was a consistent member of the First Baptist Church of Southington. He died Aug. II, 1890, his wife on Jan. 3, 1876.

Lucius Sutliffe, the paternal grandfather of our subject, was born in Wolcott, Conn., Jan. 19, 1806, and was married, in March, 1827, to Rachel Foot, daughter of Robert and Diadamia (Hitchcock) Foot. Their children were Samuel M., James, James (2), Frederick, Lucas, Lucius, Charles G. and Anna M. The father of this family died Feb. 19, 1899, aged ninety-three years, the mother Oct. I, 1893.

John Sutliffe, the father of Lucius, was born Feb. 19, 1773, and married Eunice Munson, a daugh- ter of Samuel and Susanna (Tyler) Munson, of Waterbury, Conn. He lived in Wolcott, where he died April 23, 1836. He had five children : Anson, Statira, John, Lucius and Lucas.

Nathaniel Sutliffe, the father of John, was born in Durham, Conn., Dec. 7, 1740, and married Han- nah, daughter of James and Elizabeth (Johnson) Pritchard. He died in 1808, his wife on Jan. 2, 1791. Their children were John, Nathaniel, Titus Hannah, Anne, Ruth and Elizabeth.

Joseph Sutliffe, the father of Nathaniel, was born in Branford, Conn., in 1712, and was one of the first settlers of Wolcott, locating there as early as 1765. He was a tailor by trade. He died Nov. II, 1801, aged eighty-nine years. By his wife, Sarah, he had four children: Joseph, Nathaniel, Anne and Sarah.

Sergt. Nathaniel Sutliffe, the father of Joseph, was born in Deerfield, Mass., in 1672, and in 1702 removed to Branford, Conn., where he became prominent in religious and educational matters. He was also representative to the General Court from 1728 to 1731. He married Sarah Savage, and died April 1, 1732, aged sixty years.

Nathaniel Sutliffe, father of Sergt. Sutliffe, was living in Medfield, Mass., in 1667. His house was burned by the Indians and never rebuilt. He was a settler in Deerfield, Mass., in 1673, and was killed by the Indians in King Philip's war, at the "Falls fight" (Pesheomsaket), with Capt. Turner, May 19, 1676. He was married, in 1664, to Han- nah Plympton, a daughter of Sergt. John Plymp- ton, who was born in Cambridge, England, and came to America with a party headed by John Winthrop, in 1640. He moved to Deerfield, Mass., in 1673, and when King Philip's war began became chief military officer. He was taken prisoner by the Indians in 1677, and burned at the stake. He joined the "Ancient and Honorable Artillery Company" of Boston in 1642.

The subject of this sketch is also a direct de- scendant of Gov. Thomas Welles, on the maternal side, as follows: His mother was a daughter of Edwin and Lucy M. (Neal) Raymond, who were married May 14, 1837. The former died June 25, 1876, the latter on May 24, 1865. She was a daugh- ter of Elisha and Naomi (Frost) Neal, who were

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married Dec. 25, 1814. Her father was a son of John and Phebe (Judd) Neal, who were married in 1772. Phebe Judd was a daughter of Joseph and Mary (Clark) Judd, who were married in 1752. Joseph Judd was a son of Joseph and Han- nah ( Bidwell) Judd, who were married April II. 1706. Hannah Bidwell was a daughter of John and Sarah ( Welles Bidwell, who were married in 1678. Sarah Welles was a daughter of Thomas Welles, Jr., and Hannah Tuttle, daughter of Will- iam Tuttle, one of the first settlers of New Haven. Thomas Welles, Jr., was born about 1627; was quartermaster under Maj. John Mason in 1658; deputy magistrate at Hartford in 1662 and 1653: and was named as grantee in the royal charter of Connecticut. He was the largest man of his time in Hartford, of strong mind and estimable char- acter. He was killed by a fall from a cherry tree in 1668. His father, Thomas Welles, was born in Northamptonshire, England. in 1598, and was among the first settlers of Hartford in 1636. He was the first treasurer of the Connecticut Colony, and its fourth governor. 1656-57-58. He died Jan. 15, 1659, at the age of sixty-one years, and was buried in Wethersfield, but his remains were after- ward removed to Hartford, and rest with those of several other early governors.

WILLIAM NATHAN JENNINGS, one of the prosperous and highly-respected farmers and to- bacco growers of South Windsor, has been a life- long resident of the town. He is widely known for his many estimable traits of character, and among his many sterling qualities may be ranked that in- dustry which is the foundation of success, a keen judgment and a high sense of honor and integrity.

Mr. Jennings was born July 25, 1849, on the farm in South Windsor now occupied by L. D. Chandler, and is a son of Williams and Anna (Main) Jennings. His father was a native of the town of Willington, Conn., where he was born in the year 1804, the representative of an old Con- necticut family. The father of our subject was the first of his name to locate in the town of South Windsor. To Williams and Anna Jennings were born six children: Phila, who died an infant ; Mariva, deceased ; Mary S .; Phila (2) ; Esther S .; and our subject. The father died in 1895, having reached the venerable age of ninety-one years. His wife died in 1882, aged seventy-eight years.

Mr. Jennings was three years of age when lie moved with his parents from the farm where he was born to the farm where he now lives. llere he grew to manhood, attending the district schools and assisting with the work of the farm. As the only son in his father's family, the work fell largely upon him. Since the age of twenty-one he has successfully carried on the farm. Mr. Jennings married, Dec. 9, 1874, Miss Catherine Bryan, a native of South Windsor, and to them have been born four children: Annie K., Gertrude L., Edna

and Mary M. Mr. Jennings has seventeen acres of land under cultivation, and gives most of his at- tention to tobacco culture. Himself and wife are consistent and prominent members of the Baptist Church. He is a member of Evergreen Lodge, No. 114, F. & A. M., and in politics is a Democrat. Public-spirited, energetic, and honorable in all his dealings, he is a representative citizen of Hartford county.

FREDERICK JOSHUA ALLEN, a prominent and one of the most prosperous and best-known farmers and tobacco growers of the town of East Windsor, was born May 12. 1845, and is a descend- ant of a very old New England Colonial family, of whom brief mention may be here made.

About the year 1630, three brothers, Matthew. Samuel and Thomas Allen, came from Braintree. County of Essex, England, and located in Cam- bridge, Mass., but later joined the colony organized by the Rev. Dr. Hooker, of the Congregational Church, and settled in Hartford, Conn., about 1635. It is said that Gen. Ethan Allen, who achieved an imperishable fame during the American Revolution. descended from one of these three brothers, as well as the more prominent of the name now living in New England and other parts of the United States.

Samuel Allen, the second of the above named brothers, was born in England, in 1588, was one of the earliest settlers of Windsor, Conn., was chosen juror of the town March 5, 1644, and died, a prom- inent and greatly respected citizen, April 28. 1648, his estate being inventoried at seventy-six pounds. eighteen shillings and eight pence. His widow, Ann Allen, then moved, with four of her children- Samuel, Nehemiah, John and Rebecca-to North- ampton. Mass., leaving her daughter Mary behind. At Northampton she was married to William Ilurl- burt, and died there Nov. 13, 1687.

John Allen, the third child born to Samuel Allen, married Mary Hammond. Dec. 8. 1669, and made huis residence in Northampton, but was killed by the Indians at the battle of Bloody Brook, in Deerfield, Sept. 18, 1675, leaving the following children : John. born Sept. 30, 1670: Samuel, born Feb. 5, 1673 : and Hannah, the date of whose birth is not recorded ( as times were troublous ) , but whose baptism is recorded as June 20, 1075. It is known that two of these children, John and Samuel, by some means, escaped to the South part of Enfield, and thus escaped the massacre at Bloody Brook. On this battlefield a a monument has been erected, bearing the follow- ing inscription : "On this ground Capt. Thomas Lathrop and cighity-four men under his command, including eighteen teamsters from Deerfield, con- veying stores from that town to Hadley, were am- bushed by about seven hundred Indians, and the Captain and twenty six men were slain. September 18, 1675.'

Samuel Allen, son of John Allen, who was killed at Bloody Brook, was born Feb. 5, 1673. at North-

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ampton, Mass., and died in 1735. He married Hannah Burroughs in 1700, and became the father of four children, all born in Enfield, in the following order: Samuel, in 1702; Joseph, in 1704 ; Hannah, i11 1706; and John, in 1712.

Joseph Allen, second son of Samuel, who es- caped the massacre at Bloody Brook, was born July 30, 1704, married an Indian maid named Mary Hewlett in 1723. He died June II, 1777, in East Windsor, Conn., where his great-great-grandson, Joseph Trumbull Allen, now lives, and Mary, his wife, died June 28, 1782. To Joseph and his wife were born eight children, in the following order : Hannah, in 1724; Joseph, in 1727; Noah, May 15, 1730 ; David, Nov. 22, 1734; Samuel, June 8, 1736; Hezekiah, Oct. 8, 1739; Mary (date of birth not recorded) ; and Dorcas, June 10, 1742.

Samuel Allen, the fifth-born of this last named family, first married Elizabeth Wells, who was born in East Windsor, June 5, 1740, and bore him the following named children : Elizabeth, born April 8, 1763 (died Oct. 2, 1838) ; Samuel, June 16, 1764; Mabel, March 30, 1768; Joshua (grandfather of subject), May 18, 1771; and Sabra and Elam, twins, July 29, 1774. To the second marriage of Samuel Allen, with Sarah Booth, who was born in Enfield, Dec. 1, 1743, the following named children were born : Chester, June 13, 1780; Jabez, Jan. 22, 1783, died in infancy ; Jabez (2), Jan. 25, 1786; and Sarah, who was born Aug. 1, 1789, and died Oct. 4, 1851. The third marriage of Samuel Allen was to Lucy Markham, of Enfield, who was born in Long Meadow, Mass., July 2, 1749, was the widow of Darius Markham, and died Feb. 3, 1837, Samuel Allen having died Oct. 10, 1816, at the age of eighty years.

Joshua Allen, grandfather of Frederick Joshua Allen, married Abigail Bartlett, Jan. 21, 1796. She was born June 17, 1772, and died July 27, 1863, preceded to the grave by her husband on Feb. 6, 1843. Their children were six in number and were born in the following order: Sophia, Jan. 21, 1797 ; Willis, Jan. 26, 1800 ; Alfred, Aug. 22, 1802; Joshua Bartlett, Sept. 28, 1804; Julia Abigail, Feb. 14, 1808; and Henry Wells, May 28, 181I.

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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 89

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