Commemorative biographical record of Middlesex County, Connecticut : containing biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens, and of many of the early settled families, Part 157

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 157


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(VIII) Norris Rathbun was born January 22, 1811, about three-quarters of a mile cast of the Millington Church. He had such edu- cational advantages as were afforded by the common schools, and early began farming on the old homestead. In a few years he bought a farm of about two hundred acres, and in 1860 built a new house near the paternal home. When he died he owned about seven hundred


acres of land-an evidence of the success his efforts had merited. In politics he was a Demo- crat. On November 24. 1833, in Old Lyme, Norris Rathbun married Louisa L. Swan, born in May. 1813, a daughter of Thomas W. and Luna ( Emmons ) Swan. She died August 5, 1867, and he passed away June 16, 1882. Their family was as follows: (1) Louisa L., born May 16, 1837, united with the Millington Church July 1, 1866: she died unmarried Oc- tober 2, 1872. (2) Isabella Maria, born June 2, 18:40, died September 13. 1861. (3) Sarah Elizabeth, born December 3, 1847, united with the Millington Church July 1. 1866; she was married November 9, 1896, to James H. Man- waring, and resides in East Haddam. (4) Thomas Swan, an extensive farmer at Col- chester, born August 5, 1852, married March 23, 1880, Dela Louisa Brown. (5) Norris Wheeler. On May 1, 1864. Mrs. Louisa (Swan) Rathbun united with the Second Con- gregational Church ( Millington Society) of East Haddam.


(IX) Norris Wheeler Rathbun was born December 23. 1858, on the paternal homestead. He made his preparation for college at East Greenwich Academy, R. I., a boarding school which is still flourishing. At the age of seven- teen he began teaching, his first school being the Mt. Parnassus District, in his native town, and for six years he taught school winters and worked on the farm during the summer sea- sons. He remained on the old homestead until his marriage, when he established himself about two miles south of Millington Green. where he inherited a property of 500 acres. He continued to farm until 1901. when he retired and moved to East Haddam.


On May 25. 1886, Mr. Rathbun married Frances Lovina Emmons, a daughter of Edwin Augustine and Clara M. (Peck ) Eumnons. To this marriage was born February IS, 188 ;. a soll, Edwin Norris, who died September 2. 188; Mr. Rathbun is one of the trustees to carry out the will (dated December 1. 187;) of Helon Cone, a native of Fast Haddam. One of the provisions of this will is that one- third of the estate shall constitute a fund, the pro- ceeds of which shall be loaned on security to worthy young men, and when the fund amounts to $75,000 the town of East Haddann is to erect a high school to prepare for an col- lege in the State. W Rathbun is deeply in- terested in historical and educational matters.


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and for many years he was a member of the school board. He strongly holds to Repub- lican principles. In 1899 he represented the town in the General Assembly, where he served on the committee on Education. In 1885 he united with Columbia Lodge, No. 26, F. & A. M., of East Haddam, and later with Burning Bush Chapter.


Of the EMMONS family in Connecticut it may be said that the first of the name in East Haddam was Samuel Emmons, who resided near Bashan Pond, where he owned property deeded him by the State. He was the town miller, and a man of considerable importance in those days.


Noahdiah Emmons, a Revolutionary sol- dier, the great-grandfather of Mrs. Rathbun, married Elizabeth Brainard, who bore him the following children: Ichabod, who married Mindwell Mack, and died in Massachusetts; Noahdiah, who married Betsy Cone; Brainard, who married a Miss Brainard, of Colchester, and died in Hamilton, N. Y .; Henry, who mar- ried a Miss Newton; Susanna, who became the wife of Isaac Crocker; Augustine, mentioned below ; and Jonathan Lyman and David Brain- ard, who both died unmarried.


Augustine Emmons, son of Noahdiah, was a farmer, and lived in the Fifteenth school dis- trict. He married Lovina Hall, a native of East Haddam. Their children were: (I) Lovina, born in 1823, died August 8, 1827. (2) Edwin Augustine was the father of Mrs. Rathbun. (3) David Brainard, born May 20, 1831. died December 17, 1898; he married (first) Parmelia Swan, and (second) Emeline Williams ; had one daughter, Belle, born April 23, 1871, who married George McCall, of Lebanon, Conn., and had two children, Addie (deceased) and George, Jr.


Edwin Augustine Emmons was a farmer, and lived about a mile southeast of Bashan Pond. He was an active church worker, and joined the Millington Society June 4, 1854, at the same time as did the lady he later married. In politics he was a Democrat, and greatly in- terested in party affairs. Besides various local offices, he represented the town in the Legis- lature in 1869-70, and again in 1875-76. He married Clara M. Peck, who was born in East Haddam December 14, 1834, and who died January 17, 1896. Their children were: Frances Lovina (Mrs. Rathbun), born March 17, 1860, joined Millington Church May 4,


1879 ; and Florence Sophia, born April 5, 1867, joined Millington Church January 6, 1884, and resides in East Haddam.


The SWAN family, of which Mrs. Louisa L. (Swan) Rathbun, mother of Norris W. Rathbun, was a member, was planted in Amer- ica by Richard Swan. He appears first on this side of the Atlantic in Boston, Mass., where he united with the church in 1638, and had one child, John, baptized the Sunday after his ad- mission, January 6. He soon removed to Row- ley, united with the church there, and became a prominent citizen, representing the town in the General Court in 1666 and many years thereafter. He served in King Philip's war and in the expedition to Canada. His first wife died in England, and he married (second) March 1. 1658, Mrs. Ann Trumbull. Mr. Swan died May 14, 1678.


(II) Robert Swan, born in 1628, married at Rowley Elizabeth Acie. They soon went to Andover, and thence as early as 1650 to that part of Haverhill afterward Methuen. Mr. Swan was a soldier in Lieut. Benjamin Sweet's Company, in King Philip's war, and was in the "Great Swamp fight." Mrs. Swan died in 1689. and he married (second) April 1, 1690, Hannah Russ. His death occurred February II, 1698.


(III) John Swan, born August 1, 1668, married Angust I, 1699, Mrs. Susanna Wood, daughter of Philip Eastman. Until 1707 they resided in Haverhill, Mass., where three of their children were born, and in that year they removed to Stonington, Conn. Mr. Swan died May 1, 1743, and Mrs. Swan passed away December 20, 1772, in the one hundredth year of her age.


(IV) Asa Swan, born in Stonington, April 13, 1700, married November 19, 1740, Mar- vine Holmes, and lived in North Stonington.


(V) Jabez Swan, born May 21, 1751, mar- ried ( first) June 17, 1772, Mehitabel Wheeler, and (second) Widow Lucy Wheeler. From this Jabez Swan are descended all the East Haddam Swans. His children by the first marriage were: (I) Hurlbert; (2) Mehit- abel: (3) Jabez, Jr., who lived and is buried in Fast Haddam (his wife's name was Pru- dence) ; (4) Betsey; (5) Polly; (6) Rufus W .; (7) Rufus W. (2); (8) Cynthia; (9) Thomas W., the grandfather of Norris W. Rathbun; (10) Lucy; (II) Asa, who reared a family in Millington; (12) Rufus W. (3).


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By his second marriage Jabez Swan had two sons, Cyrus and William C.


Thomas W. Swan, grandfather of Mr. Rathbun, in his earlier life lived in Millington, and there married, in 1810, Luna Emmons. Later he moved to Old Lyme, now known as Swan Beach. He died March 25, 1869, at the age of eighty-two. His wife died in 1870, when she was aged seventy-seven years. Their children were: (I) Louisa Luna, mother of Norris W. Rathbun, born in May, 1813, died August 5, 1867. (2) Col. Thomas W. lived in Old Lyme, and married Augusta Rogers. He was Colonel of the Third Regiment. (3, Elizabeth married William Armstrong, of Old Lyme. (4) Maria is the widow of Joseph Wheeler, and resides on the Wheeler home- stead in Mystic, town of Stonington. (5) John E., born in 1829, died unmarried Febru- ary 27, 1890. (6) Daniel Spencer died un- married December 29, 1888.


ASA B. STOW (deceased), in his day one of the most prominent and progressive cit- izens of Middletown, was a native of Con- necticut, born May 15, 1818, at Cromwell (then known as "Upper Houses" ), a son of Alanson and Sally ( Pardy ) Stow, whose an- cestors were among the pioneer settlers of Middlesex county. It is of record that Sam- uel Stow was here in 1651, and that his brother Thomas was here in 1669; then there was a John Stow here in 1667, and a Nathaniel Stow in 1676.


Alanson Stow, father of Asa B., was a lifelong farmer of Cromwell, and for many years lived at a place called the "Nooks," later removing to what is known as the "Plains," and there he died October 15, 1864. His wife, Sally ( Pardy), whom he married Feb- ruary 7, 1812, was a native of that town, and died March 9, 1867. A brief record of their children is as follows : (1) Caroline, born November 14, 1814, married Edwin Wright, of Rocky Hill, Conn., and died there April 7. 1882. (2) James P., born April 10, 1816, married Eugenia Pomeroy, of Meriden; he for many years was a tinware manufacturer in Montgomery, Ala., and made a great success of that business. Returning to Meriden, he died there April 6, 1883, leaving considerable property, but no children. (3) Asa B. is the subject of this sketch. (4) Edward E., born October 10, 1820, when a young man went


South, and was a peddler for his brother James P .; he died in Alabama September 3, 1845, unmarried. (5) Sally Ann, born Jan- uary 28, 1822, died January 25, 1827. (6) Horace Davis, born June 20, 1826, was a farm- er of Cromwell, and died August 29. 1896; his wife was a native of Rocky Hill, Conn., and their daughter Eugenia is now the widow of Albert Briggs of Cromwell. (7) Flora Ann, born August 20, 1828, died unmarried April 5, 1883, at Cromwell. (8) Lydia N., born Feb- ruary 23, 1832, died in infancy.


Asa B. Stow, whose name opens this sketch, in his boyhood went to Charleston, S. C., remained a few years, and then returned to his native village. Later he visited the South for a time, but once more returning to Connecticut he worked at a trade in Meriden for a period. Later he opened a paint shop in Middletown, and subsequently, in connec- tion with William Bogelt, carried on a decorat- ing business (old style of fresco painting) ; also for a time conducted a wood-engraving business. He died in Middletown February 23, 1898, and is buried in Indian Hill cent- etery, of which he was one of the original in- corporators, only two of whom-Daniel Chase and E. F. Sheldon-survived him. A useful and good citizen. Mr. Stow commanded the respect and esteem of the entire community. For some years prior to his death he was especially engaged in developing his real estate holdings, himself owning considerable prop- erty in Middletown, and he was one of the first to recognize the advantages of Crescent Beach as a summer resort, doing much toward the building up of that place. In military affairs he also took much interest, being a member of the cadets and, subsequently, one of the original members of the Mansfield Guard. Socially he was affiliated with the F. & A. M. and the I. O. O. F. Physically he was a very large man, standing six feet tall and weighing 240 pounds.


In May, 1843. Asa B. Stow married Maria 1 .. Crossley, who was born May 22. 1820, eldest daughter and fourth child of David and Maria (Chamberlain ) Crossley, of Middle- town, who were the parents of ten children, only three of whom are now living, viz : Mrs Stow, Mrs. Dennis Smith and Capt John P. Crossley, of San Juan, Cal. Three children were born to Mr. and Mrs Stow = Filward ( deceased), Charles V. ca resident of Mid


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dletown) and James P. (a sketch of whom follows). Until May 1, 1901, Mrs. Stow lived at the old home, No. 60 Ferry street, Middletown, which had been the dwelling of Mr. Stow from the time he built it, in 1852, up to his death, but she now lives with her son James P. Mr. and Mrs. Asa B. Stow lived a married life of fifty-five years.


JAMES P. STOW, the efficient clerk and treasurer of the city of Middletown, is a son of Asa B. and Maria (Crossley) Stow, a .sketch of whom precedes, and is descended from one of the early Colonial families of Middletown.


Born on Ferry street, Middletown, Au- gust 16, 1851, Mr. Stow was educated in that city, attending first the Green street public school, and then the high school, after which he took a course at Wesleyan University, from which institution he was graduated with the class of 1875. When but a boy he began his business career as bookkeeper for his father, who was at that time engaged in the engrav- ing business, and after a time he became sec- retary and treasurer of the Middletown Elec- tric Light Company, remaining in that ca- pacity for several years after its inception ; then he became general manager, and served as such up to July 1, 1896. He was also a director of the E. T. Burgess Cut Glass Com- pany, from the start, later becoming the secre- tary and treasurer of the concern. In 1880 he was elected a member of the common coun- cil, and, with the exception of two years, has continuously served as clerk and treasurer of the city of Middletown, since January, 1881. He was also treasurer of the town of Middle- town from 1881 to 1893, and in October, 1895, he was again elected to that office; also at the town election in October, 1897, he was re-elected for the term of two years. His continual re-elections to these different offices of trust and responsibility are evidences of the confidence his town people repose in him. Mr. Stow's conduct as a city official has always been marked with the greatest courtesy toward all, and that he has made and kept many friends is attested by his great popularity. In addition to his official duties he is life trustee o'f his father's estate, as well as of the Middle- town holdings of his deceased uncle, James P. Stow, formerly of Meriden. He is a director of the Middletown Electric Light Company.


Socially he is a prominent Odd Fellow, and is a member of the New England Order of Protection, and he also belongs to other secret organizations.


On October 17, 1883, Mr. Stow was united in marriage with Miss Mary D. Stevens, of Middletown, daughter of Frederick and Sara (Owen) Stevens, the former of whom died leaving his widow with the care of four young children-two boys and two girls. Mrs. Stevens is a well-known successful music teacher, one of the ablest ever in Middletown. To Mr. and Mrs. Stow were born four chil- dren : James P., Jr., Frederick S., Dorothy Mary and Sara Nanette.


EDWIN J. ROBERTS, a leading farmer of the East Long Hill District of the town of Middletown, Middlesex county, owning the place known as Maple Shade Dairy Farm, was born July 22, 1851, in the Farm Hill District of Middletown, and descends from an old New England family of unquestioned respectability.


Giles Roberts, of the town of Middletown, the great-grandfather of Edwin J., married Patience Woodward, an English lady, Novem- ber 21, 1751. He was killed September 20, 1773, by the falling of a tree. To Giles Rob- erts and his wife were born ten children, in the following order: Giles, Jr., September 21, 1753; Aaron, October 17, 1755; Patience, April 9, 1758; Lois, February 19, 1760; Fen- ner, June 10, 1762; Asahel, May 4, 1764; Abraham, April 12, 1766; Esther, March 4, 1768; Elizabeth, September 4, 1770; Isaac, July 20, 1773. The widow, with nine of her children, the youngest only about two months old at the death of the husband and father, mi- grated to Whitestown, Oneida Co., N. Y., leav- ing behind Fenner only, who lived with an old lady known as Aunt Catherine Lucas, of Blake Lot Hill, in the Farm Hill District, of Middle- town, with whom he remained until old enough to go to the trade of making shoes and also to work at farming. At the expiration of his ap- prenticeship Fenner Roberts (who was the grandfather of Edwin J.) worked as a journey- man at stitching harness, at forty shillings ($6.67) per month-the then current wages. When about twenty-eight years old he married Mehitable Barnes, or, as she was usually called Mabel Barnes, daughter of Joseph Barnes, and granddaughter of John Ward, the first of the name at Long Hill, and a descendant of Gen.


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Ward, who came from England to America in the historic "Mayflower" and located at Bos- ton, Mass. The children born to Fenner Rob- erts and his wife were eleven in number, viz. : Jacob, who married Abia Bailey, widow of Loudon Bailey, was a clerk, and at one time was connected with Partridge's school at Mid- dletown, where he died ; Sally and Maria were twins, of whom the former was married to Josiah Johnson, a farmer near Springfield, Mass., and the latter to a Mr. Tredway; Abi- jah became the father of the gentleman whose name opens this review; Isaac is spoken of more fully elsewhere; Sylvester, a farmer in Middletown town, married Mary Ashton; Mehitable was married to a sea captain named Arnold: Esther died when a young woman ; Lucy, the second wife of William Stroud, was the stepmother of Edwin Stroud, whose biog- raphy appears elsewhere; Phebe died unmar- ried; Percus married William Ashton, of Springfield, Massachusetts.


Abijah Roberts, father of Edwin J., was born November 10, 1799, in the East Long Hill District of Middletown, was in early man- hood a painter and paper-hanger, and later settled on a farm on Farm Hill, subsequently locating on the farm now occupied by his son, Edwin J. Abijah Roberts died November 4. 1880, and his wife, Fidelia (Hubbard) Rob- erts passed away May 11, 1890. They were the parents of five children, namely : Arthur, born July 19, 1837, is unmarried, and is living with his brother, Edwin J. Jasper A., born December 12, 1839, first married Ella Bidwell, who died childless, and later married Mary Bidwell, a sister of his first wife; to this second union was born one child, Ella, wife of Ernest Davis, of South Farms; Jasper A. Roberts died March 2, 1882, and his widow resides at South Farms. Silas W., the third child of Abijah, is a farmer, living near Edwin J .; he was born August 4, 1847, and married Evelyn R. Hedges, who was born January 20, 1854. and died March 16, 1896, the mother of three children-Edith M., born February 27, 1880. who died April 15. 1885; Minnie E., born May 6, 1884; and Edwin A., born September 6. 1887. Edwin J. is the fourth child of Abijah. Jane E., the fifth, died young, July 22, 1854.


Edwin J. Roberts was born in a house that stands just west of the Farm Hill cemetery, and was educated principally in the district school. attending for one term the famous Daniel H.


Chase select school, at Middletown. He was yet a lad when brought to his present farm by his parents. After leaving school he assisted his father in the management of this homestead until the death of the parents, and then pur- chased the interest of the other heirs in the place, consisting of seventy acres, and has since been engaged in general farming and in the management of an extensive milk route, which he established in 1883.


Mr. Roberts is an earnest Prohibitionist, but has never sought public office. He is a charter member of Mattabessett Grange, in the affairs of which he has been very active, and in 1898 and 1900 filled the office of master. He is a consistent member of the Methodist Church, is one of the trustees of Long Hill Chapel, and superintendent of its Sabbath- school. Mr. Roberts is very popular, and courteous to his many friends, who all hold him in their unfeigned esteem. He is unmar- ried.


CHARLES GRINNELL CRITTEN- DEN, a thrifty and industrious farmer of the town of Portland, where he is widely known as a straightforward citizen and a reliable busi- ness man, is a descendant of an honorable family, and the good name which it sustained in former generations has not been dimmed by any act of his. He is systematic in his tillage of the soil, and his well-kept farm is evidence of thought and study on the part of its pro- prietor, showing the happy effect of a wise combination of brain and brawn.


David Cruttenden Cas the name was then spelled ), his grandfather, was born in Portland in 1778. a son of Daniel and Rhoda Crutten- den, the former born in 1744. died February 4. 1824, the latter born in 1745. and both buried in Center cemetery. Portland. David Cruttenden was a farmer and stood high in the estimation of his acquaintances. His death occurred May 16. 1859, on the same farm where he was born, and where he had passed his entire life. He had been twice married. His first wife was a Miss Shepard ; his second. Jemina Strickland, who was born in Portland in 1772, and died June 20. 1850 Of the chil Iren of David Crittenden, we have the fol- lowing record: (1) Randolph died young. (2) George was a farmer, and lived and died in Portland. (3) Charles was a farmer in Port land. (.) Ralph Went to Coventry. Com ..


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and after some years in a pistol factory, in partnership with a friend, bought out the estab- lishment. He invented a 'cartridge, and as its manufacture proved more profitable than that of pistols, it superseded it ; he also invented a patent bung-hole for a paper barrel. In later life he located in Hartford, where he engaged in the livery business, and he died in that city in July, 1901. (5) Daniel is referred to be- low. (6) David was a farmer, and never mar- ried; he died in Portland. (7) Catherine lived to a good old age in Portland, and died unmar- ried.


Daniel Crittenden, son of David, and father of Charles G., was born in Portland, but a short distance from the present home of his son, April 3, 1815. He was reared a farmer boy and attended the district school. At the age of sixteen he was apprenticed to learn the tanner's trade at Plymouth, Conn., and he fol- lowed this occupation until the Civil war. For a time he made his home in New London, but about 1855 he removed to Portland. For some years after coming to this city, although he lived on the parental farm in Portland, he was engaged at the Hubbard tannery in Glaston- bury, and it was there that he did his last work at the trade. After his father's death in 1859, he carried on the farm by hired help until he gave up tannery work, when he took up farming as his business for the remainder of his life. He married Jane Grinnell, who was born in Litchfield in March, 1822, but was reared in Mystic, where she was married. She died in September, 1886, and was laid to rest in Center cemetery, beside her husband, who died in January, 1885. Two sons blessed their home: David E., born in January, 1851, married Miss Josephine Goodrich, of Port- land, where he lived until 1895, when he moved to Syracuse, N. Y. ; and Charles Grinnell. Mr. and Mrs. Crittenden also adopted a daughter, Jessie, who married Stephen G. Cornwall of Rose Hill, and died March 7, 1889, leaving one daughter, Helen May. Mr. Crittenden was a Whig, but later acted with the Republi- can party. He was a selectman in Portland and was sent to the State Legislature. In religious connection he attended the Congregational Church. While living at New London he uni- ted with the Odd Fellows, but retired from the order after coming to Portland.


Charles Grinnell Crittenden was born in Portland September 6, 1858, on the same farm


where his father and grandfather were born. He attended district school No. 5, in Port- land, and Miss Abbey White and Miss Har- riet Culver were among his earlier teachers. In those days forty scholars was an average daily attendance, where to-day in the same school it does not exceed a dozen. Mr. Crit- tenden has a keen regard for the old school where his entire education was obtained. He was harnessed up into the work of life rather young, and remained with his father until 1883. That year he rented a farm on Penfield Hill, and after one year there took the farm of George G. McLean on Rose Hill for two years. For about eight months he worked for and lived with an uncle in Stonington, on account of the poor health of his wife, and then came back to Portland, where for about two years he was in the employment of Allen & Whitby, engaged in the butcher business. In 1889 Mr. Crittenden bought the farm on which he is now living. Since that time he has added eighteen acres, and owns a well kept farm of seventy acres. He has built a new tobacco shed, a new ice-house, and a new creamery room, and has a well appointed home.


On September 1, 1881, Mr. Crittenden was united in marriage with Miss Clara R. Pitkin, who was born in East Hartford, Conn., February 23, 1860, a daughter of Leonard and Eliza A. (Fox) Pitkin, the former a son of Captain James and Clarissa (Pratt) Pitkin, and the latter a daughter of Leonard and Han- nah ( Nicholson) Fox. Leonard Pitkin was for some years a clothing merchant in Mont- gomery, Ala., and died in 1880. Mrs. Crit- tenden, who is the eldest daughter and second child in a family of eight children, five sons and three daughters, accompanied her parents to Portland in 1863, and here was reared and edu- cated; her brother, Leonard F., is a physician in New York. Politically Mr. Crittenden is a Republican and takes an active interest in town matters, where his rule is to vote for the best men, regardless of their political affilia- tions. He has been the clerk and the treas- urer of the school district. With his wife he belongs to St. John's Episcopal chapel, and is superintendent of the Sunday-school connect- ed with it. His wife is president of the chap- ter of the Daughters of the King, connected with the chapel and is an earnest worker for its progress. Mr. Crittenden belongs to the Portland lodge of the A. O. U. W. He and




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