Commemorative biographical record of Middlesex County, Connecticut : containing biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens, and of many of the early settled families, Part 150

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 150

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After acquiring his literary education at Jamestown, N. Y., Dr. Hallock studied medi- cine at the University of New York and Long Island Hospital Medical College, graduating from the latter in 1864. From 1862 to 1865 he served as medical cadet and assistant sur- geon in the United States army, stationed at hospitals located at Central Park and on Da- vid's Island, also at Fortress Monroe. During this period he was intimately associated with the late Dr. Edward C. Seguin, the eminent nerve specialist; Dr. Thomas R. Pooley, the distinguished oculist of New York City; and Dr. John Van Duyn, a prominent surgeon of Syracuse. The close friendship thus formed between these clever men continued unbroken and undiminished until terminated by death. Dr. Seguin, his most intimate friend, was the first to go, his death being a great personal blow to Dr. Hallock.

After the war Dr. Hallock returned to Jamestown, N. Y., for a time, later going to New York City, where he began to practice with his uncle, Dr. Robert T. Hallock. At the opening of the Connecticut Hospital for the Insane he accepted the position of first assist-

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COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

ant physician to that institution, which he re- tained until 1877, when he established "Crom- well Hall," a sanitarium for nervous diseases, situated on Prospect Hill, Cromwell, Conn., a beautiful location in the Connecticut Valley.

Dr. Hallock was a member of the American Medico-Psychological Society, the New Eng- land Psychological Society, and the Connecti- cut Medical Society, and was the author of several pamphlets upon insanity, and the care of the insane, the one best known being a pa- per upon "The Cottage System for the In- sane," which appeared in the New York Medi- cal Journal, and in several other publications.

On January 20, 1858, Dr. Hallock married Mary Kirkwood, daughter of Col. William Kent, of Concord, N. H., and widow of Dr. Joel Shew, brother of Dr. Abram Marvin Shew, the first superintendent of the Connecti- cut Hospital for the Insane. Dr. Hallock's wife and two children survive him. Dr. Frank Kirkwood Hallock was born August 18, 1860, and on May 7, 1890, married Miss Kate Camp . Avery, daughter of the late Abraham Avery, of the firm of Rand & Avery, of Boston. So long associated with his father in his studies, discoveries and practice, he continues as medi- cal director of the great institution founded by his parent, admitting now, however, no insane patients, but only nervous invalids, while his brother-in-law, William Powell Couch, of Du- buque, fowa, assumed the business manage- ment after Dr. Hallock's unexpected death.

This retreat is like a bright, happy home. unique in its management, Mrs. Hallock as- sisting in the work which her capacity and cheering personality renders successful. No words of praise can measure the good work of this sanitarium. Dr. Hallock was preeminent- ly fitted by nature and education to carry it on. True to his Quaker ancestry, he was a man of few words and retiring in disposition, but firin. most patient and mtich beloved by those who care to known him intimately.

Though an ardent Republican, the Dector always declined political offices, but he showed his deep interest in the welfare of Cromwell by becoming one of the moving spirits in the Village Improvement Society, and when the first Good Road association was formed he was chosen president, and still held the office at the time of his death.

Dr. Hallock's death, which was the result of a stroke of apoplexy, occurred at the "Man-

hattan Hotel," New York City, September 24, 1898. Devoted to the institution he had founded, he put his life into the work, giving all his energies to the betterment of his pa- tients. His earnest, kindly spirit and quiet strength were imparted to all those about him, and his power to calm and influence the mental state of others was most remarkable. As a medico-legal expert, he was frequently brought before the public in cases where the most thorough knowledge was required, and as a citizen he ever considered it a pleasure to give means, time and strength to objects wor- thy of his attention. As a physician he was re- garded as an unquestionable authority. while in the inner circle of his home he received, as he deserved, almost idolatrous affection.

ORLANDO BURR, the able and efficient superintendent of the immense plant of the D. & H. Scovil Company. located at Hig- ganum. Middlesex county, was born March I. 1847, in the Burr District, Haddam, and comes of an old Connecticut family.

Benjamin Burr, the emigrant ancestor. came from England with his family as early as 1635. and settled in Hartford, where he was one of the first proprietors. Some writers think that he may have come here as early as 1630, and was one of the Soo who came in the Winthrop fleet in June of that year. lle was a freeman in 1638. He was prominent and one of the leading men of his times-a thrifty. well-to-do settler, accumulating a good deal of property, and owning land and houses through- ont the Colony. He died at Hartford March 31. 1681. His wife's name was Anna.

Samuel Burr, son of Benjamin, was born in England, and was made a freeman at llart- ford in May, 1058. The name of his wife is unknown. He died September 20. 1682.

Jonathan Burr, son of Samuel, was born in Hartford in 1670, and came to Middle- town, Conn. He died January 1. 1735. His wife. Aligail Hubbard, was born in 1686. Their children were: Mary, Ebenezer, Jona than, Nathaniel, Elisabeth, Abyggul. Thank ful and Hannah.

Nathaniel Band, son of Jonathan, was born March 23. 1717. in Middletown, and died September 12, 1802. Hle settled at Had- daum. He was twice married, but the nan c of his first wife is unknown The children by this marriage were Sarah and Sammel On

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August 19, 1743, he married ( second) Sarah Porter, who was born October 28, 1724. Their children were Benjamin, Joseph, Nathaniel (2), Jonathan, Martha, Stephen, Phebe and David.

Benjamin Burr, the great-grandfather of Orlando, was born in Haddam July 26, 1746, and died there April 6, 1833. He married Elizabeth Platt, of Saybrook, Conn., who was born April 9, 1749, and died February 16, 1839. Their children were: (I) Martha, born February 8, 1779, married her cousin, Nathan- iel Burr. (2) Noah P., born June 12, 1780, was the grandfather of Orlando Burr, of Hig- ganum. (3) Benjamin (2), born June 6, 1781, died May 26, 1858. In 1804 he mar- ried Jelphia Davis, who was born in 1787, daughter of Ebenezer and Ruth (Kelsey) Da- vis, of Killingworth, Conn. About 1805 he removed to Linden, N. Y. Their children were Louisa, born October 27, 1807, who died unmarried December 22, 1841 ; Belinda Ruth, born July 4, 1810, who married December 26 .. 1833, Van Rensselaer Watters; John, born March 31, 1812, who was married February 2, 1834, to Margaret J. Backers; and was a pioneer from Linden, N. Y., to settle in the wilderness now known as Lorain county, Ohio, where he was a leading man and prominent citi- zen ; and Clarissa, born August 24, 1815, died June 29, 1851, who married in February, 1850, John Osborn (they had no children). (4) Nathan, born August 2, 1783, died March IO, 1850, at Sacramento, Cal. On March 7, 1811, he married Chloe Clark. He removed to Lin- den, N. Y., and from there went to Sacra- mento, Cal., with his wife, son Charles, and a young son. This latter child died on the voy- age, by sea, and another was born while on the ship, who was named John Atlantic. The wife of Nathan Burr died May 13, 1863. She was a daughter of Rev. John Clark, a Baptist min- ister of Linden, N. Y., who married them. (5) David, born October 1, 1788, died December 4, 1874. He married Polly Blatchley, of Had- dam, and they had four sons and four daugh- ters. (6) Asa, born in 1792, died at Haddam March 20, 1872. He married Flora Kelsey, of Killingworth, Conn., and they had three sons and two daughters.

Noah P. Burr, born June 12, 1780, in Had- dam, married Rebecca Buckley, of Saybrook, Conn., and resided in the Burr District, town of Haddam, where he was engaged in exten-

sive farming and lumbering enterprises. His land holdings comprised some 400 acres, heav- ily timbered, but later well cultivated. In poli- tics Mr. Burr favored the Democratic party, but he was never active enough in its ranks to desire office. Both he and his wife were mem- bers of the Methodist Church. Mrs. Burr was born November 15, 1788, and died April 18, 1878. Mr. Burr died April 28, 1857. They had the following named children : Jared, who was murdered while on his way to Chester to take passage for New York to buy goods ; Hor- ace, a physician in Wilmington, Del. : Sarah E., a music teacher, of Music Vale, Conn. : Noah, the father of our subject; Rebecca P., Mrs. Ely ; and Edward.

Noah Burr was born in January, 1822, and grew up on the old farm, receiving a good common-school education. He married for his first wife Polly Kelsey, who was born in 1826, a daughter of Willis and Charlotte (Lane) Kelsey, and died in 1863. Grandfather Kelsey was born in 1800, and died in 1880; he was en- gaged in milling and lumbering quite exten- sively. Noah Burr bought property near the old homestead, about 300 acres, fifty of which he cultivated, and he also engaged in lumber- ing, having markets on the river and along the shores for his products, principally ship timber, in the early days dealing in that entirely. His death occurred in January, 1892. Politically he was always a strong Democrat, and he rep- resented his community in the Legislature two successive terms. Thirty years ago his name on a committee carried great weight. He had been selectman and held all the local offices, and was considered a leading politician and citizen. Both Mr. and Mrs. Burr were mem- bers of the Methodist Church. By his first wife Mr. Burr had children as follows: Or- lando, our subject ; Horace, formerly of Win- chester Center, Conn., now of Agawam, Mass .; Willis, who died in 1894. in Middletown, Conn .; Mary J., deceased ; Ella, a graduate of the Wesleyan University, a professional nurse, now located in New York City ; Rosabella, who married Austin C. Burr, of West Haddam; Buckley, of Long Island, who is married; and Abby, a professional nurse, a graduate of a New Haven hospital. All these married but Mary J., Ella and Abby. To Mr. Burr's sec- ond marriage, with Amelia Bonfoey, one child was born, James A., a farmer and lumberman, of West Haddam, who married Jennie Tyler.

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Orlando Burr attended the common schools at Haddam, and later attended a business col- lege in Poughkeepsie, N. Y., from which he graduated on completing the course. Return- ing home, he entered the employ of D. & H. Scovil, of Higganum, as a bookkeeper, and so marked was his aptitude for the work that he finally was made superintendent, in which re- sponsible position he is still retained.

On May 18, 1882, Mr. Burr was married to Clara E. Neff, daughter of Oliver C. and Au- gusta (Bailey) Neff, of Higganum; she was born July 31. 1857. To Mr. and Mrs. Burr have come: Eugene Orlando, born April 7, 1883, who was graduated from the Middle- town high school, and attended the Morse Busi- ness College, of Hartford; and Ethel C., born July 5, 1887, a pupil of the Middletown high school, class of 1905.

Mr. Burr is interested in politics, voting somewhat as his conscience dictates, and does not desire political preferment, having twice-re- fused the nomination for representative. Both he and his wife are consistent members of the M. E. Church, of which he is a trustee and steward. Steadfast, straightforward in his business, devout in religion, and conscientious in politics, Mr. Burr can well be cited as an example to those who are starting to work their way upward.

STARKEY. One of the oldest and most respected among the prominent families of Connecticut, particularly in the locality of Say- brook and Deep River, is the Starkey family. Among the early ancestors we find the names of John and Mary, whose son Timothy was three times married, first to Rachel Bushnell. by which marriage were born: Timothy, who died in 1849: Polly, Mrs. Griswold, who died in 1833; and Currence, Mrs. Pratt, who died in 1848, aged seventy-eight. By his second marriage, to Hepsibah Pratt, were born : He- man, who died in 1832; Felix, who died in 1856, in Essex; Alpheus, who died in 1860; Hepsibalı, Mrs. Williams, who died in 1829: and Rachel, Mrs. Parker, who died in 1834. By his third wife. Chloe, he had no children.

Alpheus Starkey, son of Timothy, was born in Old Saybrook, where he lived, and there married Ruth Shipman Southworth, Jan- mary 3. 1820. They reared the following named children : Niles Pratt, born in 1820, first

married Jane Kirkham, and for his second wife married Judith C. Moore, who died in 1854; Nathaniel Alpheus, born in 1821, married Electa Amelia Hayden, and died in 1865; Felix is mentioned below. Late in life Alpheus Starkey engaged in combmaking in Meriden, Conn., and later in Deep River. He died March 25, 1860, in Deep River. His wife died February 10, 1841. -

FELIX STARKEY was born September 23, 1823, and died August 11. 1866. He early en- tered a sawmill in Deep River, as bookkeeper, and later became the owner of the Deep River Lumber Company, the firm becoming Stevens, Starkey & Co., who carried on business success- fully until Mr. Starkey's death. The mill was built by Stevens & Southworth. Mr. Starkey was considered one of the substantial men of the community, and was prominently identified with politics, as a stanch adherent to Repub- lican principles. He was highly regarded in the Masonic fraternity, having for a number of years been worshipful master of Trinity Lodge, No. 43. A. F. & A. M., in Deep River. His religious connection was with the Congrega- tional Church, and his widow holds member- ship in the church of that denomination in Deep River.

On January 3, 1847, Mr. Starkey married Jennette Catherine Gladding, who was born Oc- tober 3. 1825, daughter of John and Hannah (Southworth ) Gladding, of Old Saybrook.

The GLADDING family is an old and promi- nent one in New England. John Gladding lived in Deep River, was a carpenter, and carried on this business, building houses. He was inter- ested in his town and its affairs, and was much respected. He was not a man of robust health. and died in his fifty-second year. He was it member of the Congregational Church. His wife. Hannah Southworth, was the daughter of Levi and Mary Southworth, of Haddam. The children of this worthy couple were: (1) John, born July 1. 1818, married Nancy Buck- ingham, of Essex, and died in November, 1807. They had five children- Frank F. is deceased : Mary Isabelle is deceased: Jennette Starkey is deceased : Frank, who resides in Middletown, Conn., married Sylvia Brainerd, of East Had- dam, who died leaving one child. Rena : Har- riet Ellen, born July 8, 1857, married Wilbur Harris, of Deep River, and has five children, May ( who married Clayton Dense, of Chester )

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Archie, Hazel, Orra and Donald. (2) Mary is deceased. (3) Jennette C. is the widow of our subject.

To Felix and Jennette C. Starkey came two children : (I) Mary Isabella, born June 21, 1858, married, March II, 1891, Frank M. Howard, a carriagemaker of Deep River. Mrs. Howard was educated in the district schools of Saybrook, and at the Hayden Hall Institute, Windsor, Conn. From childhood she has had a great love for music. She early received in- struction from Miss Jennie Rogers, of Deep River ; was several years a' pupil in piano study of the well known Prof. Leavens, of Hartford, Conn., and later devoted three years to the or- gan, receiving instructions from S. Clarke Lord, of Hartford. She is now the efficient organist of the Congregational Church at Deep River, and also devotes much time to the teach- ing of the piano, having deservedly a large pat- ronage in Deep River and neighboring towns. Her thorough training, combined with original methods, has made Mrs. Howard one of the most successful teachers of the piano in Middle- sex county. (2) Felix, born August 28, 1866, is in the employ of Pratt, Read & Co., at Deep River, and resides with his mother, who occu- pies the homestead on Main street. He is a member of Webb Lodge, I. O. O. F., at Deep River. Every man who has occasion to "fall in" and march has a lively appreciation of the merits of a thoroughly well trained and well drilled drum corps, and Deep River has one of which the citizens are proud, the leader and teacher of which is Felix Starkey. It is de- servedly popular, and is in much demand, and its splendid playing is fully appreciated at home and abroad.

The marriage of Mrs. Starkey's daughter to Frank M. Howard made another connection with an old and well known family. Spencer C. Howard, the father of Frank M., was a na- tive of Waterford, Conn., where he was mar- ried to Mary Ann Smith. She survived him, and later married Mathew Murdock, of West- brook. Mr. Howard died in 1876. His fam- ily consisted of : Cyrene, who married Charles Lyon, of New London, Conn. ; Frank M., born September 6, 1862, in Niantic, Conn .: Her- bert, of Hartford; and Myron, of Lewiston, Maine. Frank M. Howard learned the car- riagemaking trade in Lyme, and when a young man came to Deep River, where he opened up a large carriage manufactory. He is a Repub-

lican in politics, but desires no office, and soci- ally is a valued member of Webb Lodge, I. O. O. F. In religious connection he is a consistent member of the Congregational Church of Deep River.

GEORGE BANCROFT FRENCH, who occupies the important and responsible posi- tion of foreman in the piano and organ key de- partment of The Comstock, Cheney & Co., of Ivoryton, Middlesex county, has an ancestry which can be traced back to the time of the landing of the Pilgrims from that stanch little ship, the "Mayflower."

James French, who was the grandfather of George B., was born October 1, 1766, in Tewksbury, Mass., and died at Portland, Maine, in 1820. All his life he followed the trade of builder and joiner. He married Abigail Fletcher, who was born in Ipswich, Mass., in 1765, and died July 25, 1827, in Norway, Maine. The children born of that marriage were: Tames, Jacob, Abigail, Esther, Sarah, Charles (the father of George B.), George, Alice and Clarissa.

Charles French was born September 7, 1796, in Peckasfield, Mass., and there grew to young manhood. Shortly before becoming of age he removed to Norway, Maine, where he learned the carpenter's trade, and then went to Portland, where he found employment in shipbuilding with Nathan Howe, his father- in-law. The partners carried on the shipbuild- ing business very extensively for about eight- een years, Mr. French also becoming inter- ested in the grocery business. At one time he had interests in three stores, stock and buildings, but because of poor health he dis- posed of his mercantile business, following which he purchased a farm at Bartlett, N. H. The change of occupation proved beneficial, and later he removed from his White Moun- tain farm to Bridgton, Maine, where he fol- lowed farming for the remainder of his life, and died October 4, 1868. Although an ardent Jeffersonian Democrat, Mr. French al- ways declined office, but he was prominent and well known. In religion he was a Univer- salist in belief, and he was liberal and well in- formed.

Mr. French was married in Portland, Maine, to Lydia S. Howe, who was born in Portland April 20, 1808, daughter of Nathan and Ruth (Shedd) Howe, and died in 1884.

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To this union were born twelve children as follows : Nathan H. married Mary Seavey, and lives on a farm at Bartlett, N. H. ; Fran- ces C. married Leonard Hall, and is now de- ceased; Ellen A. died young; Albert married Susan Smith, and lives in Gorham, Maine; Harriet, who married Daniel Irish, is de- ceased; one died in infancy; Thomas married Eliza Rand, who is deceased, and he lives in California; Charles H. lives in California ; Ellen M. is deceased; George B. is our sub- ject proper; Elizabeth E. married Herbert Dow, and lives in Standish, Maine; Lewis Frederick lives in California.

George Bancroft French was born in Bart- lett, N. H., January 31, 1845, and when he was four years old removed with his parents to Bridgton, Maine, where he received his edu- cation in the common schools of that town, leaving school at the age of fifteen. On De- cember 9, 1861, when but sixteen years old, he enlisted in Company E, Fifth Maine Vol- unteers, under Col. Jackson, who was promot- ed to brigadier general and was succeeded by Col. Scammon, who, resigning, was succeeded by Col. Edwards. The last named was mus- tered out with that part of the regiment which came home at the end of three years. The regi- ment saw severe service in Virginia, Pennsyl- vania and Maryland, and Mr. French partici- pated in seventeen battles, among which we re- count the well-known engagements of An- tictam, Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville, Mal- vern Hill, Fair Oaks, South Mountain, the seven days' battle of the Wilderness, and the slaughter at Gettysburg. He was wounded three times, the first time in the head at the battle of Fredericksburg. A Confederate sol- dier at close range shot at him, and the bullet passed through a rail which deflected it from its course, so that it struck Mr. French a glancing blow on the side of the head, render- ing him unconscious. When he returned to consciousness he was in the Rebel lines and made a prisoner of war. He had been a pris- oner but one week, in the Rebel field hospital, when he made his escape from captivity, and reached the Union lines in safety, was admit- ted to the General Hospital at Aquia Creek Landing, Va., remained seven weeks in the hospital, and then returning to his regiment again entered upon active duty. Previous to this he had not been absent from active duty a single hour from the time he entered the serv-

ice. One year later he was again wounded (in the leg), at the seven days' battle of the Wilderness, in which all but three of the thir- ty-six brave men of his company who went into the fight were either killed or wounded. In one of the bayonet charges made by his reg- iment in this battle, which resulted in driving the Rebels from their rifle pits, Mr. French dashed forward and- overhauled a retreating Rebel, disarmed him and made him a prisoner. It was during this seven days' battle that Mr. French, with one other comrade from his company, responded to the call of his captain for volunteers to form a sacrifice line, which it was then thought would result in a sacrifice indeed. The line was formed and well ad- vanced to the front, and there maintained u11- til the army, under cover of darkness, executed a flank movement to the left. after which. about two o'clock in the morning, Mr. French

with two other comrades crawled on hands and knees through darkness to a battery that had been abandoned between the two army lines, and after spiking the guns with some ramrods they found near by crawled back on hands and knees and succeeded in finding their way out, rejoining their company soon after daylight. Mr. French was personally com- mended by his captain for gallantry and brav- ery, and promised promotion and a recon- miendation for a commission. Three days later ļiis brave captain ( Frank LeMont ) was killed and Mr. French, wounded and left on the fieldl of battle, was made a prisoner and carted off to Andersonville. Hle there suffered untold agonies for seven months, and when released was more dead than alive. He was first sent to a hospital at Anapolis, and from there went home, where he was a year in recover- ing. His enlistment had been for three years. and when his time expired he re-enlisted and served seven months, until his discharge, on June 27, 1865. when the dangers of war were over and the thousands of gallant men, worn and scarred, haggard and tired, but triumph- ant, were going to the homes awaiting them all over the broad conners.

After his recovery and return to normal health, Mr. French was employed on the home farm for a season, and then went to Lynn. Mass., where he operated a stitching machine in a shoe factors for about a ven. He next went to Berlin, Mass, and learned the piano- forte key trade From Sylvester Tower, who

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was the Pioneer in that business. For one and one-half years Mr. French remained in that place, and then removed to Deep River, Conn., where he was employed as a finisher and saw- yer in the factory of Pratt, Read & Co., re- maining until March, 1875, when he accepted his present position, being now one of the oldest employes in the factory. Mr. French is an extensive dealer in bicycles, one of the most extensive in the county. He attends to this business evenings.

Mr. French is naturally a stanch Republi- can, and he has taken a very active interest in the success of his party in the town ; has served as selectman for five years, three years of which he was chairman of the board; has served as constable, justice of the peace (which office he still holds), grand juror and on the board of relief, and at present is chair- man of the Republican town committee. Mr. French has shown his public spirit in many ways, and has won especial prominence by his pronounced stand for good roads in the town of Essex. He was instrumental in the con- struction of the macadamized road from Es- sex to Ivoryton, four miles long, which is said to be one of the best pieces of road in the State. He advocated the building and engineered the work through almost alone, and his activity in this matter made him well known all over Connecticut. Socially Mr. French is connected with Fenwick Lodge, No. 20, I. O. O. F., of Essex; Good Intent En- campment, I. O. O. F .; the New England Or- der of Protection, being secretary of his lodge; the A. O. U. W .; and Mather Post, No. 25, G. A. R., of Deep River, of which he is past commander ; he was the youngest commander in the State during his time.

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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 150

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