Commemorative biographical record of Middlesex County, Connecticut : containing biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens, and of many of the early settled families, Part 11

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 11

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COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

tioned below. Ethan Allen Willey was en- gaged in the manufacture of cloth and operated a mill in East Haddam as late as 1843, when he turned to agricultural life. He was a Democrat, and held a number of town offices.

Hiram Willey was born May 23, 1818, in East Haddam, and acquired his education in Bacon Academy, and in the Essex schools, later studying with Rev. George Carrington, with whom he made his preparation for col- lege. He entered the Sophomore class in 1836, and graduated in 1839, being one of the first graduates of the Wesleyan University at Mid- dletown. After finishing his college course he studied law under the instruction and guidance of Eliphalet A. Bulkeley, and was admitted to the Middlesex County Bar in 1841. In 1843 he located at New London, and four years later represented the town in the General Assembly. In 1855 he received the appoint- ment of State's Attorney for New London county, which position he held until 1861, when President Lincoln named him as Dis- trict Attorney for the United States. For eight years he was an incumbent of this honorable position. In 1857 he was a member of the Legislature from New London. In 1859 he was elected to the Senate, and in 1862 was elected mayor of New London, and held that position three years. In 1869 Mr. Willey was appointed Judge of the Probate Court, and in the following year was made Judge of the Court of Common Pleas, filling that office three years. In 1875 the judge retired to Hadlyme, where he built the inviting home which he now occupies. For ten years he was engaged in practice in Hartford, but worked from his present home. In 1877 he was a representative from East Haddam in the State Legislature. In 1859, and again in 1877, while in the State Senate, he was chairman of the Judiciary com- mittee.

Judge Willey was married in East Haddam to Charity W. Moseley, daughter of Thomas and Elizabeth ( Warner ) Moseley, and they became the parents of the following named children: (1) Thomas Moseley, born July 5, 1846, was graduated from West Point Mili- tary Academy in 1868, and served in the regu- lar army ten years. (2) Allen, born January 28, 1858, is a graduate of the high school in New London, and was for ten years proprietor and publisher of the Hartford Globe. Mrs. Willey passed away May 23, 1902, and is bur- 4

ied in Judge Willey's lot in the East Haddam (First Ecclesiastical Society ) cemetery, adjoin- ing the tomb of Dr. Thomas Moseley, erected in 1790. Judge Willey belongs to the Protest- ant Episcopal Church, and is now acting as. lay reader in the chapel at Hadlyme. In the Masonic fraternity he was the first Grand Commander of the Encampment in New Lon- don.

THE MOSELEY FAMILY, which is men- tioned above, traces its history in Connecticut back to Abner Moseley, who was born in 1700, and died in 1766. His children were; Joseph, born in 1722 (who died in 1735) ; Elizabeth, May 25, 1727; Thomas, mentioned below ; Abigail, April 8, 1733; Joseph (2), August 3, 1735; Mary, November 28, 1737; John, May 7, 1740; Ether, May 28 1742 (married Rev. William Backus, of Killingworth) ; and Ra- chel, November 4, 1748 (married Mr. Ells- worth, of Windsor, Connecticut).

Thomas Moseley, son of Abner, was born February 17, 1731, and was a graduate of Yale. He served as a surgeon in the Revolu- tionary war, and was called Col. Moseley. He married first Phobe Ogden, who was born in 1738, a daughter of Mathias Ogden, of Eliza- bethtown, East Jersey ; she died in 1790. For his second wife Dr. Moseley wedded the Wid- ow Troup, and he died in East Haddam Aug- ust II, ISII.

Jonathan Ogden Moseley, only child of Dr. Moseley, was born April 9, 1762, was a graduate of Yale, and for twenty years was a member of the Congress of the United States. He died at Detroit in 1840. By profession he was a lawyer, and he was a noted orator, delivering the memorial address in East Had- dam at the time of Washington's death. He married Gertrude Van Voorhis, of Catskill. N. Y., and his children were: Phoebe . . ( .. born June 27, 1784, married Jacob Bogardus. Jr., of New York City: Thomas, father of Mrs. Willey, is mentioned below: Jonathan Ogden, born March 27, 1791. lived in Troy. N. Y .: William Mathias, born February 25. 1703. was a lawyer in Detroit, Michigan.

Thomas Moseley, son of Jonathan Ogden. was born September 26, 1787, and died July 3, 1860, at East Haddam. In 1817 he married Elizabeth Warner, daughter of Oliver Warner. She died September 16, 1842. They had chil- dren as follows: Charity W. born Septem- ber 20, 1822, married Hiram Willey Septem-

tobe r

COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

ber 6, 1842; Gertrude E., born May 21, 1824, married Dr. Leonard G. Warner, of Albany, N. Y., who died in 1868; William Oliver, born December 21, 1825, died January 7, 1892; Phobe E., born April 2, 1830, married No- vember 12, 1856, Fred W. Warner, son of Gen. Oliver Warner, and he died February 2, 1896, leaving a son, Edward O.

ELIJAH ACKLEY (deceased) was one of the prominent and successful business men of the town of Middletown, Middlesex county, and to the student of human nature the story of his life presents matter of rare interest.

Mr. Ackley was born July 25, 1833, at Leesville, town of Chatham, Middlesex Co., Conn., son of Ogden and Polly ( Young) Ack- ley, the former of whom died when Elijah was five years old. They had four children, all sons, viz. : ( I) Enoch went to New York when a young man, and accumulated a fortune. (2) Noah was a traveling salesman for Comstock, a seedman of Wethersfield, Conn., and died at the family homestead in Leesville. (3) Jere- miah lives at Goodspeeds, Conn. (4) Elijah is the subject of these lines.

Elijah Ackley came to Middletown when a lad of seventeen years, having traveled on foot all the way from Leesville, his sole cap- ital being his clothes and a plentiful stock of determination and courage. He had been pre- viously "hustling" on a farm, so was well ex- perienced in the school of hard work. On his arrival in Middletown he began his business career as clerk for Norman Smith, his salary being $50 per annum for two years, including his board, and at the end of the first year he had a balance of $17.34 coming to him. The dollars he placed in the Savings Bank, the cents in his pocket. For about a year previous to going into business for himself he was in the employ of Elliott Bradley, and in 1854, when twenty-one years old, he entered into partner- ship with Samuel Birdsey in a general mercan- tile business, the style of the firm being Ackley & Birdsey. Shortly before the breaking out of the Civil war this partnership was dissolved, Mr. Ackley buying out Mr. Birdsey's interest, and carrying the business on alone for some considerable time. He was also associated with George M. Pratt in the sale of sewing machines, at the same time giving some attention to in- surance business, which latter, through his management and excellent judgment, soon so

increased that it came to occupy his entire time, and he found it necessary to dispose of his mercantile interests. For three years he was real-estate agent for the Middletown Sav- ings Bank, in which capacity his judgment on real-estate values was never questioned.

On June 5, 1882, Mr. Ackley was elected president of the Middletown Savings Bank, and served in that capacity up to his death, at which time he was also president of the Mid- dlesex Mutual Assurance Company, an incum- bency he had filled from January 7, 1879. Of the Middletown Savings Bank he had been a trustee for twenty years, and for several years before becoming president of the Assurance Company he was a director of that institution. For years he was a director of the People's Fire Insurance Company, of Middletown, and dur- ing all this time he conducted a general insur- ance business on an extensive scale. He was one of the busiest of the busy, never idle or inactive, and an able insurance man as well as a consummate financier, while in all business affairs he was careful and clear-sighted; he ever bore the highest character for probity and integrity.

In his political preferences Mr. Ackley was originally a Breckenridge Democrat, but after the firing on Fort Sumter, which kindled the greatest civil war of modern times, he be- came an equally stanch Republican. Being of a retiring disposition, he never sought political preferment, yet was several times elected to offices in the city government, which he filled with the same fidelity that always characterized his private and business trusts. Socially he was prominent in Masonic circles as a member of St. John's Lodge, No. 2; Washington Chap- ter, No. 6, of which he was treasurer; Colum- bia Council, No. 9; and Cyrene Commandery, No. 8, at Middletown, of which he had been a member from its organization, and of which he was treasurer and past commander; he was the first. Mason to receive the or- der of Knighthood in the Commandery, and was its third eminent commander. A brother Mason, in writing of Mr. Ackley in the "Proceedings of the Grand Commandery, Knights Templar, State of Connecticut" (1884), says: "As a Sir Knight, as a citizen, he was the peer of any of us, and, by his ster- ling integrity and his fidelity to all his trusts, reflected honor upon himself and upon the or- der. He left behind him that invaluable prize,

& Ackley

COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

'A good name which is better than great riches.' "

Elijah Ackley departed this life October 29, 1883, and was laid to rest in Indian Hill cemetery. He left a fine property, all accumu- lated by his own individual efforts. Sociable, cheerful, even-tempered, firm in his own opin- ions and liberal toward others, he was held in the highest esteem, and was universally re- spected.

On November 26, 1857, Elijah Ackley was married to Miss Sarah Harris, who was born January 17, 1833, in Middle Haddam, Conn., daughter of George W. and Hannah T. ( Child) Harris, a sketch of whom appears elsewhere. Mrs. Ackley died October 22, 1859, and Oc- tober 16, 1862, Mr. Ackley wedded her sister, ' Miss Helen E., born December 10, 1834, at Middletown, who survives him. To this union was born, March 25, 1878, one child, Grace E., who died August 11, 1884. Mrs. Ackley is a direct descendant of Gov. Bradford, and her maternal grandmother was Sally Tracy, of the well-known Tracy family. She is affiliated with the D. A. R., and eligible to many other Colonial societies. In religious faith she is a consistent member of the Methodist Church, to the support of which she has always been a liberal contributor.

GEN. ELIHU W. N. STARR, late of Middletown, Middlesex county, was in the eighth generation from Dr. Comfort Starr, who was born in England and died at Boston, Mass., January 2, 1659-60. His wife, Eliza- beth, died June 25, 1658. Their children, eight in number, were all born in England. The line of Gen. Starr's descent is through Dr. Thomas, Comfort, Joseph, Joseph (2), Nathan and Nathan (2).

(11I) Comfort Starr, the founder of the Middletown branch of the family, was born in1 1644, in Scituate, Mass., married in Boston, Mass., Marah, daughter of Joseph and Bar- bara Weld, and settled in Middletown. Their children were eight in number. Ile died Oc- tober 18, 1693.

(IV) Joseph Starr, son of Comfort, was born September 23. 1676. He was a tailor, and resided in Middletown, where he served at tax collector in 1705, and as constable in 1711 and 1712. He died July 13, 1758. He married June 24, 1697, Abigail, daughter of Samuel and Abigail ( Baldwin) Baldwin, of

Guilford, born December 14, 1678, died Au- gust 24, 1745. Their children were ten in number, according to baptismal records.

(V) Joseph Starr (2), son of Joseph, was born September 6, 1698, in Middletown, where he and his wife were admitted to full com- munion in the church August 22, 1725. He was a tailor. He served as constable in 1728, and as grand juror in 1745. He died March 23, 1871. On February 17, 1719-20, he mar- ried (first) Sarah, daughter of Giles and Sarah Southmayd, of Middletown. She died June 5, 1740, aged thirty-nine. On February 25, 1741-42, he married (second) Priscilla Roper, who died May 15, 1796, aged seventy-six years. He had eighteen children by the two wives.

(VI) Nathan Starr, son of Joseph (2), was born April 14, 1755. He was a noted worker in iron and steel and a manufacturer of scythes at Middletown. On June 20, 1776, he was commissioned, by Gov. Trumbull, an armorer in the regiment commanded by Col. Comfort Sage, and in the latter part of his life was engaged with his son Nathan in the manufacture of swords, rifles, etc., mainly for the United States Government. He held var- ious local offices in the town and society. He died July 29, 1821. On July 5, 1781, he mar- ried Polly, daughter of Adino and Lois (Strong) Pomeroy, of Middletown, who was born September 22, 1761, and died May 25, 1825. Their children were: Susannah, Na- than, Mary and William.

(VII) Nathan Starr (2), son of Nathan, and the father of Gen. Starr, was born Febru- ary 20, 1784, and in early life was a merchant in New York. In 1813 he settled in Middle- town, Conn., and became engaged with his father in the manufacture of firearms. After the father's death, in 1821, he continued the business alone until 1845, mainly for the United States Government. and during that period, it was estimated, about 70,000 arms of various kinds were furnished to the Govern- ment. Several valuable swords were made to order by them for distinguished officers of the war of 1812, among themi one for Com. Isaac Hull, by order of the State of Connecti- cut, valued at $1,000; one for Col. Richard M. Joliison, by order of Congress, valued at SI,- 200; and one each for Gen. Andrew Jackson and Edmund P. Gaines, by order of the State of Tennessee, costing $yoo apiece. Nathan

COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

Starr (2) represented Middletown in the State Legislature in 1817 and 1818. His death oc- curred August 31, 1852. He had married, June 25, 1810, Grace, daughter of Ebenezer and Thankful S. (Barnard) Townsend, of New Haven, who was born August 28, 1789, and died October 16, 1856. Their children were: Mary E., Elihu W. N., Mary E. (2), Ebenezer T., Henry, Emily H., Grace A., Grace A. (2), Henry W., Frederick B. and Edward P.

Gen. Elihu W. N. Starr, who in early life was prominent in military affairs, and all through life in the public affairs of Middle- town, serving for the unusually long period of thirty-eight years as town clerk and regis- trar, died at his home June 14, 1891. Born August 10, 1812, in New Haven, Conn., Gen. Starr was the eldest son of Nathan and Grace (Townsend) Starr, who removed to Middle- town soon after the son's birth. After at- tending private schools he was placed, at the age of thirteen, in Capt. Partridge's Military Academy, where his education developed a taste and aptitude for military life. On leav- ing the academy he entered his father's office as bookkeeper, and soon after became a part- ner with him in the manufacture of arms for the Government under the contract system. At the age of eighteen he was appointed sergeant- major, and subsequently quartermaster and adjutant, of the Second Artillery Regiment. In 1836 he was elected captain of the First Rifle Company, Sixth Regiment of Infantry. In 1839 he was promoted to be lieutenant-colonel and from that time until 1860 he was so suc- cessful in every military advanced position to which he was successively raised that he was in that vear elected brigadier-general of the 2d Brigade, Conn. Militia. The reorganization of the militia system relieved him of this po- sition, but when James T. Pratt became major- general by the Act of the Legislature he ap- pointed Gen. Starr as division inspector. The Civil war offered many opportunities for mili- tary service which the state of Gen. Starr's health would not permit him to accept until Gov. Buckingham appointed him to the com- mand of the military post at Middletown, during the organization of the Twenty-fourth Regiment of Connecticut Volunteers, which oc- cupied his attention constantly in the autumn of 1863. His military services to the State, of which this was the last, covered a period

of about thirty-five years, marked by success. in every position. He was postmaster in 1841. With the exception of one year he held the office of town clerk and registrar from 1851 to the time of his death, a period nearest ap- proaching that of John Fisk, who was elected for fifty successive years.

Gen. Starr was elected city clerk and treas- urer, and judge of probate for several years, and discharged the additional duties of these positions with his usual accuracy. In person he was tall and remarkably erect, and of fine military bearing, without the least apparent pride or arrogance, being mild and courteous. in his bearing, kind and obliging, a man of strictest integrity, firm in his friendships, and respected by the entire community. "It will. be many years before any one can be found or even educated to fill the position of town clerk with equal acceptance to the public. The familiarity which by long work and study he had acquired with the records of the office and the history of the town is not to be pur- chased with money, nor to be gained in a short time. All this had led him repeatedly and ur- gently to advocate a new public building, and to try to rouse the people to the danger of loss of their valuable records. He was un- ceasing in bringing this before his fellow-citi- zens, not for his personal gratification, but for their convenience in public business, and for the safety of these books and documents. When the new building rises, as it assuredly must before a long time, let his name and services be remembered in a suitable manner, so that he may yet live in the memories of those that follow him."

On May 27, 1840, Gen. Starr was mar- ried to Harriet Wetmore Bush, of Ogdensburg, N. Y., who survived him, and who was a great help to him in his varied clerical work. She. was born April 25, 1815. The marriage was blessed with six children, namely : William E., who is living in New York; Julia W., Robert W. and Henry B., all three deceased ; Frank F., a resident of Middletown; and Miss Grace T., in Middletown. The mother also makes her home in that city.

JOHN D. LEFFINGWELL, late of Clin- ton, Middlesex county, where through a long life he was prominent in business, passed away May 4, 1886, in his eighty-seventh year.

Born Jannary 6, 1800, in Norwich, Conn.,.

COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

Mr. Leffingwell was the son of Capt. Benajah- Leffingwell (who was a prominent shipmaster and traded largely to Liverpool for many years) and Mary Morgan, daughter of Judge William Morgan, of Killingworth (now Clin- ton).

Mr. Leffingwell's mother died when he was one and a half years old, after which he lived with an aunt, Mrs. Christopher Star, in Nor- wich, Conn., until his father married again, when they removed to Staten Island. His fa- ther died and was buried there in 1818. In 1813 John D. was sent to the Episcopal Acad- emy in Cheshire by his grandfather Morgan, who had aspirations for making a rector of the boy, but he was not so inclined. Business was his ambition, and to it he clung actively and persistently through the whole of a long life time, proving a man of sterling integrity, a thorough and live business man. At the age of fifteen years he went to Killingworth (now Clinton) and entered the store of Adam Stan- ton, as clerk, where he remained some years, and at the close of his clerkship formed a part- nership with James A. Pratt and Ely A. Elliot. The firm was known as James A. Pratt & Co., and was in business some years when Mr. Pratt retired and the style became Elliot & Leffingwell until 1840, when Mr. Elliot re- tired. Mr. Leffingwell then formed a partner- ship with George E. Elliot (in after years post- master of the village), the firm becoming Lef- fingwell & Elliot. This co-partnership contin- ued until 1852, when they dissolved, and Mr. Leffingwell continued the business on his own account.

Our subject was president of the Clinton National Bank from its beginning, in 1856, until January, 1885, when, on account of fail- ing health, he resigned. He was a director of the Shore Line Railroad Company, and presi- dent of board, and was one of the trustees of the Morgan school. Nearly all his active years were spent among the people of Clinton. He was genial and friendly, and had a warm place in many hearts.

Mr. Leffingwell's marriage was to Sally Griswold, of Clinton, and three children were born of this union: Benajah, who died aged thirty-nine years; Sarah H., who died aged eighteen years; and Mary A., wife of Hon. Charles A. Elliot, of Clinton. Benajah was educated at Yale, and was graduated a lawyer. He located in New York and was associated

with Hon. David Dudley Field and Judge Josiah Sutherland in the practice of.law. He was very successful and had a bright future. His death occurred in the prime of his life, due to overwork in the settlement of a large corpor- ation wherein millions were involved. He was a referee or commissioner of same. Benajah Leffingwell married Susan A. Redfield (who afterward married Daniel Goodwin, of Hart- ford), and left two sons, John D. and George E., the latter of whom is connected with Park Brothers Steel Company, at Hartford.

HON. CHARLES ALEXANDER EL- LIOT. Among the distinguished citizens of Clinton, Middlesex county, none are better or more favorably known than the subject of this review. Coming from an old and prominent family, Mr. Elliot has been a worthy repre- sentative of an honorable name. He was born January 6, 1831, in Clinton, where his early life was passed in attendance upon the district schools, this education being supplemented with the advantages of the Westfield high school, and later of Williston Seminary, at' East Hampton. Returning home, he immediately began a commercial life, for which he seemed to have a natural bent, by engaging as a clerk in the store of Elliot & Leffingwell, in the course of time, by attention to business and the display of unusual adaptiveness, becoming one of the partners. Later Mr. Elliot, in associa- tion with his brother, Henry A. Elliot, opened up a large business under the firm name of Elliot Brothers, and they have ever since been large shippers of hay to Hartford, Providence, Newport and other places, a later addition to the business being coal and feed, which com- modities are handled profitably, in large quan- tities. Owing to the delicate health of his brother, much of the management devolves Charles A.

An active Democrat, Mr. Elliot has long been before the public in some official position, although he does not owe all of his honors to his party. In 1879 he was elected representa- tive in Clinton, which is largely Republican in any general election, his majority being most gratifying, and his work on the Railroad con11- mittee, during his administration, was most satisfactory. From March, 1893, to June, 1895, he held the position of county commis- sioner, and at the same time his services were demanded as a member of the State Board of .

COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

Prison Directors. Since 1886 he has been a trustee of the Morgan school, succeeding the late John D. Leffingwell, and he is one of the directors in the Clinton National Bank. In 1894 Mr. Elliot erected his present fine home, which is one of the beautiful residences of this most attractive locality.

The first marriage of Mr. Elliot, on Au- gist 14, 1853, was to Adelaide Wilcox, of Clinton, a daughter of John and Adelaide ( Rossiter) Wilcox. She died in 1867, leav- ing one daughter, Fanny. The second mar- riage of Mr. Elliot, on June 15, 1869, was to Mary A. Leffingwell, daughter of the late John D. L.effingwell, of Clinton, and to this union have been born four children : John L., Susan P., S. Genevieve and May E. L. The entire family are justly regarded as representatives of the public, business and social circles of Clinton.

JOHN L. ELLIOT was born August 22, 1870, graduated with honor from the Morgan school in 1890, took a post-graduate course in the same institution, entered the Sheffield Scien- tific School at Yale, and graduated in 1894. On March 1, 1895, he was appointed post- master at Clinton, by President Cleveland, and four years later, in 1899, was re-appointed by President McKinley, the thorough and efficient way in which he conducts the details of the office meeting with the entire approval of the community. John L. Elliott was married, June 5. 1895, to Henrietta Cruger Spaulding, of Middletown, daughter of Edward and Cath- erine (Cruger) Spaulding, and to this union have. come two children: Susan R., born in 1896; and Marguerite, born in 1898, who died August 22, 1899. John L. Elliott is recording secretary of Kenilworth Council, No. 57, O. U. A. M., has been grand warden, warden, and is now past warden of Indian River Lodge, N. E. O. P., and is president of the Morgan School Alumni Association. He is a vestryman in Holy Advent Episcopal Church.

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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 11

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