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 99

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 99

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On April 4, 1874, Mr. Barr married, in Suffield, Miss Sarah Jane Graham, also a native of Dromara, County Down, Ireland, and a daughter of Samuel and Harriet Graham, to which union have been born five children: Andrew Samuel and Martha, at home : William Il., a student at Brown University ; Joseph, a student at the Connecticut Literary In- stitution, Suffield; and Sarah H., at school. The family are members of the Congregational Church, and Mr. Barr is a Republican in politics. In his native land he was a member of the Loyal Orange Asociation. He is noted for his strict integrity, temperance and industry, and through these ad-

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mirable essentials has lifted himself from compara- tive poverty to comparative affluence. His amiable wife, however, deserves a full share of credit for his success, as she has been, in every sense of the word, a true helpmate. Both they and their chil- dren have won the respect of the community, and they well deserve it.

MARVIN H. SANFORD (deceased). A man of keen business judgment, courageous, resourceful, untiring in energy, the subject of this sketch pre- sented a splendid illustration of that type of man- hood which by its achievements has made Con- necticut famous in the development of the Nation. To his other admirable traits he added that of quick adaptability, and his versatility was a great gain to Tariffville, the community in which he lived, and the welfare of which he aided materially in ad- vancing. He was kind and generous in disposi- tion, quick to respond to the behests of duty and sympathy, and withal a man of superior and notable qualities and attainments. His father was Dr. George W. Sanford, one of the revered medical practitioners of Tariffville.

Joseph Sanford, the grandfather, was a native of East Granville, Mass. There he acquired the tanner's trade, and for his time carried on in that town quite an extensive business. During the war of 1812 he made a large contract to supply the government with- leather, and invested a large amount of money in the purchase of hides ; but at that time the process of tanning was slow, requir- ing a year to convert hides into leather, and the war closing before he had completed his contract he sustained a heavy financial loss. The latter years of his life were spent on a small farm near Bloom- field, Conn., purchased for him by his son, George W. Joseph Sanford was a member of the Congre- gational Church. He married Hopie Wilmot, a na- tive of Northfield, Mass., and to them were born children as follows: George W., the father of our subject ; Hopie, who married a Mr. Trumbull, and removed to Ohio; Hannah, who married Henry Neil, of Sherborn, Mass .; Roena, who married Reuben Barker, and removed to Michigan; Joseph, who died in infancy; Joseph D. (2), who married Mary Smith, was at one time a merchant of Tariff- ville, and later resided at Granby, Conn .; and a daughter who married a Mr. Botham. Joseph San- ford, the father of these children, died about 1846, and was buried at Tariffville.

Dr. George W. Sanford, the father of our sub- ject, was born in Litchfield, Conn., Dec. 20, 1807. He received a good education, completing a course at Dr. Cooley's classical school, at East Granville, Mass., graduating in 1827, studied medicine, and several years later began its practice at Granville, Mass. In 1836 he graduated from the Medical Department of Williams College. Shortly before 1830 he located at Tariffville, where he continued in active practice for over sixty years. While on his

way to Tariffville he passed through the toll-gate at North Bloomfield without paying toll. As he passed on a young lady who was attending the toll- gate rushed after him, and threatened to prosecute the young physician if he did not make the legal payment. The Doctor related the incident to a friend whom he met a little later along the road, expressed his admiration for the girl, and said he intended to make her acquaintance. She was Miss Jane Elizabeth Adams, born in Bloomfield, Conn., Sept. 11, 1813, daughter of Ambrose and Catherine (Eno) Adams. The acquaintance was made, rip- ened into love, and Dr. Sanford married the young lady Feb. 4, 1830.

The extended practice of Dr. Sanford at Tariff- ville was eminently successful, and he quickly be- came one of the leading citizens of the town. In 1835 he became a member of the Hartford County Medical Society, and at the time of his death was its oldest living member, was elected president of the society in 1874, and again in 1881. He was also a member of the State Medical Society, and of the American Medical Association, and during President Grant's administration he was sent to Washington as a delegate to the American Medical Association. He was a member of the Lyceum of Natural History of the Berkshire Medical Insti- tute.

The latter years of Dr. Sanford's life were marked by a misfortune, which, however, did not deter him from continuing his practice. In 1885 he became totally, blind. He was thrown from his carriage Feb. 21, 1883, and again on May 3, of the same year, the shock causing a congestion of the nerve of the eye, which produced blindness. Yet he continued to practice. His patients visited him, and he diagnosed many cases while blind, as his skill was most remarkable. His usefulness, how- ever, was not limited to his profession. He was a prominent member of society, and as a public- spirited citizen accomplished great good. For many years he was a prominent member of the Baptist Church, and often when the church was in debt and in great need of funds he at his own expense and inconvenience made trips and solicited funds. In politics he was a Whig, and later a Republican. For many years he served as justice of the peace, was postmaster during the administrations of Presi- dents Harrison and Tyler, for fifty years was school visitor. He served in the House of Repre- sentatives three terms, in 1845, 1871 and 1875. In 1845 he was a member of the committee on Banks, and during the two later terms served on the com- mittee on Humane Institutions. He was widely known throughout the country, and numbered among his friends many prominent men. Fra- ternally he was a Freemason.

The children of George W. and Jane Elizabeth (Adams) Sanford were as follows: (I) Jane Geraldine, born June 16, 1831, married Charles L. Roberts, both dying at Tariffville. (2) George

Marvin No Campinho

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Ambrose, born Nov. 26, 1832, died of typhoid fever at Tariffville Feb. 5, 1851. (3) Joseph Willis, born Sept. 1, 1835, is now factory foreman at Waterbury, Conn., having charge of all outside work for the Scoville Manufacturing Co. He married Emma Woodward, of Hartford, by whom he had one child, Frank Willis. She died Nov. 17, 1867, and for his second wife he wedded, Oct. 24, 1871, Susan Good- man, who bore him one daughter, Mary Ellen. (+) Marvin H., our subject, born Sept. 20, 1837, died Dec. 8, 1896. (5) James Homer, born May 8, 1840, died March 25, 1892, at Meriden, Conn., where for many years he was connected with the street de- partment. (6) Ophelia, born April 15. 1842, died of typhoid fever Sept. 16, 1860. (7) Morton was born July 16, 1844. (8) Mary, born July 11, 1846, died Feb. 8, 1847. (9) Mary Alice, born Nov. 27, 1847, died July 11, 1848. (10) Henry W., born Feb. 4, 1850, a resident of New Haven, was for many years keeper of the almshouse there, and is now superintendent of the New Haven Ice Co. (II) George Ambrose (2), born Ang. 15, 1852, is a resident of Winsted, Conn. ( 12) Ellen B., born Oct. 28, 1855, died Aug. 19, 1870. The first wife of Dr. Sanford died March 9, 1872, and for his second wife he married Ada L. Eno, who now survives, a resident of New Britain. Dr. Sanford died at Tar- iffville Sept. 23, 1892, aged eighty-five years, and in his death the town lost one of its most valuable residents.

Marvin H. Sanford, our subject, was born at Tariffville Sept. 20, 1837. He was reared and schooled in his native town, attending besides the public educational institutions a number of private schools. As a member of a large family he was thrown largely upon his own resources, and this served to develop within him those qualities of self- reliance and determination which contributed so largely to his success. He engaged successively in various kinds of business, but the best years of his life he gave to the care of those unfortumates whom the State found it necessary to aid. For this labor he was peculiarly adapted, possessing as he did the humane sympathy and compassion so marked in the long and honorable professional career of his fa- ther. Mr. Sanford was for many years keeper of the State poor and of the poor of surrounding towns, also one of the State prison directors, and was regarded as one of the most efficient men in that line in the State. He was careful, systematic and thoroughly business-like in his methods.

Mr. Sanford was married, June 9, 1875. to Miss Katie M. Thompson, who was born March 26, 1849. in East Granby, daughter of Edward P. and Mary J. (Case) Thompson ; she is now a resident of Tar- iffville. To Mr. and Mrs. Sanford were born two children : Marvin H., Jr., born Nov. 17, 1878, died at the age of seventeen months; and Edward T., born June 8, 1881. Mr. Sanford died Dec. 8, 1896, and was buried in Scotland Church cemetery, at North Bloomfield. In politics he was a stanch Re-

publican, though in no sense an office seeker. Ile was a prominent member of Trinity Episcopal Church at Tariffville, of which he was senior war- den at the time of his death.

SAMUEL DAVID PHELPS, an old-time farm- er and tobacco grower of Suffield, and a highly-re- spected citizen, was born in Enfield Dec. 24, 1834-

Isaac Phelps, great-great-grandfather of our subject, was a native of Westfield, Mass., and was the first of the family to settle in Connecticut. He made his home in Enfield, this county, owned ex- tensive tracts of land, and was very prominent as a farmer and influential as a citizen. By his sec- ond wife, Rachel (Jones), was born, among other children, David Phelps, great-grandfather of Sam- nel David.

David Phelps was born in Enfield town, Hart- ford county, Aug. 25, 1716, was reared on the home farm, and settled in the village of Weymouth after reaching majority. He was the keeper of the pest house, or the house for the isolation of persons afflicted with contagious diseases, and was also a farmer of great prominence. Of old Puritan stock, he was noted for his upright character and gentlemanly demeanor; he died on his farm Jan. 13, 1803, at the age of eighty-seven years, and was interred at Enfield. To his marriage with Margaret. Coulton, of Long Meadow, Mass., were born eleven children, in the following order: Eklad, Margaret, Rachel, David (died in infancy), Jolin (died in infancy ), Mary, Martha, David (grandfather of subject), John, Beulah and Christeinee. The mother- of these children survived until Feb. 16, 1810.

David Phelps, son of David, and grandfather of our subject, was born in Enfield May 23, 1753, was a farmer all his life, and married, Feb. 17, 1781, Anna Pease, who was born Feb. 16, 1760. This marriage was quite prolific, children as fol- lows being born to them: David, born ()ct. 22, 1781, died in Sloansville, N. Y., March 18, 1854; he had married Polly Promley, who died Feb. 10, 1863. James, born Dec. 22, 1783, married Susan Cariew, who died Dec. 29, 1874, his own death having occurred in Sloansville Aug. 24, 1860. Jabez was born Aug. 22, 1785, and was a carpenter at Warehouse Point, Con. ; he was three times married, and died June 16, 1887. Polly was born Nov. 11, 1786, married a Mr. Crane, and died at Wilbraham, Mass. Roswell, born May 9, 1789, died in 1870, also at Wilbraham. Orris, born Ang. 24, 1791, died Nov. 13, 1799; Sylvester, born July 4. 1793, died March 16, 1861. Anna, born Feb. 25. 1795, was first married to a Mr. Pasco, and second to Levi Lord. Horace became the fa- ther of our subject. Once was born March 9. 1799. married a Miss Pease, and died in Enfield. Abigail Pease, who was born March 2, 1801, was married to Horace Hawkins, of Enfield, and died May 12, 1851. Nelson, born Sept. 14, 1804, died at Ware- house Point, Con. The father of this family was

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a soldier of the Revolutionary war, was quite active in politics, and in promoting the interests of his town, and in church doctrines was very liberal in his interpretations.

Horace Phelps, father of subject, was born in Enfield April 23, 1797, and died March 18, 1862. He was a farmer and tobacco grower, was first a Whig in politics and later became a Republican, and was a devout member of the Congregationai Church. To his marriage, May 10, 1827, with Miss Laura A. Allen, who was born in East Windsor July 16, 1804, a daughter of Samuel and Mary Allen, of English descent, there were born twelve children, as follows: Horace, born July 3, 1828, married Susan Clock, and died in Michigan. The second child was born July 17, 1829, and died in infancy. Jabez Allen, born May 26, 1830, died in Michigan Oct. 29, 1862. Charles Sylvester, born Aug. 30, 1831, wedded Martha Pasco, and died in East Windsor, Conn. Mary Ann, born March 28, 1833, is the wife of M. Bancroft, of East Windsor. Sam- uel David, the sixth child, is the subject of this sketch. Albert Francis, born Aug. 18, 1836, died an infant. Albert Francis, born April 19. 1838, married Ellen Eastman, of Long Meadow, and died i11 1899. Laura Lucinda, born March 17, 1840, was married, March 19, 1861, to John Pease. Gil- bert Wells, born Feb. 14, 1842. is a farmer of Suf- field. George M., born May 25, 1843, married Minnie Parrington, of South Windsor. Emily Amelia, born Sept. 18, 1847, is married to Walter Newberry, of South Windsor. The mother of these children died in Enfield Sept. 17, 1870, a sincere and devout member of the Congregational Church, and beloved by all who knew her.

Samuel David Phelps, whose name opens this biographical notice, was educated in a district school, but by observation has greatly augmented his knowledge of men, of the world, and of nature, and has well qualified himself for the eminent po- sition he now occupies among his fellow citizens. Until he reached his majority he remained on the homestead with his father, and then came to Suf- field and farmed until his father's decease. He then returned to the homestead and filially cared for his mother until she was called away, and after cul- tivating the farm until 1873 he came back to Suf- field and settled on the farm of Z. Parmalee (his father-in-law), to which he added thirty acres, and on which he has made many substantial improve- ments.

The marriage of Mr. Phelps took place March 19, 1861, in Suffield, to Miss Mary E. Parmalee, daughter of Zina and Jemima ( Bronson) Parmalee, the former of whom was a carpenter as well as a farmer, and one of the best-known citizens of the neighborhood. Five children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Phelps, the eldest of whom, J. Es- tella, passed away at the age of eleven years. James D. F. is the manager of Bidwell's hard- ware store, at Windsor Locks; he is married to

Clara Cline, but has no children; in politics he is a Republican. George S. is still on the homestead, is unmarried; in politics he is also a Republican. Mary, the fourth child, died in infancy. Burton H. is manager of Bidwell's lumber yard at Windsor Locks.

In politics Samuel D. Phelps is a stanch Re- publican, but has never songht public office, al- though he works effectually for the interests of his party. In his views on religious matters he is very liberal, but no more moral man lives in the town of Suffield. Fraternally he is a member of the O. U. A. M. He is strictly a self-made man, and through his individual industry and good man- agement has secured a competency that commands for him a position among the solid men of the town and county.

IV. M. LOVELL, a farmer and dairyman of the town of Windsor, was born in Rockville, Conn., Jan. 31, 1854, and is a son of W. A. Lovell, a native of Millbury, Mass., who at different times was superintendent of the Rock, American and Winder- mere Mills, at Rockville. The grandfather, Ezra Lovell, engaged in school teaching the greater part of his life, and at one time was also a merchant.

During the childhood of our subject his fa- ther removed to Windsor and accepted the super- intendency of the Windsor Mills, but in 1860 went to near Dover, Penn., as superintendent of a mill at that place. Later he returned to Millbury, Mass., from there went to Westerly, R. I., where he had charge of the mills of Babcock & Morse, and on leaving their employ spent a short time in Laconia, N. H. On again going to Millbury, Mass., he severed his connection with the milling business, with which he had so long been connected as su- perintendent. He received calls from various parts of the country to start new mills, to do which suc- cessfully required great skill and a thorough knowl- edge of the business. He became well acquainted with dry-goods men in New York and Boston, and by them was tendered high salaries to establish mills in different parts of the United States. Sel- dom, if ever, did the mills under his direction prove unprofitable. Coming to Windsor in 1872, he pur- chased a small piece of land, on which he is now living. In Millbury, Mass., he married Miss Mary A. Mallalieu, a native of that place, and a daughter of John Mallalieu, a pioneer manufacturer of cot- ton cloth in Massachusetts or, in fact, New Eng- land. She was a sister of Bishop Mallalieu, who, in searching the history of the family in his travels finds them to be of French Huguenot extraction. The children born to Mr. and Mrs. Lovell were as follows: Louisa, now the wife of Dr. S. A. Wil- son, of Windsor ; Alvira, wife of M. B. Belden, of Brooklyn, N. Y .; George, a wool sorter by trade ; Edward J., a resident of Brooklyn ; W. M., our sub- ject ; Charles F., a resident of Windsor ; Emma A., wife of C. T. Welch, of Windsor; and George,

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Emma and Frederick, who all died young. The mother departed this life May 1, 1897; the father, who was born in November, 1815, is still living, honored and respected by all who know him. In politics he is a Republican.

W. M. Lovell, whose name introduces this sketch, received the greater part of his education at Millsbury, Mass., where he attended the high school. During his boyhood he spent much of his time around the mills of which his father had charge, and quite frequently worked in the same. He often spent the summer months at the home of his brother-in-law, Jasper Morgan, in Windsor, and during his 'teens worked for nim. In 1880 he went to New York, and entered the employ of another brother-in-law, Mr. Belden, who was engaged in the wholesale paper business. Two years later he returned to Windsor, and in December, 1882, bought his present place, known as the Capt. James Loomis farm. It was once a large farm, but part of it has since been sold. Here Mr. Lovell is· now en- gaged in the raising of tobacco and in the dairy business. He was one of the original stockholders of the Windsor Creamery Co., and was also a stock- holder of the Windsor Canning Factory when it was owned by a stock company.

On April 25, 1880, Mr. Lovell married Miss Emma A. Briggs, who was born at White Pigeon, Mich., Jan. 31, 1853, a daughter of Henry S. and Elmyra (Fay) Briggs, natives of Boston and Ware, Mass., respectively. The father was born in Feb- ruary, 1826, and from Springfield, Mass., removed to Michigan, where he served as conductor on the Southern Michigan railroad for some years. Later he went to Terre Haute, Ind., where he spent eleven years in the machine shops, and then returned to Springfield, Mass. About 1864 he came to Hartford, and for some time was engaged in the restaurant business on Main street, between Pratt and Church streets, conducting a very popular resort and one of the largest businesses of the kind in the city up to that time. He now makes his home with Mr. and Mrs. Lovell; his wife died at the age of fifty-two years. In their family were two children, the younger being Otis H., now superintendent of a paper-mill at Holyoke, Mass. Mrs. Lovell is a graduate of the Hartford Public Iligh School. They have a family of four children: Edith F., born June 21, 1881 ; Fay M., July 17, 1883 ; Arthur W., March 12, 1889; and Jarvis B., June 9, 1894. Mr. and Mrs. Lovell are both faithful members of the Congregational Church at Windsor, and are well-known and highly respected. In politics he is a stanch Republican.

ORLANDO LEWIS DART. To a student of human nature there is nothing of greater interest than the study of the career of a self-made man, and the analysis of the principles and methods which have enabled him to distance others who have had

a more advantageous start. In the biography of this well-known merchant of Suffield there is much to instruct as well as interest, and any ambitious youth might find, "between the lines," a helpful ob- ject lesson.

Mr. Dart was born Dec. 7, 1857, in Somers, Conn., and comes of good old Connecticut stock, his ancestors having settled in New London county at an early date. Levi Dart, his father, was born in Springfield, Mass., and is now living retired in Suf- field, at the advanced age of seventy-seven. His estimable wife, whose maiden name was Clarissa Ferry, is a native of Stafford, Conn., and has also reached the allotted limit of three score and ten, but both are hale and hearty, being still actively inter- ested in their accustomed work and in the pro- gressive movements of their town, where they are held in high esteem. They have had four children, of whom our subject is the only survivor : ( 1) Susan died at the age of sixteen. (2) Lovillo married Miss Angie Latham, of Northfield, Vt., and died in Somers, leaving two daughters, Grace A. and Clara L., both now employed in business houses in Suf- field. (3) Orlando L. is the next in order of birth. (4) Lizzie died at Somers in November, 1898, un- married.

As a boy Orlando L. Dart attended the district schools of Somers, and spent one term at Wilbraham College, but the work of the homestead occupied much of his time until he was twenty-one. Farm life was not to his liking, and for years he cherished the determination to enter mercantile business as soon as his majority was reached. Accordingly he secured a position as clerk in the store of W. P. Fuller, of Somers, with whom he remained four years, and he then engaged in business on his own account, purchasing a store in Somerville from C. W. Wright. After a year and five months the store was burned, causing him quite a loss, but Mr. Dart was not discouraged and in two weeks had com- pleted arrangements for buying out his former competitor, W. E. Dow, who conducted a general store in the village. On taking charge, Mr. Dart added a meat market to the other lines, and after three years he sold out all but the meat business, which he continued one year. In 1887 he removed to Suffield, becoming a member of the firm of Dart & Standish, successors to 1I. D. Sackett. Not long afterward the stock of E. H. Hamblin was purchased by his firm, and that of Mather & Rogers, and when the latter firm went out of business Mr. Dart bought 11. D. Austin's share in their stock, thus enlarging his own considerably. On Sept. 11. 1894, Mr. Dart became sole owner of the business, which has stead- ily increased under his able management. His patrons include the best families of Suffield, and his strict honesty has won him the respect and confidence of the community, while his genial disposition and unvarying courtesy have gained him a host of friends. While he has always been a strong Re- publican, he refuses to become a candidate for any

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COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

office, and when elected constable in Suffield he de- clined to qualify. Socially he and his wife are prominent, and he is identified with Gideon Granger Lodge, No. 62, Knights of Pythias, and Lyman Council, No. 35, O. U. A. M., at Suffield, both of which he helped to organize.

On June 18, 1883, Mr. Dart married Miss Ella Pease, daughter of Cyrus and Maria (Loomis) Pease, highly-respected residents of Lebanon, Conn. Two children have blessed this union: Alson, who died at the age of eleven years; and Rena E. still living.

JOSEPH G. THRALL, a son of Horace and Eliza ( Wilson) Thrall, whose sketch appears else- where, is one of a large family of boys, all born and reared on the old homestead on the banks of the river in the town of Windsor. He was born Sept. 14, 1831, and is the eldest now living. He is one of the best known citizens of the town where his en- tire life has been passed, and "Joe" Thrall, as he is known by almost every man, woman and child in his community, is the type of a man whose value and worth is easier estimated after he is gone-a man whose generosity and kindness has never allowed him to turn a man from his door hungry or cold. The old-fashioned country boy has become a man of no little general information, the result of reading and observation, is unostentatious in manner to an unusual degree, and is well known and highly re- spected. He does not condemn any man who differs with him in opinion, but admires the one who has an opinion of his own with a reason for it.

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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 99

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