Commemorative biographical record of Middlesex County, Connecticut : containing biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens, and of many of the early settled families, Part 119

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 119

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

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COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

embodied in a new bell toy by Mr. Barton, called revolving chimes, which has proved to be one of the most popular toys ever made, and has been sold not only all over the United States and Canada, but has been largely ex- ported to foreign countries. They are made by using two gong-shaped bells of different tones, mounted on an axle and a pair of malle- able iron wheels, and are drawn along the floor or ground by a cord. The tongue, which is hung loosely on the axles, strikes the pins in- side each bell at every revolution of the wheels, giving out very pleasing sounds. To this, the first real bell toy ever placed on the market, have been added from time to time new bell toys, mostly the ideas of members of the firm, until the line of 1898 reached fifty-three dif- ferent numbers, the largest line of bell toys made in the world. In addition to the Abbe gong door bells, the Yankee pattern door and alarm bells, and signal trip gong bells, in- ventions of E. C. Barton, are made a line of silver chime hand bells, table call bells, tea bells, bicycle bells, and gong bell castings for electrical use, in sizes from one and one-six- teenth to eighteen inches in diameter. The specialties of the company are mostly in the line of bell toys. They have ample buildings, and in every way a well appointed plant, and give employment to from twenty-five to thirty hands.

In January, 1864, Elijah C. Barton married Helen M. Kellogg, daughter of Jared and Frances E. (Day) Kellogg. Of their three sons, Lucian A. is the eldest. The others- Franklin H. (married Sadie E. Gates) and Chauncey C .- both reside in East Hampton.

LUCIAN A. BARTON was born May 24, 1865, in East Hampton, and in that place laid the foundations of his education at the district schools, and supplemented his studies thereat by a course at the Granville (N. Y.) Military Academy and at Yale Business College, of New Haven, graduating from the last named institution in 1885. Entering the employ of the Gong Bell Manufacturing Company, he was soon placed in charge of the "call bell de- partment," a post which he filled with marked ability and success for five years. In 1890 he purchased a half interest in the drug busi- ness of J. L. Leonard (established five years before), and in 1892 bought the interest of his partner, becoming sole proprietor. In 1896 he accepted the agency for the New York

Mutual Life Insurance Company, and has gathered a very considerable clientage. Prior to that year he had held agencies for several of the Hartford companies, and brought to his new engagement a ripe experience, in ad- dition to keen native sagacity.

Politically Mr. Barton has always been a Republican, although he possesses the 'breadth of mind which permits him to rise above par- tisanship in local elections. He is genial, social, and personally widely popular. He be- longs to the Masonic fraternity, being a mem- ber of Anchor Lodge, of East Hampton ; Free- stone Chapter, of Portland; and Cyrene Com- mandery, Knights Templar, at Middletown. He also affiliates with the Order of United American Mechanics, at East Hampton.

On November 17, 1892, Mr. Barton mar- ried Hattie L. Lamson, daughter of Rev. G. H. Lamson. The history of her family is full of interest. She is a granddaughter of John Lamson, who was born in 1805, at New Haven, Conn., but who removed thence to Lubec, Maine, then the most easterly town in the United States. He married Mary Ann Ford, of Boston, who was born in 1805, and died in 1880. She was a daughter of Thomas and Catherine (Lamson) Ford, and a sister of Daniel F. Ford, the distinguished editor-in chief of the Youth's Companion, whose bril- liant career was terminated by death in 1899. John Lamson was a successful trader and gen- eral store-keeper. He died in 1875. He was an active member of the M. E. Church, and a liberal contributor to the advancement of religion. In politics he was a Democrat, and, being an influential citizen, was chosen to fill various offices. Twelve children were born to him, three of whom are yet living: Cather- ine, widow of Dr. Higgins, residing in Liver- more Falls, Maine; Daniel, who is interested in the fish business, at Lubec, Maine; and George H.

George H. Lamson, the father of Mrs. Lucian A. Barton, was born in Lubec, Maine, January 10, 1839. He received a good Eng- lish and classical education at the Bucksport (Maine) Seminary, Wilbraham Academy and Boston University, studied theology and was ordained to the Christian ministry. His first pastoral charge was at Fall River, Mass. For a quarter of a century he remained in the active service of the church, resigning from his last pastorate, at South Coventry, Conn., in

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1893. In 1884-85 he was in charge of the church at East Hampton. On June 8, 1871, he was married in Boston to Sarah Liscomb, daugh- ter of Douglas and Harriet B. (Greene) Lis- comb. Her father was born in North Sydney, C. B., in 1825, and died in 1869. Her mother born August 3, 1835, is still living, and resides in Brooklyn, N. Y. To Rev. Mr. Lamson and his wife came two children: Hattie L. (Mrs. Barton ), born March 23, 1872, and George H., Jr., born April 8, 1882; the latter graduated in 1902 from the Connecticut State Agricul- tural College.

HOUGH. The old Colonial family of Hough trace their American origin to Will- iam Hough, who was born in Cheshire, Eng- land, in 1619. In 1642 he came to America, locating at Plymouth, soon after moving to Gloucester, Mass., and in 1651 coming to New London, where he died August 1I, 1663.

(II) Capt. John Hough, a sailor, was the sixth child of William, and was born in New London October 17, 1655. On January 27, 1680, he wedded Sarah, daughter of James Post. In 1678 he had located in Norwich, where his death occurred August 26, 1715.

(III) John Hough, son of Captain John, was born in Norwich, October 1, 1697. On September 4, 1718, he married Hannah Denni- son, who bore him eight children. He died February 9, 1785.

(IV) Jabez Hough, fifth child of John and Hannah, was born November 16, 1728, and died in Bozrahville, Conn., July 23, 1820, at the advanced age of ninety-two years. His wife was Phebe Harris.

(V) Jabez Hough (2), son of Jabez and grandfather of several of the name now re- siding in Middlesex county, was born in Boz- rahville, May 26, 1760, and died in February, 1831. He followed farming all his life, and was highly respected in the community. In the Congregational Church of which he was a faithful member, he served as deacon for many years. His wife, Eunice Clement, was born November 25, 1767, and she died Febrit- ary 17, 18.12. Their children, all of whom led worthy lives, were as follows: Clement, born December 26, 1791 ; Joseph, born January 6, 1793; Harriet Tracey, born May 3. 1791: Mary Moseley, born September 11, 1795 ; Sally Clement, born December 5. 1796; Jabez, born May 4. 1700: Urbane, born October 1. 1800;

Eunice, born July 14, 1802 : Alanson Hodges, mentioned below ; Walter King, born January 23, 1805; Edward Hyde, February 18, 1807; and Anthony Benezet Cleveland, born Decem- ber 17, 1808, who died in the "United States Hotel," in New York, March 16, 1842.

ALANSON HODGES HOUGH was born in Bozrahville, Conn., October 26, 1803, and there he received his early schooling. By teach- ing accumulated sufficient money to assist himself through college. In 1828 he attended the lectures at Berkshire Medical College, Pittsfield, Mass., and, as related in his own words, in a humorous account of his entering Yale, he was clad in butternut homespun, and he walked with a pack on his back from his na- tive hamlet to New Haven. In the fall of 1829 he entered the Medical Department of Yale College, prepared to continue his medical studies. On March 5, 1832, he graduated, and that same year settled in Essex, where he re- mained a successful and valued physician until the close of his life August 18, 1886. Though always busy in his profession, he found time to interest himself in the affairs of the town, taking special interest in educational matters, also filling various local offices, and in 1855 he was elected to the State Senate. A consistent member of the Baptist Church of Essex, he served as deacon from 1842 until the time of his death. Mr. Hough was twice married; first, in 1832, to Mary Lathrop, who died in the following year; second, August 12, 1834. to Susan E. Williams, who was born Novem- ber 13. 1808, a daughter of William and Abby (Pratt) Williams. She died November 15. 1873. To them were born: (1) William Charles, born October 22, 1835. was educated at Hills Academy, Clinton Academy and Snf- field Literary Institute. He left school at the age of seventeen to go to sea as ship boy under Capt. Champion, of Lyme, on the packet "Vic- toria," bound for London. Upon his return he went to Pontiac. Mich., where he clerked in a store until 1838, when he went Sonth and was employed by the New Orleans & Mobile Transportation Co., at Mobile, until 1801. See- tional feeling was running high, and he re- turned to Essex, where with Jared E. Red field and Themas N. Dickinson, he embarked in cotton manufacturing business at Rockville. Conn .. continuing until 1800, When he sold out and came to Essex, carrying on the cotton bus- iness here with Mr. Redfield. In 18os Mr.

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Hough became superintendent of mining oper- ations in North Carolina. In 1869 he married Marietta Smith, daughter of B. F. and Mary (Fleming) Smith, of Haddam, the former a son of Elijah. They have one daughter, Irene Fleming, born January 12, 1883. In politics Mr. Hough is a Republican, and served as rep- resentative in 1867-8, Senator in 1874, town selectman, member State central committee and was a delegate to Chicago in 1880. Fra- ternally he is a Royal Arch Mason, belonging to Burning Bush Chapter, and religiously, with his wife and daughter belongs to the Baptist church. (2) Abby Pratt, born December 17, 1837, married Rev. Joseph Colver Wightman, pastor of the Baptist Church at Middletown and New London, who served as Chaplain of the Twenty-fourth Connecticut Volunteer In- fantry. He died at Taunton, Mass., August 8, 1882. Their children were Walter V., Er- nest G., Eugene T., Merle J., Hubert J., Alan- son H., and Susan W. (3) Mary Adele, Mrs. Redfield, born December 15, 1839. (4) Alan- son Benezette, born May 20, 1842, graduated from Brown University and Albany Law School, and practiced his profession in Dan- bury. During the Civil war he served nine months as sergeant of Company B, Twenty- fourth Connecticut Volunteer Infantry. He married Maria Starr, of Danbury, Conn., and has three children, Mariette S., Susan W., and Julia S. (5) Niles Pratt, born August 30, 1844, was teller for the Phoenix National Bank of Hartford, and is now agent for Malcolm & Combs, brokers of New York. He married Leila C. Griswold, of Hartford, Conn., and has two daughters, Helen G. and Adele R. (6) Grace Susan, born March 15, 1847, is unmar- ried and lives in Essex. (7) Charles Starkey, born Angust 19, 1850, was teller of Saybrook Bank, of Essex, from 1867 to 1873, when he was made cashier, holding that position until 1885, when he removed to Carthage, S. Dak. He died suddenly in Denver, Colo., June 26, 1886. On May 26, 1881, he married Isabelle Smith, daughter of Bezaleel F. and Mary ( Fleming) Smith.

JARED EDGAR REDFIELD, of Essex, was a descendant in the eighth generation from Will- iam Redfield, or Redfen, or Redfyne, as it is variously rendered in the uncertain orthog- raphy of early records, who was probably one of the early emigrants from England to the Colony of Massachusetts. As early as 1639 he

was living on the south side of the Charles river, being one of the first settlers on that side, and he was a resident of Pequot, now New London, in 1653. Mr. Redfin died in 1662, and the name seems to have gradually been changed to Redfield.

A direct descendant, Roswell Redfield, a son of' Roswell, was born in 1762, and became the grandfather of our subject. During a part of his life he followed the sea, but later en- gaged in the jewelry business in Clinton. In 1787 he married Juliana Stevens, of Killing- worth, who was born in 1763, and they made their home in Clinton. He died in 1838.

Jared Crane Redfield, son of Roswell, was born February 17, 1803. In 1819 he removed to Essex, where he engaged in the boot, shoe and leather finding trade, and he died July 10, 1869. On August 2, 1830, he married Hen- rietta Rossiter, who was born May 11, 1803, and who died August 23, 1882, a daughter of John Rossiter, of Clinton, Connecticut.

Jared Edgar Redfield was born in Essex, Conn., November 28, 1833. He died October 20, 1889. His education was obtained in the schools of his native town and Hills Acad- emy, the latter at the time being most effici- ently presided over by Dr. Emory Lyon, who afterward for many years was connected with the University Grammar School, Providence, R. I. At the age of eighteen Mr. Redfield be- came cashier of the Saybrook Bank of Essex, . which position he held for twenty-two years, when he was elected president of the bank, re- taining this office until 1884, when he became largely interested in railroad operations in the West and South. He was president for some years of the Little Rock, Mississippi and Texas Railroad, which was bought by Jay Gould in 1887. He was also president of the Columbus and Eastern Railroad. He had large interests in other enterprises in the South and in Michi- gan, and he also aided and was deeply inter- ested in building up the business interests of Essex and vicinity, identifying himself with every enterprise which tended to the progress of the town. In politics he was a stanch Re- publican. although no temptation could induce him to accept office. He was connected with Burning Bush Chapter of the Masonic frater- nity. Fidelity to principle, thorough integrity and indomitable perseverance marked his busi- ness career, and unostentatious liberality his every relation as citizen and friend. Young

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men came to him for counsel, and many of them he helped to positions of trust. From early manhood until his death he remained a valued member of the Baptist Church. His early death was mourned by the whole com- munity.

On November 7, 1860, Mr. Redfield was married to Mary Adele Hough, daughter of Dr. Alanson and Susan ( Williams) Hough, and to this union were born two sons : William H., born November 2, 1862, married Esther Post, of Essex, and is teller of Pahquioque Bank of Danbury ; and Jared Edgar, born Sep- tember 20, 1867, was clerk for Pratt, Reed & Co., of Deep River, Conn., later connected with the Wood & Brooks Co., Buffalo, N. Y., manu- facturers of piano ivory and keyboards.

The Redfield and Hough families are re- garded highly throughout the State of Con- necticut, having produced some of her most distinguished citizens. They have intermar- ried with other prominent families, and have preserved thie traits which in the past have been noted in their ancestry.

EDWIN PRATT is a member of the well known Pratt family which has been identified with Middlesex county and the town of Es- sex for many generations, and some representa- tives of the family have carried on the trade of blacksmith in the same place for more years than the oldest resident can remember. "The shop on the hill" has become a historic spot.

Lieut. William Pratt is supposed to have come with Rev. Thomas Hooker, in 1633, to what is now Cambridge, Mass., thence to Hartford, Conn., in 1636. He married Eliz- abeth, daughter of John Clark, first of Say- . brook. Lieut. Pratt attended the General Court for the twenty-third and last time, at Ilartford, May 9, 1678.

Ensign Jolin Pratt was born in 1644. and in 1668 married Sarah Jones, daughter of Thomas Jones, of Guilford. He moved to Es- sex Point in 1678, in which year, by a division of property, he received as his share certain lands in Pettipang, and there built his sinithy, which is now conducted by one of his descend- ants in the ciglith generation, a son of Edwin Pratt being engaged there daily. The original forge stood perhaps a rod or two farther west than the present shop, but it is practically true that the Pratt blacksmith shop has been located on the same site for 224 years, no one know-

ing just how many buildings have been in use. The present one was erected by Elias Pratt, the father of Edwin, and is yet a first-class struc- ture, bidding fair to stand for several genera- tions. Ensign John Pratt served a number of times in the General Assembly. He is supposed to have died in 1726.

John Pratt (2), son of Ensign John, was born in 1671, married Hannah Williams in 1697, and resided in that part of the town called Petapaug. He is supposed to have died in 1744.

Lieut. John Pratt (3), son of John (2), was born in 1703, and married Mary Webb in 1732.

Asa Pratt, son of John (3), was born in 1734, married Abigail Dennison in 1759, and died in 181I.

John Pratt (4), son of Asa, was born in 1763, married Hester Kirkland in 1788, and re- sided in Essex, where he died in 1827.

Elias Pratt, son of John (4), was born Feb- ruary 1. 1801, in Essex, where he grew to manhood. On October 11, 1825, he married Abigail Pratt, daughter of Asel and Elizabeth ( Buell) Pratt. His father had taught him the trade of smith, and he was engaged at same all his life, although in his later years much of the hard work was done by his sons, Edwin and Edward. He was reared a Whig and embraced Republican principles when that party came into being. Both he and his wife were prominent members of the Congregational Church of Essex, Mr. Pratt being active in samne until his death, at the age of seventy- seven years; his wife survived him ten years. To them came children as follows: Susan E .. born June 29, 1826, married Deacon Samuel Griswold, of Ivoryton; Edward W., born July 31, 1828, married Cornelia M. Doane; Edwin was born August 22, 1830; Julia L., born Jan- uary 30, 1833, died October 11. 1834: Augus- tus K., born June 20, 1835, married Rebecca Tiley and resides in Essex : Julia, boru Septem- ber 12. 1837, died November 1, 1837: James Elias, born September 14. 1811, died Septem- ber 12, 1842; Eveline 11., born June 20, 18444. married Harry Morgan, of Essex.

Filwin Pratt, the subject of this review, was born in Essex, on West street, a few rods west of the blacksmith shop, and received his early education in the common schools, supplen it- ing same by a season's str's at Hills Aen an institution of which Connecticut was ery

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proud. At the age of eighteen he entered the ivory factory, where he remained three years, and then went into his father's shop, in con- nection with his brother Edward W. carrying on the blacksmith's trade. Since the death of this brother. he has associated his son James with him, and together they keep up the reputa- tion of the old smithy and do a large and satis- factory business.

In 1856 Mr. Pratt was married to Cornelia Lord, who was born in 1836, daughter of James and Cornelia (Hayden) Lord, and died in 1892. To this union were born: Leon, born in 1857, married Estella Bedette, and has chil- dren, Edith, Hattie; Addie, Leon Hayden, Marion and Burdette; he is interested in straw goods in New York City, and resides in Hack- ensack, N. J. Elias, born in 1859, married Maria Blake, and has one son, Edwin; he is a practicing physician in Torrington. James M., born in 1861, married Jennie Lyne; he is engaged with his father in business, and is also deputy sheriff of his district. Addie, born in 1863, died at the age of eleven.

In his life work Mr. Pratt has made a suc- cess, and although he has not made a large fortune, he has accumulated a sufficiency to provide well for his family, and, better than this, has won the esteem and confidence of his acquaintances by a life of uprightness. The community will mourn when the day comes that his cheery presence is gone from the forge. Politically he is a stanch and true Republican, and has been prominently identified with pub- lic affairs, having for twenty years been an effi- cient member of the board of relief. He has recently been honored with election to the State Legislature, representing his town in 1901 and 1902. For the past fifteen years he has been a deacon in the Congregational Church, of which he has been a member since youth, and he was trustee for many years.

ROBERT S. CONE, one of the extensive farmers and dairymen of the town of East Haddam, Middlesex county, comes of a fam- ily old in the annals of New England life. He was born in East Haddam September 16, 1820, a son of Sylvester and Susannah S. (Wright) Cone.

One of his early ancestors, Daniel Cone, was born in 1626, and came from Edinburgh, Scotland. In 1670 he settled in Haddam with five sons, Nathaniel, Daniel, Jared, Stephen

and Caleb, his other son staying in Scotland. The family removed to East Haddam a few years afterward and built a log cabin a little south of the settlement called Johnsonville, which property until quite recently remained in the Cone family. The country was then extremely wild. The settlers used to assemble at times and surround the wolves that infested the neighborhood. Starting as far as Middle Haddam, they would drive them down on the Neck, where they became good targets for the hunters. These brave men did much to bring the land into a state of cultivation. Daniel Cone died October 24, 1706, and was buried in Haddam.

Jared Cone, son of Daniel, was long a resi- dent of the town. Among his children were: Nehemiah, who died in 1819, leaving the fol- lowing children-Mary, Newel, Statira, Sarah, Jared, Lucy and Betsy; Jared, Jr., who moved to Millington, and married Ruth Smith, daugh- ter of Matthew Smith (the old chimney stack of his house still stands) ; and George.

George Cone, son of Jared, married a Miss Emmons, and of their children, Zachariah was the grandfather of our subject; Helon R. left Millington in 1838, and for many years en- gaged in the wholesale fruit business near Ful- ton Ferry, N. Y .; and George, Jr., died in Georgia. 1

Zachariah Cone lived on the farm with his father, and died when quite young. He mar- ried Jemimah Hall, and their children were Horatio; Sylvester; Pheleg, who died young; and Clarissa, who married Dr. Asa Emmons, of East Haddam.

Sylvester Cone was born in the town of East Haddam April 12, 1780, became an ex- tensive farmer and stockman, and was killed by a mad bull. Politically he was a Whig, and he served as a selectman of the town for many years. He was a regular attendant at church, and a man whose virtues and ability commanded the highest respect throughout the community. He married Susannah S. Wright, daughter of Jonathan and Tryphena (Tracey) Wright, the former of whom was an ensign in the Revolutionary war, serving seven years ; Mr: Wright was a native of East Haddam, but died in Litchfield, Conn. To Sylvester Cone and his wife were born: Eliza, who was drowned at Vineyard Haven, at the age of twenty ; Jedidah, who died at the age of nineteen; Susan, who married David B. Pike;

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Sylvester, who died at the age of three years; Tryphena Tracey, who died in New Berlin, N. Y., the wife of John B. Harvey; Mary Ann C., who married N. C. Richmond ; George M., who died at the age of thirty-three; Robert S .; James G., who died at the age of seven months; and Eliza who died in infancy.

Robert S. Cone was but three years old when the family removed to the farm which he now owns and occupies. During his boyhood he attended the Red Lane school, just across th street from his home, and also the select school taught by Rev. Robert D. Gardner, a Yale graduate. At the age of eighteen Mr. Cone began business for himself, and drove cattle to Providence, R. I., his father being an extensive cattle dealer. So successful was he that he has continued farming and cattle raising ever since, at times also preparing lum- ber for the market. About 1870 Mr. Cone inaugurated tobacco raising in East Haddam, sometimes having six acres under cultivation. His crop of tobacco is always of such excel- lent quality that he never has the slightest difficulty in marketing it. Within recent years Mr. Cone has devoted considerable attention to his dairy, which is fully equipped with all modern appliances, and his strain of cows is one best calculated for this purpose; Mr. Cone is also interested in the co-operative creamery. His farm consists of some three hundred acres.

On November 4, 1849, Mr. Cone was mar- ried in East Haddam to Elizabeth Chapman, daughter of Robert Wolcott and Elizabeth D. (Lay) Chapman. To this union were born two children, as follows: Wolcott, born in 1850, died unmarried at the age of thirty-two. Almira, born in 1854, married Dr. A. N. Sweet, of Middletown, Conn .. and died when thirty-two, leaving three daughters-Elizabeth Norton (born February 16, 1884), Almira Cone (born March 31, 1885), and Julia Ful- ler (born October 14, 1886), of whom Eliza- beth and Julia have been reared by our subject. Mrs. Elizabeth ( Chapiran) Cone died October 29. 1901. Politically Mr. Cone is a Republi- can, although prior to the war he was a Demo- crat. He was a member of the local military company which was called out on the first Monday in May and once in the fall, and as he was not apt in learning the tactics was twice fined for forgetting the movements. Mr. Cone has served most ably on the board of select men, and was road agent for nine years, the

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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 119

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