Commemorative biographical record of Middlesex County, Connecticut : containing biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens, and of many of the early settled families, Part 134

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 134

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Among the greening dells the singer walks, Or through dark groves, where shadowy silence sleeps, Or by the rushing river where the waves Sing to the sedges; and he builds his rhyme, In tuneful numbers murmuring as he goes. Faith fires his soul with prophecy, and binds His will to glory, human and divine. He dreams of splendors that the searcher sees, And sings of triumphs that the toiler wins. The lofty thoughts that echo through his soul, His sweet and high ideals, keep his feet In regions of eternal happiness. He looks on blessed visions ; he beholds Man's noble destiny, and lifts his voice In strains of power that echo through the world, In words of beauty that endure forever, In songs of love that fill the soul with joy, And, like sweet fountains, babbling as they go, Reflect the face of heaven. He proclaims His waking dreams, and straight the toiler builds For man's diviner glory. He applauds With soul-inspiring voice the seeker's power, And sings each new truth into every heart. He makes God's justice known unto the world; And erring passion, surging like the sea In angry waves against the sky, he calms With gentle word of power; and like a star Truth shines serenely out of the still deeps.

So this enduring principle of power, The trinity of Truth and Love and Beauty, Hath ever been the mover of the soul, And shall be while the tides of time shall flow. Faith holds within herself this wondrous power ; The highest truth shines brightest in her light, Love is her soul, and beauty is her glory ; And these-Truth, Love and Beauty-are God's word, His wisdom and His law. This Faith fears naught, But, standing at the unclosed gate of Heaven, She blesseth every seeker after light. And points the way to everlasting life.

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At the two hundred fiftieth anniversary of the settlement of Middletown Judge Donahoe was appointed poet of the occasion, and read the poem "Building Unto God" to an appre- ciative and enthusiastic audience.

; A stanch Democrat, as was his father be- fore him, Judge Donahoe always takes great interest in the affairs of the party, while his ability as a speaker has brought him into fre- quent request to act as delegate at political con- ventions. He made the nominating speech for Mr. Wilcox for Congress, also the nominating speech for Dr. Alsop, for lieutenant-governor. During the early history of the Knights of Columbus he united with that society, and was an active member of same when it was strug- gling for existence, his contributions to lead- ing church papers serving much to help the order ; he is a member of Forest City Council, K. of C. With all his prominence as a lawyer and poet, our subject is yet a most unassum- ing man, one who, coming from a poor Irish family, has worked his way up by his own ability and perseverance.

Judge Donahoe has been twice married, first time, June 21, 1877, to Miss Margaret Burnes, a resident of Meriden, Conn., and daughter of William Burnes. By this union there were five children, only two of whom are now living : Julia T., born June 16, 1884; and Margaret E., born February 21, 1887 (she graduated from the Middletown high school, class of 1900, the youngest graduate in the history of that school). The three children that died, all carried off with scarlet fever in 1885, were, respectively, Mary E., who was seven years old; William Burnes, aged five; and Grace A., aged two and one-half years. On March 14, 1888, the mother of these chil- dren died in Middletown.

Judge Donahoe was married again, Octo- ber 7, 1891, to Miss Sarah A. D'Arsey, a na- tive of Hazardville, Conn., and daughter of Martin and Mary (Dunnigan) D'Arsey, the former of whom, a well known prominent citi- zen of Hazardville, died in January, 1901. He represented Enfield in the Connecticut Legis- lature; he was a Democrat until 1872, and afterward a stanch Republican. Mrs. Sarah A. Donahoe graduated from the Middle- town high school, class of 1875, and in the following year commenced teaching in the public schools of that city. From 1883 to 1891, when she resigned, she was !

principal of the South school, Middletown, and proved most successful in the pro- fession. By his second marriage Judge Dona- hoe has had two children : Grace, who died at the age of six months; and Eleanor Clare, born March 14, 1896, an interesting little child. In 1896 the Judge completed a handsome home on Washington street, Middletown, the present residence of the family.

SAMUEL SMITH WEBB, one of the prominent and well known citizens of Chester, Middlesex county, located along the Middle- sex turnpike, was born January 10, 1846, son of Philip S. and Emily E. ( Ventres) Webb.

Samuel Webb, his grandfather, was born February 26, 1773, on Wig Hill, in the house now occupied by John Hood. Having lost his father when quite young, Samuel Webb was reared by his uncle Stephen, who, being childless, left his property to Samuel. The latter, being a man of sound judgment and wide influence, made good use of his wealth, and when he died, January 9, 1859. his de- mise was deeply deplored : he is buried at Ches- ter. Sammel Webb married Temperance Smith, who died January 18, 1859, and to these good people were born six children : Anna married Constant Webb (no relation), a farm- er living on Wig Hill, in Chester ; she died on June 9, 1855. Samuel married twice, his first wife being a Miss Post: he was a farmer in Chester, where he died July 31, 1858. Philip S., born May 13, 1803, died in infancy. Betsy R., born March 13, 1805, died September 20, 1858: she married John Ventres. Philip S .. born January 17, 1807, was the father of our subject. Heman, born July 24, 1811, married Lucy Beckwith, and died in Chester, in Feb- ruary, 1889 : he was a farmer.

Philip S. Webb was born on Wig Hill. in Chester, where he was reared a farmer's boy. remaining at home until about twenty-one. At that time he went to New York, and was em- ployed as clerk in a grocery store, remaining for about a year. after which he returned to Chester and taught school in that vicinity for several terms. His next venture was the pur- chase of his son's present farm, from John Warner, to which he added from time to time. Upon this farm Philip S. Webb resided until the day of his death. April 22, 1882; he is buried at Deep River. In politics Mr. Webb was a Republican, and he was honored by elec-

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tion to various local offices, and also to the State Legislature, from Chester. He was a consistent member of the Baptist Church, and prominent in church affairs ; was also a member of the old militia, and trained with them. His wife was born July 31, 1810, at Haddam, daughter of John and Anne (Shailer) Ventres, and is still living, residing with our subject; she is a lady of remarkable ability, considering her advanced years. To Mr. and Mrs. Philip S. Webb came three children, of whom Samuel J., born January 29, 1834, died April 18, 1835 ; Catherine E., born July 31, 1836, married Oc- tober 14, 1865, Albert Day, and died in Nor- wich, Conn., March 12, 1866.

Samuel Smith Webb was born in the house he now occupies. He attended the district school, a select school kept by the Misses Clark, at Deep River, and for one winter a select school kept by Ansel Platt. After leav- ing school he returned to work on the home farm, and assisted his father, later assuming entire charge of the place. Since coming into possession of it Mr. Webb has made many improvements and added to the acreage. In the summer of 1867 he paid a visit to an aunt who resided on a farm at Somonauk, DeKalb Co., Ill. Two years later he spent a very en- joyable and profitable summer traveling through Connecticut and Massachusetts, sell- ing goods by sample.

On November 13, 1872, Samuel Smith Webb was married to Sarah A. Silliman, who was born April II, 1852, daughter of Daniel D. and Sarah (Warner) Silliman; she died October 6, 1873. Mr. Webb's second mar- riage, on January 25, 1880, was to Mrs. Hattie (Fox) Smith, a native of East Lyme, born September 7, 1852. To this union have come three children: Essie L., born October 18, 1881 ; Leona M., August 17, 1883 ; and Hattie E., September 11, 1887.

In politics Mr Webb is a Republican. He served on the board of selectmen several years, has been constable, tax collector, member of the school board, and grand juror, and in Au- gust, 1899, was appointed deputy sheriff un- der Sheriff Thomas S. Brown, in which ca- pacity he is now serving. Fraternally Mr. Webb is a member of Unity Grange, No. 117, of Chester and Deep River, has served as mas- ter and treasurer of same, and is now secretary. Both Mr. and Mrs. Webb are consistent mem- bers of the Baptist Church, in the work of

which they take an active part. Mr. Webb is a worthy representative of the upright, indus- trious, frugal New England family from which he is descended. He has made him- self very popular among the people of Mid- dlesex county.

EDWIN STROUD, a soldier citizen of Middletown, Middlesex county, and proprietor of the only steam laundry in that city, was born there June 25, 1841.

William Stroud, father of Edwin, was born November 22, 1802, in Stafford, Conn., where his father owned a fulling-mill, in which Will- iam worked until coming to Middletown, when a young man, before his marriage. Here he started a foundry business, in a modest way, later buying out R. & D. Johnson, and he successfully continued in that line for forty years, becoming one of the best known men in the place. He died in Middletown in 1874, and was buried in Indian Hill cemetery. On July 24, 1827, at Stafford, Conn., William Stroud was married to Miss Priscilla Elvira Bardwell, who was born December 9, 1808, and of their fifteen children, all born in Mid- dletown, the following named are yet living : Harriet (Mrs. Davis), a widow, residing in Middletown: Julia, wife of E. G. Parker, su- perintendent of a mill in Hartford; William E., a resident of New York; Edwin, our sub- ject; and H. K., living in Minneapolis, Minn. The mother of this family died July 31, 1849, and Mr. Stroud subsequently married Lucy Roberts, of Middletown, by whom he had no children. Mr. Stroud died October 8, 1874. In politics he was first a Whig, later a. Repub- lican, and at one time he served as alderman and first selectman. Socially he was affiliated with the I. O. O. F. and Sons of Temperance, while in religious faith he was a member of the Universalist Church, being a deacon in the same.

Edwin Stroud, the subject proper of this article, was reared and educated in his na- tive city, attending the common schools, after which he entered his father's foundry, and was there employed part of the time as machinist and part of the time as bookkeeper until the breaking out of the Civil war when he en- listed, May 7, 1861, in Company A, Second Regiment Connecticut Volunteer Infantry, for three months. Discharged August 7, 1861, he re-enlisted, this time in Company B, Four-

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teenth Regiment Connecticut Volunteer In- fantry, for three years. On February 9, 1863, he was promoted to corporal; on November 20th, following, to sergeant, and subsequently held that rank in the Veteran Reserve Corps. With his regiment he participated in some of the most severe battles of the war, including Antietam, Fredericksburg, Gettysburg, and the Wilderness, and in the engagement at Poe River, May 10, 1864, he received a gunshot wound in the left foot, thereby losing all the toes and being crippled for life. On February 5, 1865, Sergt. Stroud was transferred to the Veteran Reserve Corps, and he continued in the performance of his various duties until his discharge from the service, July 3, 1865, at Indianapolis, Ind. He then returned to Middletown, and with the exception of some six years spent in Texas has since remained there. For some years he served as bookkeep- er for N. C. Stiles, and after his father's death he was executor of the estate. He then went to Texas, and at Forney, Kaufman coun- ty, engaged in cotton raising for six years, at the end of that period returning to Middle- town, where for a time he was employed in the Douglas pump shops.

In March, 1885, Mr. Stroud purchased of E. R. Davis the laundry on Court street, its present site, at that time a comparatively in- significant concern. Its arrangements have, however, been entirely changed, new and im- proved machinery added, and, in fact, every- thing in the way of modern appliances intro- duced. Mr. Stroud has practically made a new laundry of the establishment, and there is no plant of the kind in the State more fully equipped with suitable machinery, or possess- ing better facilities for doing thorough work. The volume of business has increased four- fold since Mr. Stroud took possession, due mainly to the unexcelled work turned out, and the patronage is steadily growing. In 1894 Mr. Stroud associated with him his son, Will- iam E., an excellent and bright young man, whose public-school education had been supple- mented by a course at Huntsinger's Business College, Hartford. In Angust, 1894, young Mr. Stroud met with a serious accident in the laundry, being caught in the machinery, where- by he suffered the loss of his left hand and wrist. In 1893 he held the office of assist- ant town clerk, virtually performing the duties of town clerk during that year, and he also,

at one time, was in the probate office for six months.

On September 7, 1865, Edwin Stroud was married to Miss Augusta Eliza Atwell, who was born in Durham, Middlesex Co., Conn., May 30, 1840, daughter of George Atwell, a farmer. Three children have been born to this union : ( I) Fanny A., who married Will- iam Hahn, and has two children, Edwin J. and Philip Leroy; (2) Gertrude E., wife of H. B. Harrison, of Wallingford, Conn., who has one child, Alice A .; and (3) William E. in partnership with his father.

Mr. and Mrs. Stroud are members of the Methodist Church. Socially he is affiliated with Mansfield Post, No. 53. G. A. R. ; the Knights of Pythias; the Improved Order of Redmen; and the United Order of American Mechanics. In his political preferences he has always been a stanch and uncompromising Re- publican.

REV. LARS PETER AHLQUIST. pas- tor the Swedish Lutheran Church in Portland. is one of the most prominent divines of that church in the United States, as he is also one of the ablest and most scholarly men of its min- istry. He has been pastor of the Portland church since 1883, and is the oldest minister in the town from the point of active and continu- ous service.

Mr. Ahlquist was born in Sweden Septent- ber 19, 1849, at Warberg. a son of Anders and Johanna Ahlquist. His father was an official in the government service, and an extremely prosperous citizen, who lived and died in War- berg, passing away at the age of seventy-five. The mother is living at an advanced age. Their children were as follows: Lars Peter, whose name introduces this article ; Anna, who is Mrs. B. S. Wallen, of Oniney, Mass. : John A., a merchant at Jacksonville, Illinois, where he has been in business for some years ; AAn- gusta, who resides in Sweden; Carl .A., of Portland, mentioned elsewhere in this vol- ume ; and Gustaf A., who lives in New Britain.

Lars Peter Ahlquist attended the schools of his native town, and passed from the high school to the college at Goteborg. He had been working with the ministry in view as his life work, and all along had applied himself so closely that he was advanced enough to officiate as a preacher while yet a student at college. In this way he earned the money that

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brought him to the United States, where he felt that opportunities for completing his stud- ies were better, and more within his reach. In 1872 he left Sweden and went to Liverpool, from there coming to the United States. He was the first of his family to come to this country. His objective point was Paxton, Ill., which was then the seat of Au- gustana College, now at Rock Island, at that time the leading seminary for the education of Swedish Lutheran clergymen. He entered that school and was graduated in 1874, and was ordained June 30th of the same year, this ceremony being performed at Rockford, Ill. His first pastoral charge was at Lincoln, Neb. He was five years at Swedehome, Polk Co., Neb., in an almost pioneer locality. He was at Alma in the same State, and went from there to Marshalltown, Iowa, whence he was called to Portland, where he has lived to the present time. During his ad- ministration an elegant new parsonage. has been erected, and the general prosperity of the church greatly promoted. Rev. Ahlquist is president of the New York Con- ference of his church, and this organization covers an extensive territory, reaching from Maine to California. It contains eighty-three ministers, one hundred and fifty-two con- gregations, and one hundred and thirty-one churches. Mr. Ahlquist is a member of the board of directors of Upsala College, at New Orange, N. J., and is a leading man in all the work of his church.

Rev. Ahlquist married Anna Johanna La- gergren, who was born in the same town with her husband. Their children are: David N. Axel Theo, Abel A., Carl E., Elis P., Agnes E., Anna C., Edith N. and Philip W., all of whom are living and constitute an exceeding- ly bright and interesting family. Mr. Ahl- quist is a Republican in politics, is a hard- working man, and has attained a prominent place, holding it by his ability and character. His popularity in the community is without regard to church affiliations or to nationality.

HENRY AUGUSTUS CORNWALL was in his lifetime one of the leading business men of Portland, of which town he was a product in the fullest sense. He came from one of the oldest families there, and in his ca- reer brought no discredit upon its good name. Born at Rose Hill, in the town of Portland, he

was the eldest son of Andrew and Elizabeth ( Whitmore) Cornwall, a mention of whom may be found elsewhere in this work. His ed- ucation was acquired in the Rose Hill district school, and later he attended a boarding school at Cromwell, but he left the latter institution to serve as a soldier in the Civil war. After the war closed he studied in the Bryant & Stratton Business College at Hartford. He was connected for a short time with the Chase Lum- ber Company at Hartford, which position he left to become timekeeper for the Shaler & Hall quarry at Portland. A year later he entered the employ of the Middlesex Quarry Company, where he entered upon a singularly successful and honorable career in the stone business, gradually rising from one position to another until he became the practical working head of the plant, retaining that position until his death. He was a director in the First Na- tional Bank and also in the Freestone Savings Bank of Portland.

On November 3, 1869, Mr. Cornwall was married in St. Luke's Episcopal Church, South Glastonbury, by the Rev. Thomas B. Fogg, to Miss Gertrude E. Shepard, who was born May 29, 1848, a daughter of Nelson and Eliza- beth (Tryon) Shepard, a sketch of whom ap- pears elsewhere in this work. Mrs. Corn- wall attended South Glastonbury Academy, and was a successful teacher for a number of terms in Glastonbury and Portland, beginning at the early age of sixteen, and was considered remarkably advanced for her years. The young married couple began their housekeeping on Spring street, Portland, where Mr. Cornwall had an excellent property and where his widow is now living. He died September 17, 1898, while on his vacation, at Providence, R. I., and was buried in Center cemetery. He was a member of Trinity Episcopal Church, and was a thirty-second-degree Mason. He was elected to the State Legislature in 1892, where he served on the committee on Insur- ance, and was one of the delegation sent by the Legislature to attend the funeral of Lieu- tenant General Sherman. In connection with his business, he was an extensive traveler, cov- ering much of the United States and Canada. Always a hard worker, it is thought that his incessant activity hastened his death. A suc- cessful business man, his name carried great weight and lent prestige to any movement, and he was regarded as one of the most valued citi-

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COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

zen's of the town, very conscientious, and pos- sessing the confidence of all with whom he came in contact.

In this all too hasty review of an honor- able career, his military experiences must not be omitted. He enlisted August 4, 1862, in Company D, Twentieth Connecticut Volunteer Infantry, and served throughout the war. He was an excellent soldier, brave and faithful, seldom absent from duty, and his record is un- surpassed. On June 2, 1865, he was made a sergeant, and on the 13th day of the same month he was mustered out with the regi- ment at Washington, D. C. He was a mem- ber of Mansfield Post, No. 53, G. A. R., at Middletown, the Putnam Phalanx at Hart- ford, and the Army and Navy Club of Con- necticut. He also belonged to the Sons of the American Revolution.

LUTHER WILBUR FOWLER. The general reader will not fail to perceive the etymology of the patronymic Fowler, which at once suggests the idea of a race of hunters, or sportsmen. The Connecticut family of this name is one of the oldest and most distin- guished in New England.

William; Fowler, the American progenitor of this family, crossed the sea from England in 1637, landing in Boston. He subsequently joined the New Haven Colony, and was one of the four pioneers to whom was given, in 1039, a deed to the land which now constitutes the town of Milford, the consideration named in the conveyance being six coats, ten blankets, one kettle, together with a number of knives, hoes, hatchets and mirrors. This William Fowler became an extensive landed proprietor. He appears to have been a man of keen, ready sense and quick perception. Seeing that a saw and gristmill was one of the coming ne- cessities of a new settlement, he secured from the authorities the grant of thirty acres and the full control of a stream, upon the condition of his erecting a mill. This was the first mill to be built in New Haven county, and is yet owned by his descendants. The site is one of historic interest, and in 1889 a memorial bridge and tower were built near the location of the old structure, the first mill there being given a conspicuous place. William. Fowler was a successful business man, magistrate, and a pillar of the church, shrewd, yet upright, in fluential, public-spirited and whole-souled. His -17

son, (II) Ambrose, removed to Westfield, Mass., and his grandson, (III) John (the son of Ambrose), married Mary Hubbard, and set- tled in Guilford in 1649. He was a man of substance, prominence and influence, being a deacon in the church, and a deputy in the General Assembly for many years. In recog- nition of his many services he was given one hundred acres of land in Coginchaug, now the town of Durham. He died in 1676 and the records show his estate to have been appraised at £612, 25, Iod. Of his six children, Abra- ham was the next in line of descent toward Luther W. Fowler.

(IV) Abraham Fowler was an influential and wealthy citizen in the early days. He sat in the General Court at Hartford, as a deputy, and was for many years a justice of the peace, as well as judge of the county and higher courts. The appraisement of his estate, after his death, showed him to have died worth £7,421, 18s, 9d. Popular gossip, as evidenced by legendary report, called him the most in- teresting man in the town. He married Eliza- beth, daughter of Deacon George Bartlett, and became the father of eight children. During King Philip's war he served as sergeant, and was wounded in the fight at Narragansett Swamp, in consideration of which he was pre- sented with the munificent sum of £4 from the public purse. His son Joshua married Hannah Bald, and removed to Durham. Prof. William Chauncey Fowler, of that town, is one of his descendants. Another son of Abraham, Eben- exer (2), was the ancestor of Luther W. Fowler.

(V) Ebenezer Fowler was a soldier in the Revolutionary war, married Desire Bristol and settled in North Guilford. Eleven children were born to him: Desire. Beulah, Ebenezer (who married a Rossiter ). William, Nathan. Thomas, Ruth (wife of Erastus Dudley ). Isaac, Caleb, Jantes and Oliver. Of these, Na- than was the great grandfather of the subject of this sketch.

(VI) Nathan Fowler married and had five sons and two daughters, as follows: James. AAsa. Augustus, Nathan, Robert. Polly and Sal ly. Nathan married Chloe Davis, and had eight children, the fifth of whom, Rachel, mar- ried Bishop Mtwell and was the mother of Wal- do P. Atwell, a well known and highly es- tremed merchant of Durham, whose biography may be found elsewhere.

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(VII) James Fowler, the eldest son of Nathan Fowler ( 1), and grandfather of Lu- ther W., was born in Guilford November 18, 1774. The old house in North Guilford, in which he passed the latter years of his life, is now razed to the ground. It stood near the site of the present residence of George W. Hall, on the Middletown and Guilford turn- pike, half way between the two points, and had been formerly used as a hotel. In those days it was owned by Col. Baldwin, and was known as "Baldwin's Inn." Mr. Fowler died there May 6, 1854. He was a farmer, and in addition to agriculture carried on the manu- facture of the "Fowler whip lash," well known in its day, which found a ready and extensive sale all through New England and the State of New York. The lash was made from leath- er tanned by himself, and was honestly manu- factured, his children working at braiding the long thongs during the winter evenings. It was used chiefly in driving oxen, and the busi- ness was fairly profitable. Mr. Fowler was noted for his sound judgment, but chiefly for his absolutely incorruptible integrity. He was commonly called "Honest James," and was repeatedly called upon to appraise estates. In his home he was a strict disciplinarian, al- though just and kind. He was a firm believer in the teachings of Thomas Jefferson, and al- ways deeply interested in the success of the Democratic party, holding, from time to time, various town offices. He was a capital shot and an enthusiastic sportsman, and, in his younger days, devoted not a little time to the pleasures of the hunt. On September 13, 1804, he mar- ried Anna Johnson, who was a grand niece of David Brainerd, the famous missionary to the Indians, and was born in New York May 17, 1778. She died November 16, 1861. Their children were ten in number, and their nu- merous descendants have formed an organiza- tion known as "The Descendants of James Fowler," whose annual meetings are largely attended by representatives from the towns of Guilford, Durham, Middletown and Middle- field.

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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 134

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