Commemorative biographical record of Middlesex County, Connecticut : containing biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens, and of many of the early settled families, Part 102

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 102

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universally respected than he. On December 1, 1814, Mr. Ward married Parnel Newton, who was born at Hartland, Conn., July 25, 1791, daughter of Abner and Abigail (Fair- child) Newton. Her father was a Revolution- ary soldier, and with the exception of a few years spent in Hartland, passed his life in his native town of Durham, Conn., where he died. The children of Mr. and Mrs. John Ward were four in number, two sons and two daugh- ters. George Newton, the eldest, was born May 29, 1816 : a sketch of his life may be found elsewhere. Henry, the second child, was born November 7, 1818. Harriet Elizabeth, the eldest daughter, born April 5, 1823, married Joab, Loomis, and died at Bloomfield, Conn., in 1895, leaving two children, Helen E. and Robert W. Sarah C., the youngest child, was born March 20, 1825, has never married, and lives at Middletown.

Henry Ward was born on his father's farm on Long Hill, and first attended school in the "old stone school house," dear to the mem- ory of the survivors of a preceding generation. Among his earliest preceptors were Guernsey Hubbard, Nelson Coe and Mrs. Pease. Ow- ing to the frequent changes of residence by his family during his boyhood, he attended more schools than the average youth of his time. At Durham and Middletown, however, he received the greater part of his early educa- tion, in the city last named being a pupil at the Lancasterian school, at the corner of Broad and Willian: streets, under Messrs. Garfield and Lathrop, and he also attended the private school conducted by Mr. Daniel H. Chase. Until his twenty-fifth year he lived at home, aiding his father upon the farny during the summer, and through the winter working at various vocations, as opportunity offered. Among his employers of a half century ago were the Baldwin Bros. and L. D. Van Sands, at Zoar. At intervals, also, he worked in the store of his brother, George N .. at South Farms. Cooley & Danforth, widely and favorably known in their day as mani- facturers of braces. also gave himy em- ployment. On leaving home he entered Iris brother's store at South Farms as a clerk. and in 1852, in connection with Israel C. New- ton, he bought the establishment, which was for four years conducted by the firm of New- ton & Ward. In 1856 Mr. Ward disposed of his interests to his partner, his intention at the

time being to seek a home in Iowa. The finan- cial panic of 1857, however, caused him to alter his plans. While in business at South Farms he had had a large number of customers who were residents of Middletown, and his acquaintance in that city was extensive. It occurred to him; that that would be a de- sirable point at which to embark in business. Accordingly, the new firm of Ward & Ruttey bought the shoe store of the old and well- known firm of Camp & Newton, which was then situated on the east side of Main street, between Court and Center streets. A few years later Henry Ruttey, the junior partner, with- drew. and since then Mr. Ward has conducted the business alone. He gave his personal at- tention to its management until 1897, when, having reached the age of seventy-nine, he re- tired fromm active business. He yet ( 1902) retains the proprietorship, but leaves the per- sonal control to trusted employes. In 1882 a better location was secured, at No. 229 Main street, where the business is at present carried on. Mr. Ward's substantial, well-appointed home is on Crescent street. He erected his house in 1872, and it is well worth mentioning that it stands upon land on which when a boy he cut hay.

Mr. Ward's life has been at once busy and successful. His physical strength has never kept even pace with his ambition, yet, with the exception of one year, his was an un- usually active career until, in 1897. he retired to enjoy a well-earned rest. Generous and sympathetic by nature, his friends are num- bered by the score. He is a man of moderate fortune, acquired through his own unaided ef- forts, unwearying industry and stern. uncon- promising honesty. He is a trustee of the Middletown Savings Bank and is interested in other financial enterprises of an important character. As an employer he has always been considerate and thoughtful, and several of Middletown's successful business men have be- gun their commercial experience in his store or counting-room. His tastes are essentially domestic, and he finds his highest pleasure in his home, it having been his unfailing custom to return to his fireside as soon as the cares and toils of the day were over. Mr. Ward's first Presidential ballot was east for Gen, Will- iam Henry Harrison, and he has voted at every national election during the sixty-two years succeeding, always depositing in the bal-

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lot box either a Whig or a Republican ticket. For what is commonly known as "practical politics," however, he has little inclination and no leisure, his business interests claiming all his time and attention.

In 1852 Mr. Ward married Miss Abigail Maria Newton, who was born at Durham Oc- tober 27, 1825, daughter of Elisha F. and Sally (Camp) Newton. Elisha Newton was a son of Abner and Abigail ( Fairchild ) Newton, to whom reference has been made in the pre- ceding paragraph, and a brother of Parnel Newton ( Mr. Ward's mother). Mrs. Henry Ward is a sister of Israel C. Newton, of Meri- den, who was at one time Mr. Ward's busi- ness partner. Mrs. Ward was reared and edu- cated in Durham, graduating from the acade- my at that town, under the tuition of John D. Post. She is a member of the South Congre- gational Church. To Mr. and Mrs. Ward came one child that lived to adult age, Jessie Maria, born March 20, 1859, who is unmarried and lives with her parents. Two children died in infancy.

RALPH E. THAYER. The English an- cestor of the Thayer family brought his wife and children to America and settled at Brain- tree, Mass., where he followed his trade of shoemaking. His son Shadrack was married November 1, 1654, to Mary Barrett, who died February 2, 1657, leaving three children. His second marriage was to Deliverance Priest, who died in 1723, aged seventy-nine, the mother of a large family. William Thayer, the ninth child, married Hannah Haywood September 27, 1692, and settled in Braintree, Mass., where their son Jonathan was born Sep- tember 2, 1703. Jonathan Thayer died in 1805, aged 102 years. He and his wife Tabitha were married in 1728, and their son Gersham, the great-grandfather of Ralph E., was born in 1747. The grandfather, also named Ger- sham, was born February 3, 1773, in Middle- dlesex county, and died November 25, 1824. He married Sarah Arnold, of Haddam, also a native of Middlesex county, where they owned a large estate, lived to a good old age, and upheld their noble ancestry. In politics Mr. Thayer was a Whig, and he took an active part in the political affairs of his day, those being times when our country needed good and stanch men to make and uphold the laws.

Giles Thayer, the father of Ralph E., was

born February 15, 1816, at Middletown, Conn., and there grew to manhood. In Had- dam; he married Ann A. Hubbard, who was born in 1817, a daughter of Stephen Hubbard, and died February 22, 1888. Two children blessed this union, Ralph E. and Carrie I. The daughter married James H. Childs (a member of the famous Childs family who conduct the great shipbuilding establishment of Childs Brothers, at Higganum Landing), and they have one child Earl Thayer.

For a short time after their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Thayer lived at Middletown, and then moved to Haddam, where he purchased a farm of 100 acres, north of Higganum, familiarly known in the locality as the "Jabez Baily place." A small payment was made on the place in December, 1851, and by the fol- lowing October ( 1852) the entire property was paid for. Luin'bering was the first busi- ness engaged in by Giles Thayer upon his set- tlement there, but as soon as his land was cleared he also began farming, and worked as a ship carpenter, with success, both at Had- dam and Higganum. When the project of the Middlesex turnpike road was opened up Mr. Thayer was among its strongest advocates and supporters, and much credit is due him for the energy he manifested in aid of county improve- ments. In his later life he engaged in some speculation, but he was noted for being one of the most industrious of farmers, and the result was that he was one of the most suc- cessful in his part of the county at that time. Politically he began his life in the Whig ranks, bit later espoused the principles of the Demo- cratic party.

Ralph E. Thayer was born in the old home- stead at Higganum, attended the district schools, and completed his studies at Chase's school, in Middletown, where so many of the most prominent citizens of Middlesex county received their early schooling. For five ses- sions Mr. Thayer taught school, beginning in Meriden, Conn., and later following his pro- fession in the West District, in Higganum. He then turned to bookkeeping, and efficiently served the firm of Parker Bros. in that ca- pacity, in Meriden, Conn., for one year. There, in 1868, he married Mary L. Ives, a daughter of Othmiel and Mary (Howard) Ives, and to this union came one child, Heber Ives, born October 28, 1870.

Mr. Thayer grew up in the old homestead,

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which in time came into his possession. Add- ing some forty acres to the original tract, he has a fine piece of property which, by unceasing energy, he has brought under a productive state of cultivation. He assisted his father on the Middlesex turnpike, in which the latter was so interested, continuing after his death to carry on his work. For some time he was em- ployed by the Cutaway Harrow Company, and now devotes part of his time to farming, vari- ous other interests absorbing the greater part of his attention.

In politics Mr. Thayer votes as did his revered father, with the Democratic party, and has held most of the local offices. For many years he has been a member of the board of relief, and is president of the board of trustees of the town. He has long been prominently identified with the Methodist Episcopal Church, for eleven years serving as the worthy superintendent in the Sunday-school, and using ever endeavor to benefit all who come under his influence. Socially Mr. Thayer is con- nected with the Masonic fraternity, holding membership in Granite Lodge, F. & A. M., of Haddam, and he is also a member of Eureka Lodge, O. U. A. M., of Higganum. In the world of success, where the attainment of for- tune is made the measure of success, it is pleasant to note the value of worthy ancestry and personal integrity, in summing up a man's life. A competency is desirable, and its ac- quisition commendable, but above it must be placed the worth of frugality, rectitude and piety, when the attention of the coming gen- eration is called to the successful lives of those who have gone before.

HEBER IVES THAYER, the only son of our subject, has been recently elected to the office of justice of the peace, and has also served as grand juror, and as auditor of the school board for four years. He is a graduate of Wes- leyan College, class of 1892, A. B., and is a local preacher in the Methodist Church, of which he and his estimable wife are consistent mem- bers. Since October, 1900, he has been pastor of the First M'. E. Church at West Suffield, Conn., where the characteristics of his ancestry, with his own acquirements, dne to education and tact, have won for him the respect of all and augur a future hopeful both for himself and those whom he serves. By uprightness of living Mr. Thayer has won the confidence of the public wherever he has been. After 36

a season as traveling salesman for the firm of C. C. Skilton, of New York City, and subse- quent service as general agent for W. Irving Lee, of Ossinning, N. Y., he became private secretary for various public institutions and individuals. Returning home in 1894, he en- gaged in farming in the northern part of the town of Haddam, upon a fine location which has been nanved Bible Rock farm from the fact that a huge rock, resembling an open book, is located on the land. He is a faithful, en- ergetic worker, and makes a successful agri- culturist making specialties of fruit growing and dairying. Socially he is connected with the Grange and the Royal Arcanum.

On January 24, 1894, he married Blanche Augusta Bailey, who was born September 12, 1872, daughter of Wolcott and Telitha Bailey, of Higganum, and they have had three chil- dren : Ralph Wolcott, born December 17, 1894; Julian Bailey, September 13, 1896; and Marjorie Howard, April 22, 1898.

Deacon Othmiel Ives, the grandfather of Mrs. Ralph E. Thayer, was a resident of Mer- iden, Conn., where he was born, and died. His son Othmiel also a resident of Meriden, mar- ried Mary Howard, and they were the parents of Mrs. Thayer. Mrs. Ives was the daughter of Deacon Chapin Howard, of Vermont, of an old and well known family of that State. The distinguished soldier, Gen. O. O. Howard, and also the father of Judge Taft, governor in the Philippines, were cousins of Mrs. Thayer's mother. The Ives family have been identified with the history of the State of Connecticut since the first settlements. Oth- miel Ives died in 1878. He and his wife had the following children: (1) Howard married Julia Dunham, of Kensington, Conn., daughter of Samuel Dunhail1. Howard Ives became State senator, and lived in West Cheshire. Coun., where he died in 1879. (2) Hleber lived in Plantsville, Conn., and married Lucy Buell, daughter of David Buell, of Moodus. Coun. Heber Ives was a soldier in the great Civil war, serving in the famous Eighth Con- necticut Infantry, as a member of Capt. Upham's company. The regiment was com- manded by Col. Joseph W. Hawley. Heber Ives had a fine record for gallantry and be- came a lientenant in the 15th Coun. Infantry. Near the close of the war he was made a prisoner, and after a confinement of several' months, upon the close of the war, he came

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home. He subsequently became the efficient postmaster at Plantsville, serving for over twenty years. Upon his death his comrades laid him tenderly away, his form wrapped in the flag he loved so well. (3) John O. lived at Meriden, in the old homestead. He mar- ried Lillian Fletcher, daughter of the late well- known physician, Dr. Fletcher, of Southing- ton, Conn. Mr. and Mrs. John O. Ives are both deceased. To them were born four chil- dren, Chapin, Harold, Esther L., and John (deceased). (4) Eliza Juliette married Charles Parmelee, of Wallingford, Conn. She died leaving two children, Mildred and Fannie. (5) Mary L. is the wife of Ralph E. Thayer.

WATSON EDWARDS, one of the well- known citizens of Portland, has spent almost his entire life in that town. As a carpenter and joiner, a contractor and a builder, few men who have followed those lines have been more successful. It is said that he has prob- ably done more building than any other man in town, and no work has been more particular and honest in every respect than his. Owing to his advanced age he is not now engaged in active labor, but will undertake light tasks, and can show the touch of a practiced hand. He owns a fine home in Portland, as well as several profitable tenements. He has led a long and industrious life, and his record is that of an honest and upright man. Watson Edwards was born June 16, 1833, in East Hampton, and was four years old when his parents, Solomon and Rachel M. (Dunham) Edwards moved into old Portland.

John Edwards, grandfather of Watson, was a native of England, and came to the United States when a small boy. He lived in New York with a Mr. Wolf, and was a sailor in early life, and then was a watchman of ship cargoes. He located in Chatham, while still a young man, and was employed in the build- ing of the Middletown and Chatham turn- pike. In Chatham he met and married Rhoda Bailey, a daughter of Solomon Bail- ey, and a member of one of the old families of that town. Mr. Edwards bought a place there and made it his home even though he was working elsewhere. He was a hard worker and this, no doubt, hastened his death, which resulted from consumption in 1824. To John and Rhoda (Bailey) Edwards were born

seven children: Ichabod, a sailor, shipped from Providence, and was lost at sea ; Solomon was the father of Watson Edwards, John was killed in Glastonbury, by the water wheel of a cotton mill; Edward was a carpenter and joiner, and resided in South Glastonbury ; Phœbe married Hiram Richmond, and died in East Haddam : Mattie married Samuel Burke, and died in Millington, Conn .; and Laura married Mr. Church, and died in New Haven.

Solomon Edwards was born in Chatham February 17, 1812, and was reared in Chat- ham, where he learned the joiner's trade. This he followed until a few years before his death, when he went to farming, in which he was quite successful, and he left a comfortable competence. He was a hard worker, and be- gan for himself without other resources than his own brain and character. On January 13, 1832, he was married to Rachel M. Dun- ham, who was born in Marlborough, March 21, 1808, a daughter of Sylvester Dunham, and died April 5, 1869. She was buried in Portland. They were the parents of five chil- dren, of whom Watson, the subject of this ar- ticle, was the first born. The others were: Mary A., born December 23, 1835, married Elisha Hollister, October 4, 1856, and died near Mechanicsville, Iowa; Clark, born April 13, 1837, is a joiner at New Britain, Conn .; Sar- ah, born May 19, 1842, became Mrs. Edgar Hale in April, 1870, and lives in Middletown; and George, born December 19, 1843, was a member of Company H, Twenty-first Connec- ticut Volunteer Infantry, was wounded in bat- tle in front of Petersburg August 30, 1864, and died September 4, following, en route home (just as the boat was nearing New York), where he was being taken by his broth- er, Watson. For his second wife Solomon Edwards married Mrs. Eunice W. (Strick- land) Tennant, who is still living on the old farm. Mr. Edwards was a Republican, and a member of the Congregational Church. He died July 27, 1878, and was buried in Port- land. The farm on which he made his home was once widely known as one of the finest country homes in the State. It is situated on the loftiest hills in the town, and commands a broad view of a most delightful landscape.

Watson Edwards was reared on the home farm, and attended the Penfield district school,

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and numbered among his earlier teachers Mr. Bowers and Mr. Whitcomb. In those days the Penfield school had over one hundred pupils, and but one who was not a native American. Young Watson also attended a select school kept by a Mr. Overton and here his school days were practically ended, for he had gradually taken up the carpenter's trade very early in his career. He came to Portland, and worked for Alfred Allen for one hundred dollars and his board the first year. The first house on which he was em- ployed was that of Erastus Brainerd. It was the most expensive house of the times, and cost more than any that has subsequently been erected in the town. After spending a year with Mr. Allen, the young carpenter set up for himself, and thus began a career which has occupied his entire life, and even at his advanced age he is active as a joiner. He was a good workman, and his character told. In time he had several contracts that paid him well and proclaimed him a master builder. He built a number of the best houses in Port- land, and for ten years or more was engaged in building at East Hampton.

On September 4, 1859, Mr. Edwards was married, in Middletown, to Miss Julia M. Strickland, who was born in Portland, Sep- tember 28, 1835, a daughter of Noah M. and Caroline M. (Bliss) Strickland. When the young couple began housekeeping it was in the home of his parents on Penfield Hill. From there they moved to Portland, which has been their home to the present time. Here Mr. Edwards built, in 1870, his excellent home on Church street, which he opened. He has al- ways been a Republican, and he and his wife are members of the Congregational Church. They have one daughter, Helen M., who makes her home with her parents.

JAMES GATES FARGO (deceased) of Chester, Middlesex county, was a native of the town, having been born there August 2, 1830, a son of Joseph C. and Lydia C. (Stew- art) Fargo.

Willian Fargo, his great-grandfather, married Anne Beebe. They had a son, Sam- uel, who was born in 1760, and who married Hannah Caulkins, by whom he had the follow- ing named children: Joseph C., Ezra, Lucy, Mercy, and Abigail. Samuel Fargo served in

the war of the Revolution from January, 1781, to December 31, 1781, being a member of the company commanded by Capt. Samuel Will- iam Williams.

The education of James Gates Fargo was confined to the district schools and when a boy he left home, going to Newark, N. J., where he learned the trade of wheelwright and was there employed for several years. Later he was employed in Frenchtown, N. J. When the war of the Rebellion broke out he en- listed at Easton, Pa., for three months, and at the expiration of this time he re-enlisted for three years in the regular army, in Company C, Fifth Heavy Artillery, and again for three years. After the close of the war Mr. Fargo was located at Fortress Monroe, Va., and he was discharged March 22, 1867, after having been six years and three months in the service. While at Fortress Monroe Mr. Fargo was de- tailed to guard and accompany Jefferson Da- vis on his walks, and formed a friendship for the Confederate leader, although he always en- tertained a very bitter dislike for his principles. During the war Mr. Fargo participated in the following engagements : Mechanicsville, Mal- vern Hill, Antietam (in which battle he was wounded ), Gettysburg, Wilderness, North Anna River, Deep Bottom, siege of Petersburg, Gaines' Mill, second

'Battle of Bull Run, Fredericksburg, Civil Riot. N. Y., Po River, Sheldon's Farm, Hatch- er's Run (in which he was wounded), Charles City Cross Roads, South Mountain, Chancellorsville, Mine Run, Spottsylvania. Cold Harbor and Fort Steadman.

After his discharge Mr. Fargo returned to his father's farm on Wig Hill, in Chester. and began farming. continuing this occupation the remainder of his life, his death occurring February 18, 1890, of heart failure, while he was on his way home from work.

On January 14, 1869. Mr. Fargo was mar- ried to Anna Smith, born on April 27, 1836. in Glasgow, Scotland. She came to the United . States with her parents when but ten years of age, and still survives, making her home in Chester. To this marriage four children were born: Nellie M., born October 28, 1869, wife of Robert Saffery: William G .. born on November 10, 1871: Lydia A .. born June 17, 1874; and Frank S .. born March 2. 1877. In politics Mr. Fargo was a stanch Democrat, and was fraternally a member of

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Mather Post, No. 25, G. A. R., of Deep River. Mr. Fargo was a man of unusual mental traits, possessing an excellent memory, and was a constant reader of current literature and the works of standard authors, being particularly fond of history. By his many admirable qualities, he endeared himself to a large circle of friends, and his loss will be long . mourned.

KELSEY. To this old family belongs Mrs. T. C. Acton, of Saybrook, Middlesex county, who is a granddaughter of Job and Sybil (Lay) Kelsey. To them were born the following children: John, who was the fa- ther of Mrs. Acton ; Job, who died unmarried ; Jerusha, who married Jacob Stannard; Sybil, who married Job Stannard; Azubah, who mar- ried William Bushnell; and Ann, who married Jedediah Chapman.

John Kelsey, noted above, was born June 23, 1778, and died November 30, 1856. He was twice married, first to Margaret Bushnell, and subsequently to Lydia Bushnell, daughter of Nathan Bushnell. All the children of the first marriage were deceased many years ago. They were as follows: (1) John, born in 1799, married Harriet Wilcox and had four children, one of whom, Charles Titus Wilcox, who died in 1870, became somewhat prominent in his community. (2) Job, born in 1802, mar- lied Sarah D. Ryan, and died August 18, 1873. (3) Margaret Azubah, born January 10, 1804, married Talcott Bradley, and died September 25, 1880. She was the second wife of Mr. Bradley, and bore him five children, Margaret, Emily, Henry, William (who was killed in the Rebellion) and Eunice. (4) William, born January 31, 1806, died August 17, 1829, unmarried. (5) Jeremiah, born March 9, 1838, died February 5, 1881. He married Ann Jones, of Clinton, and they had quite a large family of whom the eldest, Henry S., died young; William H. married Kate . O'Neil; Charles lived in Meriden; Ann was twice married, first to William Burgess and later to Herbert Beers, and is now living in California ; Jeremiah and Jane were never mar- lied. (6) Sybil, born February 15, 1811, diel in June, 1871. She married Henry Mar- ten Furze, an Englishman, and had one daugh- ter, En ilv (deceased), who married George W. Queckenboss, and had one son. George Emile Furze Quackenboss. (7) Laura, born

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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 102

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