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 91

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 91

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

(VII) Hial Woodward, the father of our sub- ject, was born in Ashford (other notes say Will- ington), Conn., Sept. 20, 1790. On Feb. 8, 1818, he married Miss Anna Higgins Andrews, daughter of Abram Andrews, of Haddam, Conn., where she was born Dec. 30, 1796. Soon after their mar- riage they located in Enfield, Hartford county. He started the first United States mail coach on the east side of the Connecticut river between Hart- ford, Conn., and Walpole, Mass., running same for seven years. Later he engaged in farming in En- field, and in 1826 settled on the farm now occupied by his son, Henry C., where he passed the remain- der of his life. He was a soldier in the war of 1812- 15, serving from Aug. 18, 1814, to Oct. 24, 1814. ["Connecticut in the Revolution." "Connecticut Militia, War of 1812," p. 140]. To Hial Wood- ward and wife were born the following children: Miriam, born Feb. 11, 1819, married Erastus Hem- ingway, by whom she had three daughters, and died [date of death not given]. Anna Maria, born Sept. 21, 1820, became the wife of George L. WVel- ton, had six children, and died April 30. 1880. Emily, born Dec. 14, 1822, married George Lord, had a family of six children, and died Nov. 28, 1884. William, born Oct. 15, 1824, married Abigail Smith, by whom he had five children, and died May 28, 1873. Sarah C., born July 2, 1826, married Jamcs

Henry C Woodward

1181

COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

B. Packard, and had two children; she now lives in Chicago, Ill., with her daughter, Mrs. Aaron B. Mead. Abner, born Feb. 7, 1828, married Lucy Harris, who bore him six children ; he died May II, 1895. Henry C., born Oct. 27, 1829, is next in the order of birth. Hial, born May 24, 1832, died Sept. 10, 1833. Joseph, born Aug. 20, 1835, resides in Montana. Harriet L., born Aug. 24, 1837, is the wife of Caleb L. Packard, and resides in Hart- ford, Conn. The father died at his home in En- field, March 23, 1857; the mother survived him several years, dying Feb. 15, 1875.

Abram Andrews, our subject's maternal grand- father, was a native of Haddam, Conn. He was a soldier in both the Revolution and the war of 1812, entering the former struggle at the age of sixteen, and serving for several years. For many years he carried on a grocery business at Hartford, Conn., but when the war of 1812 broke out he again offered his services to the government, and died while with his company at Green Bay, Wis. He married Sarah Higgins, of Haddam, Connecticut.

On the homestead where he now lives Henry C. Woodward was reared to manhood, receiving his education in the common schools of the neighbor- hood, and during his youth he learned the carpenter's trade in Hartford, serving an apprenticeship of two and one-half years. In 1856 he went to Charles- ton, S. C., where he was employed as foreman of a gang of slave carpenters for one year, and the following year engaged in contracting on his own account. Returning to Enfield in 1858, he was for several years extensively engaged in contracting and building there and in the surrounding towns, including Boston and Hartford, and at one time em- ployed as many as forty carpenters, besides outside help. He continued in that business until 1877, since when he has devoted his attention to agricultural pursuits, making a specialty of tobacco raising and dairying, and keeping on hand for the latter purpose a herd of twenty cows. He has met with well- deserved success in his undertakings, and besides his home farm he owns valuable property in Wind- sor Locks.

On May 15, 1861, Mr. Woodward was united in marriage with Miss Adelaide Hall, who was born in Simsbury, Conn., Dec. 31, 1836, a daughter of Joseph N. and Wealthy Ann (Lord) Hall, of Windsor, Conn., where she was reared.

To this union were born five children: Cassius Henry, born July 20, 1863, was married in 1895 to Miss Sarah Morris, of Ping, Garfield Co., Wash., and has two children, Irene, born Nov. 13, 1896, and Charles Homer, born Sept. 16, 1898 ; they reside in Idaho. Carrie Hall was born July 7, 1865. Her- bert William, born Jan. 17. 1872, died May 25. 1873. Burton Knowlton, born June 30, 1873, was mar- ried June 23, 1897, to Grace E. Pryor, of Enfield, and has two children, Henry Abbe, born April 2, 1898, and Burton Knowlton, born April 21, 1899; he is a resident of Troy, N. Y. Mary Adelaide,

born March 7, 1876, was married June 28, 1899, to Albert M. Jones, who is principal of the boys liter- ary department in Perkins Institute, South Boston, Mass., where they reside. Mr. and Mrs. Wood- ward are faithful members of the First Congrega- tional Church of Enfield, and are held in high regard by all who have the pleasure of their acquaintance. Socially he is a charter member of Dorie Lodge, No. 94, A. F. & A. M. Politically he was a Demo- crat until the Greeley movement, in 1872, since which time he has been an ardent Republican. He has always taken an active and commendable in- terest in public affairs, and in 1891 originated the Citizens ticket, which was successful for three years. His life has been manly, his actions sincere, his manner unaffected, and his example is well worthy of emulation.

Mr. Woodward is descended through his grand- mother, Miriam Knowlton, from Capt. William Knowlton, the ancestor of the American branch of the family, who was a native of England. He married, in his native country, Ann Elizabeth Smith, and is supposed to have sailed with his family from the port of London in 1632, bound for Nova Scotia. He was part owner of the ship in which he took passage. Cap :. Knowlton died on the voy- age. His widow and children after remaining in Nova Scotia a short time, removed to Ipswich, Massachusetts.

(II) William Knowlton, born in 1610, died in 1655, in Ipswich, Mass., where he had made his home, following the trade of bricklayer. He was a member of the Congregational Church. His wife's name was Elizabeth.

(III) William Knowlton, born in 1642, lived for a number of years in Ipswich, Mass., where he married, his wife's given name being Susanna. He was fined for having a pack of cards in his house. In 1678 he moved to New York, and in 1682 to Norwich, Conn. IIe died about 1699.

(IV) Thomas Knowlton, eldest child of Will- iam, above, was married (first), on Dec. 9. 1692, to Marjory Goodhue, who was a granddaughter of Deacon William Goodhue, a prominent citizen of Ipswich, and a representative in the Colonial Assembly for eight years.

(V) Robert Knowlton was born Sept. 7. 1693, in Ipswich, Mass., and on Nov. 21, 1717, married Hannah Robinson. He moved to Sutton, N. H., and thence to Asliford, Conn., being the first of the Knowltons to settle in that town, where he died Dec. 29, 1794. He was a representative to the Colonial Assembly for sixteen years.

(VI) Abraham Knowlton, youngest child of the above, was born April 3, 1740, in Ashford, Conn., and on March 21, 1763, married Molly Knox. He died June 14, 1821, at Ashiford. Miriam, his third child and second daughter, married Abner Wood- ward, grandfather of Henry C. Woodward.

Through his great-grandmother. Elizabeth Per- kins, Henry C. Woodward is descended from John

1182

COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

and Judith Perkins, the former born in England in 1590, died in 1654.

(II) Sergt. Jacob Perkins, born in 1624, mar- ried in 1647 Elizabeth Lovell, and died in 1699.

(III) Deacon Joseph Perkins, born in 1674, was married in 1700 to Martha Morgan, and died in 1726.

(IV) Capt. John Perkins born in 1709, in Nor- wich, Conn., died there in 1761. In 1730 he mar- ried Elizabeth Bushnell, and their daughter Eliza- beth married Joseph Woodward, our subject's great-grandfather.

CHARLES CHANDLER SHELDON, general farmer and tobacco grower of West Suffield, is a native of Windsor, Conn., born May 1, 1834. The Sheldon family is one of the oldest in the sec- tion, and descends from a Colonial family of En- glish origin, which came from that part of the County of Essex nearest London.

Isaac Sheldon, an ancestor of our subject, was born in Windsor, Hartford Co., Conn., in 1629, and when a young man removed to Northampton, Mass., engaged in farming, and there married Mary Woodford. Later he brought his family to what is now known as Suffield, Conn., where he passed the remainder of his life. His son, Jonathan, was born May 29, 1689, settled in West Suffield, built a fine dwelling on his large estate, and was well known as Capt. Jonathan Sheldon, as he was in command of a company of militia. His dwelling is still standing, and is now owned by Charles L. Austin. On Dec. 30, 1708, Capt. Sheldon married Mary Southwell, and their daughter, Mary, married Rev. Jonathan Judd, who was an inmate of the Captain's house while on probation as a minister of the Congregational Church at West Suffield. An- other daughter, Silence, became the first wife of Rev. John Graham, who for fifty years was a minister of the same church in West Suffield, and to this mar- riage were born ten children. After the death of his first wife, Rev. Graham married the Widow Smith, whose maiden name was Deborah King, and she bore him seven children, the youngest of whom was Dr. Sylvester Graham, a well-known Presby- terian divine, elocutionist and vegetarian, whose name is widely known throughout the world as the originator of the bread and flour which bear his name.

Jonathan Sheldon, a son of the Captain, and the great-great-grandfather of Charles Chandler Shel- don, was born in 1711, on the old homestead, and all his life was engaged in the pursuit of agricul- ture. He married Sarah Kent, and died on his farm Feb. 12, 1761, six years before the death of his fa- ther. In religion he was a Congregationalist, while his wife was a Baptist, but the remains of both were interred in the same grave in the West Suffield cem- etery. Their son Jonathan, great-grandfather of our subject, was born on the old homestead, Dec. 28, 1737, and passed all his mature life on the farm

ncw owned by Henry A. Sheldon. He married Abigail Loomis in 1762, and they had six children: Jonathan, Nov. 29, 1763 ; Gad, Feb. 28, 1765; Oba- diah, Oct. 23, 1766; Jane, Oct. 23, 1768; Arastus, Oct. 29, 1770; and Abigail, Oct. 3, 1772. The fa- ther of this family died on his farm Feb. 10, 1814, a member of the Congregational Church and a sin- cere Christian.

Hon. Arastus Sheldon, the grandfather of sub- ject, was educated in the district schools of his town, settled down to farming on the old homestead, on which he made many improvements, and there re- mained to the close of his life. He was an adherent of the political principles of Thomas Jefferson, and served as representative in the State Legislature. He married Eunice King, Nov. 16, 1796, and nine children were born to the marriage: James, March 17, 1798; Obadiah, May 24, 1800; Horace, Sept. 21, 1802 ; Jairus, Sept. 23, 1804; Gad, Dec. 30, 1806; Francis, Feb. 4, 1809; Julia Ann, Jan. 14, 18II (she became the wife of Jared Smith, of Massachu- setts) ; Alfred J., Jan. 18, 1813; and Eliza A., Feb. 24, 1816 (who married Sylvester Pomeroy). The mother of these children passed away Nov. 20, 1830, the father on March 27, 1840, and the remains of both lie at rest in the West Suffield cemetery.

Hon. Gad Sheldon, father of subject, was born on the old homestead, was educated in the common schools, and remained on the home place until he attained his majority. Locating in Windsor, Conn., he there conducted a hotel for eight years, and then returning to West Suffield purchased through the Legislature a tract of 106 acres near the East Granby line, which tract had been owned by some culprit who had been sentenced to life im- prisonment. Here Mr. Sheldon engaged in the cul- tivation of tobacco, and in general farming, in connection with stock raising and dairying. He became very prominent in politics, filled the office of selectman several years, was a member of the State Legislature several terms, and for many years was a justice of the peace. He was also very active in church work, and for ten years a deacon in the Congregational Church. He first married, April 5, 1831, Miss Lucinda Chandler, who was born in Windsor, Dec. 2, 1808, a daughter of Isaac Chan- dler. This marriage was blessed with three chil- dren : Charles Chandler, the subject of this sketch; Allen Jairus, who was born July 12, 1836, and mar- ried Eliza Baylis ; and Alfred Gad, born Jan. II, 1845, married Elizabeth Wright, and now resides in Middletown, Conn. Mrs. Lucinda Sheldon was called from earth Dec. 23, 1862, and Mr. Sheldon for his second wife wedded, Nov. 8, 1863, Harriet C. Dennison, who was born in Southwick, Mass. This lady died Dec. 20, 1893, without isue. Mr. Sheldon had passed away Feb. 8, 1882, and his taking off was deplored as one of the greatest afflic- tions that had befallen the community for many years.

Charles Chandler Sheldon was primarily edu-

1183

COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

cated in the public schools of West Suffield, then at- tended the Connecticut Literary Institute, at Suffield, and finished his schooling at Williston Seminary. Easthampton, Mass. He remained on the home farm as an assistant to his father until twenty-five years of age, when the latter gave him the entire charge of the place: since then, however, he has purchased a farm of 165 acres, and has been en- gaged in tobacco growing, as well as in the usual branches of farming pursued in the neighborhood. He has also erected for himself a new dwe.ling, fitted with all modern conveniences.

Mr. Sheldon was united in marriage, Dec. 15. 1858, with Miss Helen M. Nelson, a native of Suf- field, a daughter of Horatio King Nelson, and a sister of Clinton H. Nelson, whose sketch appears elsewhere. To Mr. and Mrs. Sheldon have been born three children : Emma H., born Dec. 30, 1859. was educated in the public schools and the Con- necticut Literary Institute, Suffield, taught school herself very successfully in the same town, and is now the wife of Nelson Talmage, of East Granby, to whom she was married April 6, 1898; George Allen, the second child, was born March 9. 1862. married Olive Root, daughter of Francis Root, and has one child, Howard Root, born April 27, 1898, (he is now farming on the old homestead) ; the youngest of the family, Clara Martha, born Aug. 8, 1864, was married June 1, 1887, to George B. Al- derman, and has three children: Edna Clara, born Jan. 13, 1892; Ethel S., born June 10. 1895, and Edith, born Dec. 25, 1897.

Mr. Sheldon is a stanch Democrat in politics, and, though not at all eager for public office, has consented several times to accept positions at the hands of his party, with whom he is very popular, among the offices he has held being those of select- man of his native town, assessor, member of the board of relief and justice of the peace. His wife is a most estimable lady, and no family in the town is held in higher esteem by the residents than that of Charles Chandler Sheldon.

CHARLES C. WOODRUFF. Southington has no more progressive, energetic and skillful agri- culturist than the gentleman whose name introduces this sketch. He was born on his present farm in West street, May 20, 1830, a son of Asahel and Catherine (Langdon) Woodruff. The father, who was born Nov. 26, 1786, died Dec. 15, 1863, and the mother departed this life Feb. 1, 1859. She was a daughter of Capt. Giles and Sarah (Carter) Langdon.

John Woodruff, our subject's paternal grand- father, was born about 1740, and married Catherine, daughter of Stephen and Temperance Bushnell. He died April 18, 1807, his wife, Aug. 20, 1809. His father, John Woodruff, was born April 5. 1708, and was married, Aug. 11, 1729, to Eunice Wiard, who died May 7, 1761. He died on West street, Oct. 17, 1794. He was a son of Samuel Woodruff, who

was born in Farmington. Aug. 26. 1661, and in 1686 married Rebecca, daughter of John Clark. About 1698 he removed to what is now Southington, and was the first white man to locate there. He died Jan. 8, 1742, and his wife, Aug. 4, 1737. About 1640 his father. Matthew Woodruff, came from Hartford to Farmington, where he was one of the eighty-four proprietors in 1672, and died there in 1682.

Throughout his entire life the subject of this sketch has made his home on the farm where he now resides, and his education was acquired in the dis- trict schools of the neighborhod. As soon as old enough he began aiding in the work of the farm, and has since devoted the greater part of his tinie to agricultural pursuits with good results. For a period of six years, during early manhood, he was engaged in selling hardware in New York and all of the New England States with the exception of Mainc. On Jan. 16, 1872, he was united in mar- riage with Mrs. Sarah ( Clark) Weeks, a daugliter of Norris and Harriet ( Bassett) Clark, of Plain- ville. Mr. Woodruff is one of Southington's most respected and influential citizens, is an ardent sup- porter of the Republican party, and a consistent member of the First Congregational Church of Southington.

NEELAND LOOMIS MILLER, a worthy rep- resentative of the agricultural interests of West Suffield, was born in East Hartland, Hartford Co., Conn .. Dec. 7, 1857. His grandfather, Solomon E. Miller, was also a native of East Hartland, where he owned property and engaged in farming and stock raising throughout life. At his death he was buried there. He was a good Christian man, a mem- ber of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and a Demo- crat in politics. He married Miss Harriet Hoodley, of Hartland, who died in East Hartland, and was laid to rest by the side of her husband. To them were born the following children: Milo; Seth ; Myron ; Emily; Ebenezer Hoodley; Eugene and Eugenia, twins : Mary; Jane ; and one who died in in fancy.

Ebenezer Hoodley Miller, father of our subject. was born in 1825, on a farm in East Hartland, where he was reared, and he received a liberal edu- cation in the common schools near his home. After reaching manhood he engaged in peddling Yankee notions in New York and Connecticut, carrying on that business for two years. He then settled down to farming in East Hartland, where for over half a century he has since engaged in agricultural pur- suits, making a specialty of stock raising and dairy- ing. He has met with marked success in his under- takings, and is justly regarded as one of the repre- sentative and most prominent citizens of his com- munity. He has taken an active and influential part in local politics ; has been a lifelong Demo- crat : has represented Hartland in the State Legis- lature for two terms; and has filled other offices,

1184

COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

such as selectman, etc. In Granby, Hartford coun- ty, Mr. Miller was united in marriage with Miss Mary Phelps, a native of that place, and a daugh- ter of Philo Phelps, one of the old and honored citizens of Granby. This worthy couple are still living in East Hartland, happy and contented with their lot, well-known and highly respected, and are faithful members of the Congregational Church. To them were born seven children: Philo, a farmer of the town of Granby; Frank E., a farmer of the town of Suffield; Neeland L., our subject; Adelia, who died young; Flora A., wife of George Paine, of Springfield, Mass .; Harriet, in Springfield; and Mary P., at home.

During his boyhood and youth Neeland L. Miller attended the district schools of East Hartland, and he worked on the home farm for his parents until he attained his majority, when he started out in life for himself working by the month at farm labor first in the town of Granby. Later he took a farm on shares in Suffield for two years, and then rented a, farm for three years in Agawam, Mass. Going to North Granby, he rented the A. L. Holcomb farm, on which he engaged in general farming, to- bacco raising and dairying until 1895, when he purchased the Horace Clark farm of seventy-five acres at West Suffield. Upon this place he has since made many improvements, and to its cultivation has devoted his energies with good success.

Mr. Miller was married in Granby to Miss Nellie L. Barnes, a native of North Granby, where her parents, Charles and Mary Ann (Fox) Barnes, are still living, honored and respected by all who know them. The father was born in Granby, a son of Samuel Barnes, and in early life learned the wheel- wright's and carpenter's trades, which he followed for a number of years, but of late years has carried on farming in North Granby. He is now eighty- two years of age, and has been a lifelong supporter of the Democracy. In the town of Granby, he wed- ded Mary Ann Fox, a daughter of William Fox, an old settler of the town, and seven children were born of this union: William Murray, a resident of North Granby; Lillie, wife of Henry Strickland, of North Granby ; Nellie L., wife of our subject ; Frank, a resident of Granby; Frederick, who died young ; Hattie, wife of Henry Brown, of Simsbury, Conn .; and Cora, wife of Edward Fairchild, of Hartford. Mr. and Mrs. Miller have four chil- dren : Clara Edith, Pearl Neeland, Walter Ray and Arthur Roy. The family attend the Congre- gational Church, and Mr. Miller is identified with the Democratic party.

CHARLES CURTISS PERSIANI, the popular superintendent of the bolt works of Clark Brothers & Co., at Milldale, was born in New Jersey Jan 7, 1858, and is a son of William U. and Elizabeth A. (Curtiss) Persiani.

The father was born in this country, of Italian parentage, and held various positions under the

United States Government. He spent his last days in Omaha, Neb., where his death occurred. In his family were five children who reached years of maturity, namely : Charles C .; William U .; Flor- ence, now the wife of Arthur I. Maltby ; Geneveive L .; and Frederick. Our subject's mother was of New England ancestry, and was a daughter of Charles Curtiss, who was a merchant and stage owner, and was also interested in railroading and banking, being one of the promoters of the Dry Dock Savings Bank of New York City, where he died. His wife was a Miss Decker.

Our subject passed his boyhood and youth in Brooklyn, N. Y., and Milldale, this county, and was prepared for college at a private school in Providence, R. I. In the winter of 1878-79 he lo- cated in Milldale and entered the employ of Clark Brothers & Co., as an apprentice to the machinist's trade, serving three years. With the exception of three years spent with the Peck, Stow & Wilcox Co., and the Walkley Hardware Co., he has con- tinued in the employ of Clark Brothers & Co., work- ing as a journeyman until 1894, when he was ap- pointed to his present position, which he is now filling with credit to himself, and to the satisfaction of his employers and the men under him.

On Feb. 3, 1886, Mr. Persiani was united in marriage with Miss Emma, daughter of William and Barbara (Reisch) Erbe, of Plantsville, formerly of Germany, and to this union have been born two children : Geneveive M. and Charles C., Jr. Mr. Persiani is a supporter of the Congregational Church of Plantsville, and in politics is a Republican.

SYLVESTER FREDERICK CHARTER. Hartford county has many well-to-do and success- ful farmers who have accumulated what they have of this world's goods through individual effort. Among this class the name of the subject of this notice is entitled to an honorable place. He is now residing in Enfield town, where he is industriously engaged in general farming and tobacco growing, and is meeting with far more than ordinary success.

A native of Connecticut, Mr. Charter was born in Tolland, Tolland county, Jan. 19, 1825, and is a son of Samuel and Ruth (Webster) Charter, also natives of Tolland, where the father and grand- fathers, Nathan Charter and Simeon Webster, all engaged in agricultural pursuits throughout life. Reared in his native town, our subject early became familiar with the occupation of farming, and ac- quired his literary education in the common schools of the locality. On starting out in life for himself he worked as a farm hand, continuing to follow that vocation unil 1844, when he went to Hazard- ville, where for one year he was employed as coach- man by the head of the Hazard Powder Company. Later he worked in the powder mills for five years, and for the same length of time was engaged in carting powder from one mill to another. In 1853 he purchased a lot of the Hazard Powder Co., and

Sylwester Charter

1185

COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

erected a brick hotel, which he opened to the public in 1854, successfully conducting the same until 1880. In 1855 he set out an elm tree east of his hotel, and it has grown so large that he is now un- able to reach half way around it; it is considered one of the landmarks of the town. While still con- ducting the hotel Mr. Charter purchased the farm of one hundred acres in Enfield town, which he still owns and now occupies, and which is one of the best equipped farms in the locality. Here he has re- sided since 1885, and has successfully engaged in its operation.

Mr. Charter married Sophronia Page, daugh- ter of Moses Page, of Vermont. They had four children, namely : Frederick, deceased; Jane ; Martha; and Ellsworth. In his political views Mr. Charter is a stanch Democrat, and for one year he served as assessor of Enfield. His career has ever been such as to commend him to the confidence and esteem of all with whom he has come in contact, and he has a host of warm friends in Hartford county.

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

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 91

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