Commemorative biographical record of Middlesex County, Connecticut : containing biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens, and of many of the early settled families, Part 101

Author: Beers (J.H.) & Co., Chicago, pub
Publication date: 1903
Publisher: Chicago : Beers
Number of Pages: 1502

USA > Connecticut > Middlesex County > Commemorative biographical record of Middlesex County, Connecticut : containing biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens, and of many of the early settled families > Part 101

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Politically Mr. Hale is a stanch Democrat. He and his wife belong to the South Congre .. gational Church at Middletown. He is a self- made man in the fullest sense of the word, and his success has attested the workings of a strong and courageous spirit. His abundant success is attributed in no small degree to the faithful co-operation of his worthy helpmeet, whose industry has been that of a model house- wife, and has been fully equaled by her thrift and providence. Mr. and Mrs. Hale have lived together for fifty-five years, and are one of the most highly respected and venerated couples in Middletown.

CURTIS GILBERT, a well-to-do farmer residing in the northern part of the Newfield District, town of Middletown, Middlesex coun- ty, comes of a family long established in Con- necticut. Its history begins with the coming of

Jonathan Gilbert, who settled at Hartford be- fore 1644, since which time the family has been represented by honorable and worthy members in the business and religious circles of the town, and for nearly two hundred and sixty years the name has been uniformly prominent and noteworthy.

Timothy Gilbert, the father of Curtis, was a son of Benjamin Gilbert, who was the grand- father of Thomas Gilbert, under whose name the family history is very fully set forth elsewhere. Timothy Gilbert was born September 7, 1790, in the house erect- ed by his father and now occupied by Orrin Gilbert. It is standing on land purchased by his ancestors from the In- dians. His attendance at school was limited to the home district, and when he had finished there he worked for his father, after he reached adult years moving to his own place, which his father had given him. There he erected the house in which his eldest daugh- ter, Miss Mary H. Gilbert, is now living, and where his life was spent. This house was built in 1815, and for many years was re- garded as one of the best in the rural settle- ments. On that place Timothy Gilbert car- ried on general farming, as well as the raising and fattening of cattle for the local markets. Each spring and fall he was accustomed, when work was slack, to burn a kiln of brick, the molding being done entirely by hand. The clay was found on his farm, and the kiln stood south of his house. The brick used in building the home of Curtis Gilbert was worked out in this way from his own farm. Timothy Gilbert was a successful and care- ful man, and died possessed of a large prop- erty, on January 28, 1870: he was buried in the Indian Hill cemetery. Middletown. He was accustomed for many years previous to his death to visit his brother Curtis, a resi- dent of Terre Haute. Ind., the journey each way requiring nearly two weeks. On one of this trips, while riding outside of a stage. he caught a severe cold, which settled on his lungs, causing his death after considerable suffering. Mr. Gilbert was a man of marked domestic habits, a lover of his home, and de- voted to the members of his household. The home in which he lived was a happy one, and was the scene of many joyous social events. In politics he was a Democrat, but without

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ambition for political honors. He was very active in the Baptist Church in Cromwell, and throughout his busy and industrious life never forgot the obligations of his faith. For more than twenty-five years previous to his death he served this church as a deacon, and his no- ble and manly life gave strength to his relig- ious affirmations.

Timothy Gilbert was married November 7, 1816, to Adah Crowell, Rev. Abah Jenks performing the ceremony. She was born Feb- ruary 14, 1791, daughter of Samuel and Sarah (Hall) Crowell, farming people of Middle- town, and died September 28, 1889. Mr. and Mrs. Gilbert had the following children: ( I) Mary H., born August 21, 1817, is unmar- ried, and lives on the old homestead in New- field. (2) Benjamin, born October 23, 1819, married Alberta Beach, and is living in Long Hill. (3) Samuel, born December 21, 1821, married Elizabeth Richardson, and is now a retired farmer in Meriden. (4) Adah, born February 22, 1824, married James P. Foote, of Durham, of whom a sketch may be found elsewhere. (5) Ebenezer, born April 3, 1826, married for his first wife Elizabeth Sumner, and for his second Matilda Board. He died in East Haven, Conn., where he was very prominent. (6) Sarah, born September 20, 1828, married Ward Coe, and died in New Haven, in November, 1881. Mr. Coe is con- nected with the New Haven Web Company. (7) Curtis is mentioned below. (8) Timo- thy, born May 12, 1833, married Elizabeth Goodrich, is a farmer, and resides in Rocky Hill. (9) Martha, born October 7, 1837, married Stebbins Johnson, and is a resident of Elmwood, Nebraska.

Curtis Gilbert was born November 18, 1830, on the old homestead, the farm now oc- cupied by his sister Mary. When a boy he went to the district school, and the Durham Academy in its more palmy days. One term at the academy he and Guernsey Parsons were the only boys in attendance. After leaving school young Curtis learned the trade of a joiner at Norwich, Conn., under Myers & Bailey, then doing a large business in contract- ing and building. Mr. Gilbert received $24 and his board the first year and an increase of wages each year of the four which his appren- ticeship covered. He boarded with Mr. Bailey, and, as was the custom, had to saw

and carry in all the fire wood for the family, this being done after eleven hours that made up a day's work were counted off. One night he sawed twice in two a cord of seasoned hickory wood. In the four and a half years in which he was an inmate of the home of Mr. Bailey, he only missed one Sunday and a half at the Episcopal Sunday-school and church service. This apprenticeship represented a period of very hard work, as conveniences were lacking, and everything was very large- ly done by main strength. Mr. Gilbert left Myers & Bailey to take a place with E. L. Roberts, a noted architect and builder of New York. During his work with him he assisted in building many elegant residences in that city, and in various suburban towns. In 1854, at the request of his father, Mr. Gilbert came back to the old farm in Newfield, and assisted his father in the care of the farm until he was married, when he moved to his present fine home. In this building the woodwork was done by Mr. Gilbert himself, and it is said to be one of the most thoroughly constructed farm houses in the vicinity. Curtis Gilbert and his brother Timothy worked the home farm for several years, and alsso a farm in Cromwell. The Cromwell farm was later sold, and Curtis Gilbert owns at the present time a fine farm of sixty acres.

Curtis Gilbert was married January 5, 1860, to Lucretia Crowell, who was born June 22, 1841, in East Long Hill, daughter of Daniel and Caroline (Crowell) Crowell, farming people of West Long Hill. To this union came one child, Walter G., born Au- gust 10, 1861, who was educated in the dis- trict and a select school, and married Alice Fechter. He died July 27, 1893, and his wid- ow, who married a Mr. Spear, is a resident of New Haven, where she has more than a local reputation as a soprano singer.

Curtis Gilbert is a Republican, and he and Mrs. Gilbert belong to the First Church of Christ in Middletown. He is a very pleas- and gentleman, and with his estimable wife commands the profound respect of all their ac- quaintances.

RICHARD WILLIAM POST. The an- cestral line of the Post family reaches back to 1635, when Stephen Post came from Eng- land and settled near Boston, on the south side

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COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

of the Charles river, where he had a house and twelve acres of land. In 1636 he removed to Hartford, Conn., with Rev. Thomas Hooker, becoming one of the original proprietors there, and in 1641 he held the office of consta- ble. In 1649 he resided at Saybrook, where he died in 1659.

Abraham Post, son of Stephen, was made a freeman in 1665, an ensign in 1667, and was afterward called lieutenant. He married Mary Jordan, and died in 1671.

Abraham Post, son of Abraham, was born in 1669. He was one of the original four- teen founders of the Congregational Church at Westbrook, and its first deacon, and died in 1747. He married Elizabeth Stevens, in I700.

John Post, son of Abraham and Elizabeth, was born in 1700. He married Lydia Bush- nell, and became the father of John, the great- grandfather of our subject.

John Post, great-grandfather of Richard W., was born in 1738, and was a farmer by occupation, living in the north district of Westbrook. He married Chloe Chapman and the children of this marriage were: Chloe, John, Jedediah, Temperance and one that died unnamed.

Jedediah Post, son of John, was born De- cember 29, 1771. Early in life he was en- gaged in the coasting trade on Long Island Sound, and was a builder of small craft at his home, floating them at high tide. Later in life he engaged in milling and farming, con- ducting a grist mill for many years. As an evidence of his interest in church affairs, he was a member of the Congregational Church for a long time, but later withdrew to connect himself with the Methodist Church of West- brook, where he worshipped the remainder of his days. Several terms he represented his town in the Legislature, and was prominently identified with all public affairs in the town. While Mr. Post never had any educational opportunities, nor any legal training, his nat- ural ability was so great that he was consulted by the people of the vicinity who abided by his decisions, thoroughly believing in his judg- ments. He was married to Abigail Lay, born in 1770, and the children of this union were: Lydia, who married Nehemiah Bushnell ; Catherine, who married John Stannard; Ab-

igail, who married Daniel Bushnell; Dency, who married Elbert Stannard; Chloe, who married probably Merritt Kelsey; Marietta, deceased; Temperance, who married John Bushnell; Samuel, who died young ; Cornelia, who married John C. Bushnell; Mariette (2) ; Richard, lost at sea; Henry L., who married Laura Ann Jones, was the father of the pres- ent Mrs. Post ; and Jedediah, the father of our subject.

Jedediah Post was born on the old home- stead April 7, 1807. While still a lad he went to Madison, Conn., where he learned the trade of ship carpenter in the yards of Deacon Hoyt, remaining a number of years. He then ob- tained employment in the navy yard, in New York, later going to Essex where he worked in, the ship yards. Several years later he re- turned to Westbrook and was engaged almost continuously in ship building, and in the sea- son followed pier fishing, in the Connecticut river at Saybrook. He was one of the stock- holders in the piers, quite a sum of money hav- ing been invested by him and his neighbors in the same. The later years he devoted to farming on the land which he had purchased and improved, and he died October 14, 1892, in the house he had erected in 1837, and which is now occupied by our subject. At the age of sixty he had the misfortune to break his right leg, and this caused him to give up active life. His life had been an industrious and exemplary one, he had accumulated a compe- tency and was among the most esteemed of the residents of Westbrook. Mr. Post was a stanch supporter of Jacksonian Democracy, and acceptably served on the board of select- men. He was one of the valued members of the Congregational Church. Jedediah Post married Eliza Spencer, born in 1813, a daugh- ter of Joseph and Saba (Dee) Spencer. She died in 1878. Their children were: Emo- gene, born in 1835, married Sammel Pratt, died December 24, 1886: Victoria, born in 1837, died in 1838; and our subject.

Richard William Post was born November 26, 1840. in the present home and was educated in the Westbrook common schools and the Academy. At the age of sixteen he shipped before the mast and off and on engaged in a scafaring life until the age of twenty-four. making one trip with Capt. Frederick W.

S 0) d t e

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COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

Spencer, of Westbrook, to Liverpool, Eng- land, on the ship "Monarch of the Seas," a vessel of 1900 tons. The last vessel in which our subject sailed was the "Agassiz," a rev- enue cutter, commanded by Captain Amazine, which vessel was stationed in and about New Bedford waters.

Mr. Post left the water in 1864, and re- turned to Westbrook where he was engaged in work in a bit shop, in the North District. Thence he went to Seymour, Conn., working there in an auger factory. With a short time spent in pier fishing, and a short time spent in a machine shop in Bridgeport, the year 1876 came round, when he returned to West- brook and took charge of the farm, his fa- ther being too crippled to continue the work.

On October 1, 1872, Mr. Post was united in marriage with Mary Chapman, who was born in Westbrook, July 25, 1841, a daugh- ter of Charles Chapman. She died May 8, 1876. On November 29, 1893, Mr. Post mar- ried Catherine Post, who was born in West- brook May 5, 1851, a daughter of Henry L. Post.

Mr. Post is one of the representatives of a prominent family which has been identified with New England interests for generations. Members of it are scattered over the United States, but few of them forget the old home in Connecticut, and fewer fail to wish that their ashes may rest with those of their fam- ily who have gone on the long journey before them. Many spots in Westbrook are hal- lowed ground, for there rest the honored pro- genitors of the makers of present history in eastern Connecticut.

Henry L. Post, the father of Mrs. Rich- ard W. Post, was born in 1803, and early in life engaged with his father in the coasting trade. At the age of twenty years he had command of a vessel which ran between Hartford and New York. Later in life he engaged in pound fishing and for fifteen years followed this oc- cupation, but his last years were devoted to the farm. He married Laura Ann Jones, who was born January 5. 1815, a daughter of Asa Jones, and she died July 3, 1865. Their chil- dren were: Theodore D., who married Sy- bil Spencer and had two children-Edwin (who married Eva Post), and Edith S. (de- ceased) ; Gilbert A., who married Alice Chal- ker ; Ann Caroline, who died in 1844; Henry,

who married Jane E. Spencer; Jedediah; Catherine (Mrs. Post) ; William; Laura Ann ; Lavinia ; and two that died in infancy.

WILCOX. Among the honored residents of Middlesex county, none stand higher than the representatives of the old Wilcox family. John Wilcox, the first of this line in America, canie from England and appeared in Hart- ford in 1639, one of the original proprietors. He had his home on the present site of the Park, near the State House, and had a good estate. He held several responsible offices, was surveyor of highways and townsman. He died in 1651, and his will refers to his wife Mary. He left one son, John, who came with him from England, and two daughters.

(II) John Wilcox (2), married (first) September 17, 1646, Sarah, daughter of Will- iam Wadsworth. She died in 1648 or 1649, and he married, January 18, 1649-50, Retorn (Katherine) Stoughton, daughter of Thomas Stoughton, of Windsor. He married for his third wife Mary Farnsworth, a widow, who died in 1671, and his fourth wife, whom he married in 1671, was Esther, daughter of Will- iam Cornwell, of Middletown. John Wilcox about 1654 removed to Middletown, thence to Dorchester, and about 1664 returned to Mid- dletown. He died May 24, 1676. He was the father of nine children, as follows: By his first wife, (I) Sarah, born in 1648; by his second wife: (2) John, born in 1650; (3) Thomas; (4) Mary, born in 1654; (5) Israel, born June 19, 1656; (6) Samuel, born in 1658; by his fourth wife: (7) Ephraim, born in 1672: (8) Esther, born in 1673 ; (9) Mary, born in 1676.

(III) Israel Wilcox married, March 28, 1678, Sarah Savage, daughter of John Sav- age, one of the first settlers of Middletown. Mrs. Wilcox located in Middletown in 1675. He died December 20, 1689, and she died Feb- ruary 8. 1724. Their children were: Israel, born January 16, 1680; John, July 2, 1682; Samuel, September 26, 1685; Thomas, July 5, 1687; Sarah, November 30, 1689.

(IV) Thomas Wilcox, son of Israel and Sarah, was born in Middletown, where he spent his life, 'dying January 20 or 21, 1726- 27. He married Ann North, a daughter of John North, of Farmington, Connecticut.

(V) Thomas Wilcox (2), son of Thomas, was born October 5, 1720, in Middletown,

LS Wilcox

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COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

Conn., and removed thence to Guilford when twenty-three years old. In 1744 he was mar- ried to Freelove Bradley, who was born in 1722, daughter of Stephen and Jemima (Corn- wall) Bradley, the former of East Guilford and the latter of Long Island. Mr. Wilcox died November 9, 1778, and his widow Janu- ary 17, 1817. Both were buried in the Madi- son cemetery. Their children were: (I) Chlotilda, born April 29, 1745, married Sam- uel Hoyt, and died September 29, 1796. (2) Tamsen, born January 13, 1747, married Eliza- beth Dowd, and died September 15, 1820. (3) Edmund, born October 17, 1748, married Elizabeth Scranton, and died March 9, 1795. (4) Billie, born July II, 1750, had his home in Granville, Mass. (5) Jonathan was born 1n1 1753. (6) Samuel Dodd, born August 28, 1756, located in Granville, Mass. (7) Ben- jamin Bradley, born February 3, 1759, mar- ried Mary Todd, and died October 2, 1805.

(VI) Jonathan Wilcox, son of Thomas, was born in East Guilford (now Madison), July 13, 1753, and died October 19, 1818, in Madison, where he was buried. Serving as a private in the war of the Revolution, he bore himself as a courageous soldier and patriotic citizen. In his mature life he was a landowner, a lumber manufacturer, and the proprietor of a gristmill; with Thomas French he was permitted to dam the Hammonassett river at the falls, on the road from Summer- hill. There he put up a saw and grist- mill, which they operated for many years. Elizabeth Todd, wife of Jonathan Wilcox, was born in East Guilford February 10. 1754, daughter of Timothy and Abigail ( Crane) Todd of East Guilford, and died September 29, 1837. To them came the following chil- dren : (1) Curtis, born March 9, 1775, mar- ried Wealthy Hill, and died August 15, 1829. (2) John, born April 5, 1777, married Electa Goodrich! (3) Amps T., born in April, 1779. inarried Cynthia Bushnell, and died in 1849. (4) Elizabeth, born February 22, 1782. mar- ried David P. Nash. (5) Henry, born July 22, 1784, is mentioned below. (6) Matilda, born in 1788, died October 22, 1809. (7) Sa- rah, born February 20, 1789, married George Pratt. (8) Jonathan Samuel, born March 1. 1791, died February 10, 1875. He married Chloe Hand. (9) Augustus B., born October 4. 1794, married Clarissa Jewell, and died May 19, 1844.

(VII) Henry Wilcox, born July 22, 1784, in Madison, died in Deep River in May, 1842. He married Jennette Bushnell, daughter of Joseph and Patience (Bushnell) Bushnell and granddaughter of Ira Bushnell, of Old Say- brook. Mrs. Wilcox died in 1842. Their children were as follows: William Titus, born August 23, 1809; married Minerva Gaylord. Henry Truman, born February 7, 1811, mar- ried Elizabeth Scoville, and died Janu- ary 7, 1885. Jonathan Samuel is men- tioned below. Emily Patience, born in June, 1815, was married three times, her first husband being John Wilmarth, her second Ransom Gaylord, her third Charles Spencer. Curtis Nash, born in March, 1817, became mayor of Meridian, Miss. ; he was twice mar- ried there, his first wife being Elizabeth Hall, by whom he had four children, George Henry, (who died in the Civil war), Robert Henry (who died young), Mattie Jennette ( who mar- ried William Winston ) and Emma ( who mar- ried Prof. A. O. Du Bose) ; his second mar- riage was to a niece of Gov. Wise, and to that union also came four children, Curtis, William, Hamner and Rose Lee ( who married G. B. Bush, of Butler, Ala. ). Benjamin Bushnell. born September 28, 1819, married Eliza .1. Brainard, of Middle Haddam. George Fred- erick, born in 1830, resided in California.

JONATHAN SAMUEL WILCOX was born in Westbrook, Middlesex county, January 23. 1813, and early displayed an industry and en- ergy unsual in youth, at the age of ten years applying for and securing work from a farmer who lived in Winthrop. He continued stead- fastly at same until he had reached his six- teenth year, when he removed to Deep River for the purpose of learning the joiner's trade. being apprenticed to John Gladding, with whom he served his time. Subsequently he was employed at his trade by George Read & Co., in the comb business, later becoming an expert ivory sawyer for the same concern. Mr. Wilcox was also well known in Deep River as a builder and carpenter, his thorough work in many of the residences of the town and also in two churches, the Baptist and Congre- gational of Deep River, still testifying to his skill. He also did considerable work in the same line outside of the town. In 1857 Mr. Wilcox purchased of Samuel Gladding the paper box business then conducted in the build- ing now occupied by L. H. Shailer, and for

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COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

twenty-four years he was a constant and inde- fatigable worker in that line, succeeding be- cause of his persevering industry. It was only a few years prior to his death that he gave up active labor.

Mr. Wilcox was married October 19, 1834, to Dolly A. Southworth, who was born in Deep River, March 6, 1810, daughter of Levi and Mary (Bates) Southworth, and died May 27, 1889. To this union came the following named children : Ellen M., born January 2, 1836, died in September, 1897, unmarried; Emily Jennette, born January 27, 1838, died January 10, 1863; Homer Neale, born May 23, 1840, died June 21, 1849; Mary J., born April 17, 1843, died December 28, 1901 ; Myr- tie Southworth, was born April 21, 1849.

Miss Myrtie S. Wilcox resides in the home- stead on Elm street, Deep River. She is a mem- ber of the Baptist Church, of which her father became a member in 1832. For years he was active in church and Sunday-school work, act- ing as superintendent of the Sunday-school for many years. In politics he was a stanch Republican, and was frequently chosen to fill offices, at various times having been justice of the peace, grand juror, etc. Mr. Wilcox died September 24, 1900. He was an honest and upright man, leaving to his sorrowing daugh- ter the comfort of knowing that he held the confidence and esteem of the entire communi- ty as a sincere and devoted Christian.

HENRY WARD is, in point of actual commercial experience, probably the oldest nyerchant in Middletown, as his family is one of the oldest and most respected in Middle- sex county. He is a direct lineal descendant of Ensign William Ward, who was one of Mid- dletown's pioneers, the line from this early pro- genitor to Henry Ward running through six generations : Ensign William, 1632-1690; John (1), 1678-1761 ; John (2), 1716-1802; John (3), 1757-1804; John (4), 1788-1869; Henry, 1818.

John Ward (3), the grandfather of Henry, was a wealthy landowner and influential citi- zen. He was born in 1757, and on November 17, 1783, married Lucy Pierpont, daughter of Thomas and Lucy Pierpoint. She was bap- tized January 20, 1754, and died July 18, 1817, surviving her husband for thirteen years; he passed away October 15, 1804. To John Ward (3) and his wife were born two sons

and two daughters: Lucy (1), John, George and Lucy (2). The first child, ( 1) Lucy, was was born July 22, 1785, and died August 19, 1785. (2) John, the second child and eldest son, was the father of Henry Ward. (3) George, born February II, 1790, migrated from Connecticut to York State, and conducted stores at Moravia and Auburn, N. Y .; believ- ing, however, that the West offered better busi- ness opportunities, he went to Michigan, and for several years successfully carried on a large flouring-mill at Ann Arbor, a por- tion of its output being successfully marketed at South Farms, Conn., by his nephew, Henry. On December 3, 1812, he married Martha Smith, who was born April II, 1786, in Dur- ham, daughter of Lieut. Joseph Smith. They had two daughters and one son. He died at Kalamazoo, May 25, 1860, and his wife Sep- tember 17, 1863. (4) Lucy (2), the youngest child of John Ward (3), was born January I, 1792, married David Crowell, and died March 30, 1826, leaving a family.

John Ward (4), the father of the gentle- man whose life and family connections form the theme of the present narrative, was born April 9, 1788, and lived for many years on Long Hill, but in March, 1831, removed with his family to Cayuga county, N. Y. Not find- ing that locality to his liking, ne returned to Long Hill within a year, the journey both ways being made in a covered wagon. In the spring of 1832 the family removed to Durham, Conn., living on what was commonly known as the "Guernsey Hubbard farm," whence, in Decem- ber 1834, Mr. Ward took his wife and chil- dren to Hunting Hill. There he died, after a sudden illness of fifteen minutes, on Novem- ber 24, 1869. at the age of eighty-one years. He was a strong man, both physically and morally. Of robust physique, he had a pow- erful, well-knit frame, capable of hard toil and immense endurance. He had a forceful personality, was keen and sagacious, and easily commanded respect from his equals and obedi- ence from his inferiors. He was an "Old-line" Whig in politics, and in his religious belief a Congregationalist, being a member of the North Church, of Middletown. Always ready to perform every duty as a citizen, his quiet, unassuming nature shrank from aspiring to office ; yet his native modesty could not prevent his worth becoming known, and few: citizens of his time were more widely known or more

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Commemorative biographical record of Middlesex County, Connecticut : containing biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens, and of many of the early settled families, Part 101

Author: Beers (J.H.) & Co., Chicago, pub Publication date: 1903 Publisher: Chicago : Beers Number of Pages: 1502

Author: Beers (J.H.) & Co., Chicago, pub
Publication date: 1903
Publisher: Chicago : Beers
Number of Pages: 1502