Commemorative biographical record of Middlesex County, Connecticut : containing biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens, and of many of the early settled families, Part 127

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 127

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Mrs. Sophia A. Cone is a descendant of one of the old families of Connecticut. Da- vid White, her grandfather, married Sophia Kilburne, and died in 1809, and their son, George Kilburne, was the father of Mrs. Cone.

GEORGE KILBURNE WHITE was born May 27, 1808, in Buckland, Mass. He lost his father when an infant of not more than a year old. In 1816 he came to the town of Chat- ham, and there grew to manhood and mar- ried. He was a successful farmer, and in 1836 removed to Annsville, Oneida Co., N. Y., where he died, October 5, 1852. He was

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a man of unusual energy, and while living in New York, in addition to farming, engaged in the lumber business, operated a sawmill and owned several boats on the Erie Canal. He was a Democrat in politics, and was held in high esteem by his fellow citizens, who elected him constable and collector.

On July 4, 1827, George K. White was married in the town of Chatham, to Polly, a daughter of Adonijah Strong, Jr. She was born November 3, 1808, and died August I, 1848. They became the parents of seven chil- dren : (I) Betsey Ann was born in Chatham, January 24, 1828, married William C. White, and died at Burr Oak, Iowa. (2) Lavina was born June 28, 1830, and became the wife of Demming W. Sexton, of East Hampton. (3) Sophia A. (Mrs. Ezra G. Cone), was born March 7, 1832, in Chatham town, where she passed her girlhood, and was educated in the district and select schools ; after the family re- moved to New York, she taught for four years in Oneida county, in that State. (4) Cather- ine Coe was born July 22, 1834, in Chatham town, and is now Mrs. Dennison Rich, of East Hampton. (5) George Henry was born in Annsville, Oneida Co., N. Y., June 1, 1837, and died in 1891. (6) Barzillai M. was born March 18, 1841, and died May 14. 1843. (7) Josephine was born March 25, 1844, and mar- ried Irving H. Abell, of East Hampton.

THE STRONG FAMILY, from which Polly Strong was descended, is one of the oldest and most respected in New England. The first American progenitor was one Josiah Strong, who was born in England in 1626 (the fifth child of John Strong. [r.) He emigrated to the Colonies, and November 26, 1656, married ( first ) Mary Clark ( who died at the age of wenty-five ), a daughter of Joseph and Fran- es Clark. Her mother married for her second husband Thomas Dewey, who became the pro- renitor of many families of that name in Con- hecticut. After the death of his first wife Jo- iah Strong married (second ) Elizabeth War- iner. He was a tanner, at Windsor, Con .. nd was considered, in his day, a man of sub- tance. Ile died February 20, 1697, his wife aving preceded him to the grave on June 7, 684. By his second marriage he became the ither of a son, Josiah, who was born January 1, 1678, and married, Jamary 5, 1698, Jo- 'na Gillett (born October 28, 1680), a daugh-

ter of Josiah and Joanna (Taintor) Gillett, of Simsbury, Conn. Her father was a farmer, at Windsor, and in 1704-05 removed to Col- chester, where he died, April 5, 1759. Their son,

Asahel Strong was the youngest, and thir- teenth child of their marriage. He was born June 22, 1725, and was a farmer in Colches- ter. On June 7, 1744, he married Betterus (or Betty) Crouch. Their children were: Irene, born May 20, 1745 ; Asahel, born March 29, 1747, and died April 13, 1748; Adonijah B., born May 21, 1749 (the great-grandfather of Mrs. Cone) ; Ambrose, born November I, 1750; Joanna, born December 10, 1753, and married to Aaron Dewey ; Betterus (or Betty ), born November 3, 1755; Asahel (2), born October 17, 1760; Mercy (never married) ; Polly, who became the wife of W. W. Gott.

Adonijah B. Strong. Sr., son of Asahel, married Mary ( Polly ) Kellogg, whose father, Daniel Kellogg, was a farmer of Chatham. Adonijah B. Strong, Sr., died on May IS, 1824, and his wife in 1822. They were the parents of twelve children, of whom Adonijah, Jr., (referred to below) was the eldest. Of the others: Mary ( Polly), born in 1775, married Nathaniel Markham; Abigail, born in 1777, married Elijah Ackley, and after his death wedded a Mr. Holmes; Henry, born in 1779, died July 2, 1828: Anna, born in 1782, married Oliver Brainard ; Asahel born in 1784; Kellogg ( 1), born in 1786, died in childhood : Lovina, born in 1789, died unmarried, July 2, 1864; Kellogg (2) also died in infancy : Kellogg (3) was born October 30. 1791 ; and Daniel was born in 1793.

Adonijah Strong. Jr., was born in 1773. and was a farmer, of East Hampton. He lost his life through drowning, while attempting to cross the Westfield river, on April 17, 1800. In 1793, when a young man of twenty years, he was married to Elizabeth, a daughter of Moses and Elizabeth (Come) Cook. She sur- vived him until Angust 14, 1851, when she too, passed from earth. Their children were: Elizabeth, born in 1795. married (first) to Bliss Welch, and (second) to Jesse Hurtbut : Charlotte, born January 17. 1707. married Nathaniel C. Smith; Lydia, born December 5. 1798, and married Henry Bush; Lucy, born October 11, 1800, and married Henry Stroug. a cousin ; Hannah, born October 8, 1802 aud married Gilbert Hills : Charles, born July 6,

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1804 ; Julia, born in 1806, and married Harvey Harding ; and Polly, the mother of Mrs. Sophia A. Cone, who was born November 3, 1808.

On August 22, 1866, the Strong family reunion was held at East Hampton, at which 533 descendants were present, and on that oc- casion Hon. Daniel Strong, of Portland, made the statement that "not one of the family had ever been arraigned in a court of justice, for even a trifling misdemeanor, and that not one had ever been dependent on either public or private charity for support."

NELSON SHEPARD belongs to the old- er class of farmers in Middlesex county, who combine character, ability and high moral ideals in their daily life, and his name wher- ever known commands respect. He is one of the few surviving representatives of that class whose integrity, intelligence and unswerving loyalty to the great basal ideals of American- ism were at once the mark and the privilege of the New England yeomanry. He is ad- vanced in years, but his extensive interests and investments still receive his close attention. Mr. Shepard is in many respects a remarkable man, and his career stands out quite alone, so seldom is its like to be found.

The Shepard family is an old one in Mid- dlesex county, and its representatives have stood in the forefront for generations. Nelson Shepard was born December 25, 1820, on the farm where he now resides, on the site of his present home, which he built in 1856. His grandfather, Andrew Shepard, born in 1767, died June 3, 1830. He was a farmer, and' owned the place where Nelson Shepard was born. He married Deliverance Leland, who was born in 1770, at Grafton, Mass., and died in 1808, in what is now Portland; her father, Phineas Leland, was a son of James Leland. The second wife of Andrew Shepard was Do- rinda Norton, who died September 22, 1855, at the age of eighty-eight years. Andrew Shepard was drowned at Cornwall's dam; he fell into the flume, and rescue was impossible. His family consisted of the following children : Erastus, the father of Nelson, is mentioned below. Charles, who died in Illinois, mar- ried Ruth Abbey, of Portland, a daughter of Asaph Abbey ; he went in the rush to Califor- nia in 1849, and was successful in his explora- tions. Sally, born in 1794, married Chauncey Goodrich, and moved to Crawford county, Pa.

Charlotte married a Mr. Treat, of East Glas- tonbury, Conn., and her second husband was Waite Hale, of the same place; she died in the West. Harriet, born in 1801, married Na- thaniel Brown, and died in Essex. Emily married George Cornwall, and for her second husband Sylvester Gildersleeve.

Erastus Shepard was born in 1791 on the family estate, and was reared a farmer boy, and when he became a young man he started out peddling through Connecticut, in the man- ner of his time for bright and capable young men. On March 13, 1813, he married Honor Goodrich, daughter of Luther Goodrich, of Portland, and she died March 13, 1832, at the age of forty years. They reared a good fam- ily, becoming the parents of children as fol- lows : Emily, born in 1813, married Joseph Strickland, of Glastonbury, and is now de- ceased. Edward, born in 1814, was accident- ally scalded to death while an infant. Ed- ward (2), born in 1816, lived to be thirty- two years old, and was married. Delia L., born in 1818, married Henry Payne, of Pen- field Hill; they went to Missouri, and some years after that to Colorado. Nelson is the subject of this writing. Caroline, born in 1822, married Frederick Wilcox, of Cromwell, and is now deceased. Harriet Maria, born in 1824, married William Worstell in Missouri, and died in Ohio. The second wife of Eras- tus Shepard was Desire Wilcox, who was born October 19, 1792, daughter of Samuel and Sarah (Gildersleeve) Wilcox. Sarah Gilder- sleeve was born January 2, 1762, daughter of Obadiah and Mary Gildersleeve. She mar- ried Samuel Wilcox June 6, 1784, and died August 6, 1843. Mrs. Desire Shepard was the mother of one son, Henry S., born Septem- ber 13, 1833, who died unmarried at the age of twenty-four years. She died September 30, 1878, at the advanced age of eighty-five.

Erastus Shepard bought his farm of his father-in-law, Luther Goodrich, who went to Pennsylvania. This was part of the place which Nelson Shepard now owns, and there the father made his home from 1819 to his death, successfully engaged in farming. He lived one year in Granby, Conn., previous to his location on the Goodrich farm. Physi- cally, he was a man of fine proportions, and personally won a wide circle of friends and ac- quaintances. He was a Democrat upon his en- trance into politics, and then became a Whig.

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In his later years he attended the Episcopal Church: He died in September, 1843, at the age of fifty-two, and was buried in Center cemetery.

Nelson Shepard attended the South Glas- tonbury Academy two terms, when Mr. No- ble was teacher, walking three miles each way, going to and from school. He was always on the farm, and secured practical ideas on the subject of agriculture from his father, a most modern and progressive farmer. Mr. Shep- ard and Miss Elizabeth Tryon were married November 20, 1844. She was born Novem- ber 13, 1822, in Glastonbury, daughter of Noah and Elizabeth (Goodrich) Tryon. Elizabeth Goodrich was the daughter of Jeremiah and Rebecca (Edwards) Goodrich, and a sister of Ralph Goodrich, who was one of the leading men of Portland in his day. Mrs. Nelson Shepard obtained her schooling in her native town and at South Glastonbury Academy. To Mr. and Mrs. Shepard have come the follow- ing named children : Gertrude E., born May 29, 1848, is the widow of H. A. Cornwall, and resides in Portland. Isabella L., born No- vember 11, 1850, married E. Hubbard Crosby, May 14, 1879, and resides in Hartford; they have one child, Richard Nelson. Lizzie A., born October 30, 1853, died July 7, 1856. Carrie E. born November 11, 1857, died Feb- ruary 7, 1870. Andrew N., born May 5, 1861, resides in Portland ; he is mentioned else- where. Mr. Shepard and his wife celebrated their golden wedding several years ago, and are still active and vigorous people, and Mrs. Shepard has proved a great help to her hus- band. Their family is one of the best in Portland, and their children would be a credit to any home.

Nelson Shepard is a stockholder in the Middlesex Quarry Company, was one of the incorporators of the Portland National Bank, of which he has been a director since the or- ganization, and also one of the organizers of the Freestone Savings Bank, of which he is now vice-president. He was county commis- sioner three years, and at the election of 1886 was chosen to represent the town in the State Legislature, taking an efficient and honorable part in the session of 1887. His business ability and executive gifts are not often equaled or surpassed. In religions connection he belongs to the Episcopal Church.

RUSSELL SPENCER (deceased). The place of one's birth must be humble indeed if the heart does not turn to it as the best of locations in which to spend declining years. The historic old town of Westbrook, Conn., has sent out into the great outside world many who have distinguished themselves in other places, but, when advancing years warned of a coming end, have turned their faces to the dear old home, and have there spent their last days and lie buried with their kin- dred of many generations.

Russell Spencer came of an ancient and honored line. Jared Spencer was born as early as 1610, and emigrated from England in 1634, settling at Newtown, now Cambridge, Mass. He later removed to Lynn, then to Hartford, Conn., and still later, about 1662, to Haddam. In 1672 he was made a freeman, and he died in 1685, leaving a large family.

Thomas Spencer, son of Russell, moved to Pochaug, now Westbrook, in 1685, and from him are descended the most of the families of the name now living in the towns of West- brook, Old Saybrook, Saybrook, and Essex. Thomas married Elizabeth Bates, and was voted an inhabitant of Saybrook December 8, 1687. Soon after he began to work the mines of Pond Meadow, the first known min- ing operations that ever took place in Middle- sex county.

Ensign Caleb Spencer, third son of Thom- as, was born in 1695, made an ensign between 1730 and 1750. Hle left the following chil- dren : Joseph, Mary, Caleb, Hannah, Lemmel. John, Sarah and Jemima.

Joseph Spencer, the eldest of the above children, was born April 8, 1720, and died in 1810. He married Lydia, daughter of l'ea- body and Ruth ( Nettleton) Grenell. in 1745. and left this fanily: Ley. Joseph, Hannah, Daniel, Lydia. Merev, Nabby, Peter and Phebe.

Joseph Spencer, mentioned above as a son of Joseph, was the great-grandfather of our subject, and was born in Gs He died in 1793. In 1769 he married first Elizabeth Clark, and second, in 1;So, Lucy Post. His children were: Nabby, who married Beamont Clark : Elizabeth; Hester; Joseph; Fax: David; George ; and Lucy.

Joseph Spencer, son of Joseph, and third in the line to hear the name of Joseph, was born May 1, 1781, and resided all his life in

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Westbrook, where he died in 1852. He was a blacksmith by trade. In 1801 he married first Saba Dee, who was born in 1784, and died in 1848. His second marriage was to Mrs. Hannah ( Post) Hinkley. All his chil- dren were born of the first marriage, and were as follows: Joseph, born in 1802, married first Betsey Hayden, and second, Eliza (Spen- cer) Dibble, and he died in 1878; Lucy, born in 1804, married Amasa Spencer; Hannah, died unmarried ; Daniel; George married Eme- line Spencer; Eliza, born in 1814, married Jedediah Post; Maria (deceased) ; Maria (2) married Capt. Nicholas Magna; Isaac, born in 1822, married Henrietta Post, and resided in Westbrook, but later removed to Meriden, where he died in 1900, his remains being brought to Westbrook.

Daniel Spencer, the father of our late sub- ject, was born October 17, 1806, in West- brook, where he learned the trade of farrier from his father, and followed that business all his life, his death occurring in 1882. All his days were actively spent, and as he was fru- gal and hard-working, he accumulated quite a competency. Although he was a quiet, peace- ful man, he was a firm Abolitionist, and was always ready to discuss this question if he thought he could influence his hearers. Al- ways a consistent attendant and supporter of the Congregational Church, he was missed when death called him away. In 1825 he mar- ried Minerva Kelsey, daughter of Russell and Cynthia Kelsey, born in 1810, and she died in 1867. The children of this marriage numbered six: R'ussell, our subject; Ellen G., born in 1829, first married, in 1850, Capt. Will- iam Stannard, and in 1882 Horace T. Wilcox, and she died in Chicago, Ill., in 1894; Louisa, born in

1832, married Simeon Dickinson, of Essex, but died in Denver, Colo .; Wallace G., born in 1836, married as his first wife, Sarah D. Morgan, in 1859, later Elvira R. Wilcox, and resides in Westbrook; Ann Augusta married, in 1857, William C. Comstock, a noted manufacturer of ivory goods in Essex, where she now lives ; and D. Wilson, of Centerbrook, married Emma Bushnell and has one son, James, who is also married, and who has a son, Donald.

Russell Spencer was born March 3, 1827, in Westbrook, and was educated in the dis- trict schools, and in Westbrook Academy. Un- til he was sixteen years old, he was employed

in the smithy of his father, and then decided to try his fortune away from home, walking all the way to Meriden, where a position was offered him. Several years of hard work in Meriden made him a master hand at his trade, and there he won many friends, but upon the request of his father he returned to the old shop in Westbrook, as his father needed his assistance. Naturally a mechanic, Mr. Spencer had been very successful in his work, which at that time included many branches not now carried on in a blacksmith shop, and after some time spent at home he accepted a position offered him by the Meriden Cutlery Company. Here he was engaged as a shaper of their product, employing several hands on contract work, and receiving excel- lent wages. However, factory work seemed to injure his health, and he left Meriden and purchased a blacksmith shop in Old Saybrook, where he carried on his trade, living a more active life. For some twelve years Mr. Spen- cer continued in business in Old Saybrook, at the end of which time the Meriden Com- pany again desired his services, and, selling his shop, he returned to Meriden, again re- suming contract work, as he had done before, giving great satisfaction and prospering finan- cially. Until failing health warned him that the factory life was again sapping his strength, Mr. Spencer remained, but in 1885 decided to re- turn to his native town of Westbrook, and spend his last days within its quiet borders, having earned enough to enable him to live a life of leisure. Purchasing property of Charles R. Stannard, on Main street, he removed there, and his last years were quietly spent, much of his leisure time being employed in hunting and fishing, of which he was fond. An in- jured foot was the immediate cause of his death, which occurred January 22, 1899. Al- though his father had been so ardent a Re- publican, Mr. Spencer looked at public mat- ters in a different way, and voted with the Democratic party, but always refused the po- litical offices proffered to him from time to time. Both he and wife were consistent mem- bers of St. Andrews Episcopal Church, of Meriden, where they were most highly es- teemed.

On November 23, 1851, Mr. Spencer was married to Eleanor Louisa Hill, who was born December 20, 1830, in Madison, Conn., and who came to Westbrook with her parents when

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young. Her parents were Philip and Ann Eliza M. (Crane) Hill, the former of whom was a son of John Hill, a tailor of Madison. Philip Hill was also a tailor for fifty years, and later was the trusted mail carrier in West- brook; and he died at the age of eighty-four years, the father of six children: (I) Albert Mortimer, a seafaring man, was a member of the Fourteenth Connecticut Volunteer In- fantry in the Civil war, was wounded by a shell at the battle of Gettysburg, and died in New Jersey while on his way home. He was a brave man and good soldier. He married Mary Dibble, who lives in Westbrook, (2) Edwin A. married Cornelia Jones, and lives in Westbrook. (3) Ann Maria mar- ried Leverett Linsley, later Gilbert Linsley, and lived and died in Branford. (4) Mrs. Spen- cer. (5) Emily is deceased. (6) Catherine A. is the widow of Charles R. Stannard, and resides in Westbrook. Two children were born to our subject and wife: (I) Walter, born in Old Saybrook, died October 7, 1872, aged twenty years. (2) Thomas, born in Old Saybrook January 16, 1856.

Thomas Spencer, son of Russell, moved with his parents while young to Meriden, where he attended the public schools, and being of a studious turn of mind, occupied much of his time in intellectual work. Em- ployed in the factory with his father he dis- played such mechanical ability as well as su- perior mental gifts, that he attracted atten- tion. For one year he attended the classes of Professors Phelps and Beebe, in Yale College, soon after becoming so interested in electricity that he made a thorough study of it, and was engaged by the Edison Company to establish plants through New England, remaining with them a number of years. Later he assisted in the formation of a company now known as the Helios-Upton Company, manufacturers of electrical supplies of all kinds, located at No. 1231 Callowhill street. Philadelphia, their busi- ness reaching over the United States. Mr. Spencer is now superintendent in the build- ing departirent of these electrical plants, being also an inventor of some celebrity, the com- pany manufacturing his inventions. Mr. Spencer was married January 4, 1899. to Mary Gilmore MeDongal, of Chicago, Ill., eklest daughter of Robert D. and Anna Wood Gil- more MeDougal, both of Chillicothe, Ohio. where Mr. McDongal was a member of the

Bar, and where he died. After his death the family moved to Chicago. Mr. and Mrs. Spen- cer reside in Philadelphia. Mrs. Spencer, the widow of Russell, enjoys the summers in West- brook, but the winters are spent with her son in Philadelphia.

MASON H. SILLIMAN, now retired, who for many years was an important figure in the commercial life of Moodus, Middlesex county, and enjoys the respect and esteem of a wide circle of friends, was born Febru- ary 13, 1821, on the old homestead in East Haddam, son of Huntington and Statira C. ( Fuller ) Silliman. Mr. Silliman's grand- father was a native of Chester, this county, but lived in East Haddam for a number of years. He had a large family: William, Huntington, Eliphalet, Oliver and Dorothy.

Huntington Silliman was born in the town of East Haddam, in a locality known as Silli- manville, in June, 1795, and died March 25, 1875; his wife passed away December 10, 1860. The grandfather had started a shoe- making business, which Huntington and his brother William continued, the former all his life. Politically the father was a Whig, then a Republican, and he was a stanch member of the Congregational Church. To himself and wife were born: Alfred G., Joseph, Eliza G., Laura, William, Mason H. and Jared B.

Mason H. Silliman grew to maturity in Moodus, learning the trade of a shoemaker, and attending the district schools. After at- taining to years of manhood he continued making shoes up to the age of thirty-four, when he embarked in the grocery business in Moodus, and conducted a flourishing concern for twelve years: he then went to Brooklyn and operated a feed and flour establishment for eleven years. In time he acquired proper- ty in Brooklyn, but the old home feeling grew too strong, so in 1877 he disposed of all his interests, returned to Moodus, and settled on the old homestead, where he has since lived a life of retirement. This homestead property has been in the family for 125 years, being the home the grandfather purchased when he located in East Haddam. Never before in its history has the property been in such excel- lent condition.

Mr. Silliman was married to Lucy P. Wright, daughter of William and Mary (Cros- by) Wright, of Leesville. East Haddam. Mr.

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and Mrs. Wright had children as follows : Charles D., born January 25, 1804, married Harriet Whitmore. Moses B., born Septem- ber 26, 1805, married Adelia Whitmore. Mary S., born October 4, 1807, married Alphonso Hyde. Mattalena C., born February 4, 1810, married Levi Crosby. Hannah E., born Janu- ary 28, 1812, married Francis G. Root. Pru- dence C., born May 26, 1814, married Ros- well Davison. Daniel M., born July 26, 1816, married Prudence Youngs. Rebecca A., born July 14, 1818, married Daniel C. Taylor. Lu- cy P., born December 14, 1820, married Mason H. Silliman. Ann T., born August 14, 1823, married Henry F. Gardner. Jane G., born March 5, 1826, died in youth. To the union of Mr. and Mrs. Silliman were born : Freder- ick W., who died at San Francisco, Cal., July 25, 1883, was married in New York City to Mary Pearsall. John H., born October 17, 1851, is a theatrical manager; he married Flora Baxter, a Southern lady. Laura P. died August 15, 1864, when a little over a year old. Annie Crosby died July 17, 1867, in Brooklyn, when eight months old. For a number of years Mrs. Silliman has been an invalid, but her gentle influence has been felt throughout her home and in the lives of her family.

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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 127

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