Commemorative biographical record of Middlesex County, Connecticut : containing biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens, and of many of the early settled families, Part 160

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 160

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Ebenezer Clark, the father of this family. was a Democrat, but never had any political ambitions. He was no clutch member, but had strict regard for the Sabbath, which he insisted on his family observing. He died in February, 1850, having broken a leg in a fall. which injury was followed by fatal complica-

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tions. His widow survived until 1884, and died in Willimantic, where she was making her home with her daughter Gertrude.

Chester H. Clark was born June 16, 1850, in the east part of the town of Durham, and re- ceived but a limited education, the district school being three and one-half miles from his home. He was but nine years of age when his father died. It is true that he had a guardian, with whom he lived for seven years, but he was deprived of further school advantages and re- stricted to hard work. He had been promised $10 per month, clothing and schooling, and at the age of eighteen years was given a new suit, his clothing meantime being the discarded gar- ments of a relative of his guardian. At the same time he was given a $1 bill for his serv- ice of seven years. On parting with his guar- dian Mr. Clark hired out as a farm hand to Henry Page, of Durham. During his first year with this gentleman he received $13 per month in the summer, but in the winter of that year he worked for his board, with the privi- lege of attending school, in which the pupils were all younger than himself. He worked five years with Mr. Page, and, as he was indus- trious and faithful, received good wages.

About this time Mr. Clark felt that a wife was necessary for his happiness, and he mar- ried, January 22, 1873, Miss Ella C. Camp, a native of Durham, daughter of T. Dwight and Mary ( Page) Camp, the former of whom was a farmer in the town of Durham, where the lat- ter still resides. For several years Mr. Clark made his home with his wife's parents, and did all kinds of farm work in the vicinity and a great deal of carpenter work, as he was very handy with tools. He was extremely industri- ous, saved his earnings as far as possible, and with these, in 1876, was able to purchase his present farm of fifty acres, for which he paid cash. He at once began making improvements on the place, and in 1878 erected his present dwelling, adding barns and all other necessary cutbuildings from time to time. He is at pres- ent engaged in general farming and fruit grow- ing, and also does some joiner's work, besides considerable grafting, trimming and pruning in the neighborhood. being an expert arbor- culturist and fruit grower. He is also a suc- cessful bee-keeper, having between twenty and thirty hives, and has acquired his wide knowl- edge of this work by experience, not from books.

The marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Clark has been blessed with four children, namely: Wil- bur I., born February 17, 1874, married Chris- tiana Clark, and is a farmer in Durham; Ar- thur J. was born September 7, 1879 ; Elizabeth M., March 29, 1882; and Henry B., July 21, 1885.

Mr. Clark is a stalwart Democrat, and served in the State Legislature in 1893 with Daniel C. Southmayd as his colleague. He is a devout member of the Methodist Church of Durham, in which he is a trustee and stew- ard, and is one of the most esteemed and high- ly respected self-made men in Durham town, in which esteem and respect his family share equally.

L. C. WHITNEY is a name inseparably connected with the history of the introduction and development of electric lighting in Con- necticut, Mr. Whitney having been one of the managers of a pioneer company organized for that purpose. Since 1884 he has been promi- nently identified with concerns of that charac- ter, and has won an extensive as well as an enviable and permanent reputation throughout the State, as an electrician of thorough theo- retical knowledge and of trained skill.

Mr. Whitney was born September 12. 1853, at South Meriden, son of \V. M. and Charlotte (York) Whitney. Both parents were born in Maine, and both descended from that sturdy pioneer stock to whom the over- coming of obstacles was a pastime, and who have left upon the Pine Tree State the envia- ble impress of their personality. His father's birthplace was Saccarappa. He removed from Maine to Connecticut, settling at Meriden, where he found employment with the Meriden Cutlery Company, as a contractor. Both he and his wife are yet living, at South Meriden, at the age of nearly four score years.

As a boy L. C. Whitney received average educational advantages. His natural bent was toward mechanical pursuits, and in his seven- teenth year he began to learn the trade of a ma- chinist and tool maker, in the shops of the New Haven Manufacturing Company, prefer- ring this pursuit to the course in a business col- lege which his father offered him as an alterna- tive. For a year he worked in the Parker Brothers gun factory, at Meriden, and by the close of his service there had mastered his trade. He went to work as a jorneyman in the

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shops of Pratt & Whitney, in Hartford, where he remained two years, at the end of that time entering the employ of Andrews, Ferre & Clark, of New Britain, and later connecting himself, as a workman, with the P. & F. Cor- bin Company. His first practical experience as an electrician was obtained in the employ of the New Britain Electric Light Company, at a time when the system of electric lighting was yet, metaphorically speaking, "in its swaddling clothes," it being found necessary to give free public exhibitions to exploit the theory and arouse interest. The project was regarded as hypothetical and problematical, if not positive- ly chimercial, and the exhibition of an arc light was a drawing card for a traveling cir- cus. Finally, however, the New Britain plant was erected and placed in operation, Mr. Whit- ney acting in the three-fold capacity of engi- neer, superintendent and general utility man. It did not require any great lapse of time for one of his innate intelligence, quick perception and ready adaptability to master every detail of the work. He was made, successively, gen- eral manager, secretary and acting treasurer. He remained with the New Britain Company in this capacity until 1894, when he accepted an offer from the Royal Arc Company, of New York, or, to speak more correctly, from its Connecticut branch. He remained with that concern, however, for only four months, be- ing then appointed receiver of the Norwalk Electric Light Company, in which capacity he assumed absolute control and management of the plant. Here, for the first time, he had a really fair opportunity to demonstrate his thor- ough equipment-mechanical, scientific and commercial. With such signal ability did he discharge his onerous duties that his reputation was at once established. In ISS5 the Middle- town Electric Company requested him to enter its service. For a time he was able to devote only a part of his time to the company's work, but in 1896 became its general manager. He still retains that arduous and responsible posi- tion, discharging its grave duties with an abil- ity and fidelity which have commended him alike to the corporation's stockholders and to the general public.

Mrs. Whitney's maiden name was Ellen V. Goodwin. Her birthplace was Millbury, Mass., where her parents, Charles and Julia ( Hitch- cock) Goodwin, were married. While she was a child they moved to New Britain, Com ..

where she was educated and grew to woman- hood, and where her father and mother are pass- ing their declining years. To Mr. and Mrs. Whitney have come two children, Estella N. and William L., the latter a student at Pratt's Institute, Brooklyn. The daughter is a grad- uate of the New Britain Normal School.

Mr. Whitney is a member of the Masonic fraternity, being affiliated with Harmony and Hancock Lodge, A. F. & A. M., of New Brit- ain and South Meriden, respectively; with the Giddings Chapter, R. A. M., of New Britain; and Washington Commandery, K. T., of Hart- ford. He is a citizen of broad, public spirit, progressive in his views and held in high es- teem.

JOHN BRANSFIELD, who conducts a general store in Portland, where, in a quarter of a century, he has gradually risen from a poor boy to wealth and influence, is an import- ant factor in the business of that town and in the public affairs of Middlesex county.

Mr. Bransfield was born March 17. 1850, in Portland, Conn., a son of William and Mar- garet (Lee) Bransfield, natives of County Cork, Ireland, who had come some years before to this locality. Both parents are deceased. the father dying when our subject was but eight years old. Of the children. other than our subject, all are deceased except Mary, who lives with her brother. Under these hard con- ditions Mr. Bransfield's educational facilities were meager. When small he went to make his home at Long Hill. with Mrs. Mary Daly. and worked at farm labor wherever he coukl find it, at one time being in the employ of Eb- enezer G. Hubbard, leaving him to learn the blacksmith trade with Jeremiah Flynn. He served his apprenticeship, as per agreement. but, not liking the business, did not continue in that calling.

When he had managed by the closest econ- omy to accumulate a small capital Mr. Brans- field became a member of the firm of Condon & Bransfield, in the mercantile line, and this partnership continued two years. Following the dissolution of that connection, he opened up a business by himself, and through a thor- ongh comprehension of all details, a persever- ing industry and business ability, he has devel oped it to its present large proportions. Mr. Bransfield has been a good manager and finan cier, as is evidenced in the great real estate

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holdings now in his name, these including more than forty tenements, aside from a large amount of unimproved real estate. For busi- ness purposes Mr. Bransfield uses a large tract of land on both sides of Air Line avenue, on the east side of Main street. The latter prop- erty came into his possession in 1877, by pur- chase from St. Mary's Church corporation. The building occupied by Mr. Bransfield was once one of the largest and the best-known hotels in Middlesex county. So many changes and additions have been made to accommodate the rapidly increasing business, that the structure bears little resemblance to the noted hostelry of other days. This building is now used as a general store, where a large stock of groceries, paints, oils, farming implements, flour, meal, feed, baled hay, straw, etc., is car- ried. In addition to the main building he has in constant use a number of storage buildings, where are kept fertilizers, farming utensils of all kinds, and other commodities in which he deals. On the south side of Air Line avenue are situated his large coal and wood yards, the latter being equipped with steam power for sawing and splitting wood for family use. The coal sheds have large storage capacity, all kinds being kept in large quantity.

A stanch Democrat in his political views, Mr. Bransfield has been active and influential in and for the party for many years, and was the efficient chairman of his town committee for seventeen years, refusing at the end of this period to serve longer. His business career has been an honorable one and he has the re- spect and confidence of his fellow townsmen.

In 1873 Mr. Bransfield was married to Catherine Butler, a native of Ireland, a most es- timable lady. The children born of this union were: Margaret J .: Julia M., a clerk of the Portland postoffice; Mary E., a teacher in the Portland schools; William, deceased; Nellie G .; Jeremiah; Elizabeth P .; John W .; Joseph P. ; Cecelia ; and Clement. Both Mr. and Mrs. Bransfield were reared in the Roman Catholic communion, and they have brought up their excellent family in the same faith. Mr. Brans- field has served on the board of relief, is a di- rector of the Buck Library, and a member of the town school board. Socially he is a promi- nent member of the A. O. H., and is county president of that order, as well as treasurer of the local division; and he is one of the lead-

ing members and treasurer of the Knights of Columbus.

As a keen, shrewd business man, Mr.Brans- field has done much for his town, while justly advancing his own interests, several times con- verting what has seemed worthless tracts into paying properties, able to sustain increased taxation, and of benefit to the town. As an example of a self-made man, he presents a most worthy example to the young, and his career offers itself as one worthy of emulation.

ROSCOE C. DOANE is a successful farmer, a descendant of an old and numerous family of southern Connecticut and of southern Massachusetts.

Prince Doane, the first of the name to come to America, settled at Eastham, Cape Cod, Mass., where he lived and died. He brought his wife with him from England. His son Prince was born in Cape Cod, and located at Saybrook, Conn., soon after 1734. He had quite a large family: Prince, Ruth, Phebe, Abigail, Mary ( all born in Eastham), Elkanah, Israel and James (born in Saybrook).

Israel Doane was born January 21, 1739, and married Priscilla Shipman, a native of Saybrook. He died August 30, 1829, his wife December 1I, 1833. He was a farmer and ship carpenter, and resided in Saybrook (now Essex), being employed in the shipyards near his house. He built the house still standing, in the Meadow Woods District, this mansion being now 145 years old. He was a member of the Episcopal Church. His children were : ( I) Deborah, born April 16, 1764, married Ebenezer Williams, and died March 29, 1835. He was a sea captain, and lived in Essex. (2) Priscilla, born January 21, 1766, died April 10, 1836. She married George Williams, a seafaring man, and lived in Essex. (3) Israel, Jr., born October 20. 1767, married Irene Williams, and died December 17, 1842. He was a sea captain in his early years, lived in Essex for a time and later moved to Genesee. Genesee Co., N. Y., where he passed the remainder of his life as a farmer and mill owner. (4) Ruth, born March I, 1771, married John Ward, a sea captain, lived in Essex for a time, and died November 8, 1842, in Bristol, Conn., at the home of her daughter. (5) Anne, born October 3, 1773, died February 1, 1836. She became the wife

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of Abner Williams, a boss ship carpenter, and they resided in Essex. (6) Justus, born June 17, 1776, was a farmer in Essex, where he died March 5, 1855. For his first wife he mar- ried Phillippa Read, and they were the parents of Capt, Cornelius R. Doane, who is mentioned elsewhere. His second wife was Laurana Champlain. (7) Mary L., born April 12, 1779, died December 30, 1843, unmarried. (8) Dan, born October 8, 1782, was the grand- father of Roscoe C.

Dan Doane was born in the homestead be- fore mentioned, and passed all his life there. In early life he followed the trade of cooper, in company with his brother Justus, establishing a large shop near their home, and in addition to general coopering they turned out hoops and other fittings for the vessels made in the neighboring shipyards. They also made many fish barrels, for the shad fishermen. Later Dan Doane devoted his time to farming, which occupied all the later years of his life, his death occurring June 6, 1849. Politically he was a Democrat, and he and his wife were members of the Episcopal Church. He was a member of the local militia. On September 25, 1813, he married Ruth Clark, who was born December 15, 1789, in Essex, a daughter of George and Ruth ( Doane) Clark. Mrs. Doane passed away November 22, 1840, the mother of chil- dren as follows: (1) Cynthia, born June I. 1815, not married, is still living at the home- stead in Essex. (2) David C., born January 25, 1817, is still living in Essex. He was a stonemason by occupation. For his first wife he married Sarah Cogswell, and his second was Louisa Dibble. (3) Justus, born May 13. 1819, married Viletta Tiffany, and died Au- gust 7, 1891. He was a farmer and mason, and lived in Essex. (4) Cornelius D. is men- tioned below. (5) Damaris A., born March 9, 1823. in unmarried, and is living on the homestead in Essex. (6) Jared, born April 9, 1825, is a farmer in Essex. He married Mary Williams. (7) Ruth P., born March 1. 1827, is unmarried, and resides on the okl homestead. (8) Abigail S., born March 31. 1829, died August 27, 1897. She was the wife of Henry J. Meigs, a farmer of Madison. Conn. (9) William, born February 7. 1835. has never married, and is engaged in farming on the old homestead in Essex.

Cornelius D. Doane was born March 26, 1821, in the Meadow Woods District of Es-

sex, and attended the district schools up to the age of about eighteen, after which he assisted upon the farm until his marriage, when he left the home place and rented a tract of land for about a year, then purchasing the estate upon which he passed the rest of his life. He erected the residence thereon in 1856. His time was given to general farming and stock-raising. in which he met with substantial success. The place was originally . purchased from Justus Williams by David and Justus Doane, brothers of Cornelius; the latter purchased David's in- terest. he and Justus dividing the farm at a later date. Mr. Doane died March 14, 1895. after a short illness, though for many years he was in poor health. He was a stanch Demo- crat, but did not care for office, preferring to lead a quiet life. However, he served on the school board. He was a vestryman of St. John's Episcopal Church, and lived a worthy life, and his death was lamented by many friends.

On August 13, 1854. Mr. Doane married Charlotte M. Northam, born August 5, 1832. in Colchester. Conn .. daughter of Robert C. and Nancy ( Emmons) Northam, the former a prominent lumber dealer in that town and a brother of the late C. H. Northam, one of the best citizens of Hartford, in honor of whom the steamer "C. H. Northam" was named. Mrs. Doane was, in her earlier years, a school teach- er, teaching in the Iron Works District of Westchester, Conn .. for three years, also at South Manchester, Tolland. East Hampton. and in the Meadow Woods District (for one year). (1) Roscoe C. Doane was the eldest child of his parents. (2) Robert C., born No- vember 2. 1850. is a teamster, and lives in C'en- terbrock. On April 22, 1884. he married Madeline Miner, and they have had three chil- dren, of whom Iva J. was born January 30. 1887: Errol C. was born July 15, 1890. (3) Ann E., born December 16, 1861, was married April 26, 1887. to George H. Meigs, and re- sides in New Haven. They have no children.

Roscoe Cornelius Doane was born Septem- ber to, 1857. in the Meadow Woods District of Essex where he attended the district school. living at home until his marriage, during which time he was employed on the farm, also doing teaming with a team which he ow ned. In com- pany with his father he purchased of William Bates the present farmi which he ocenpies, then known as the George Chapman farm, a tract

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of fifty-six acres, our subject paying a part of the price with his savings, and later purchasing the remaining interest. To the original tract he has added land until now he owns about 140 acres located in the town of Saybrook, near the Essex line, where he carries on general farming and teaming, also devoting consider- able attention to cattle raising, owning some fine Devon stock and being one of the largest stock owners of the town. A fine growth of timber permits him to reap a good income from the sale of fire wood throughout Deep River and Essex.

On April 3, 1884 Mr. Doane married Mary E. Brockway, who was born November 30, 1866, in Essex, daughter of Alexis and Mary Jane ( Saunders) Brockway, and to this union have been born: Louise Northam, July 31, 1885; Charles Northam, March 9, 1888; and Mary Charlotte, July 22, 1899. Mrs. Doane is a member of the Congregational Church in Essex. In politics Mr. Doane is a Democrat, being satisfied, however, to cast his vote and permit others the trials of office. He has been an industrious and successful farmer, and is everywhere esteemed as an excellent citizen.

DANIEL W. GROSVENOR is one of the leading citizens of the town of Westbrook, Middlesex county, where he is well known and highly respected.

Abel Grosvenor, his grandfather, was one of those gardeners and landscape artists who have made of England the beautiful garden it is, admired by the world. In his native town of Dudley the father of our subject, Joseph Grosvenor, was also born, in 1817. His trade was that of whitesmith, at which he worked until he had a wife and five children. The growing needs of his family troubled Mr. Grosvenor, and, anxious to secure better op- portunities for them, he listened to the tales of the great country beyond the sea, finally decid- ing to cross the water and investigate for him- self. His savings were enough for passage money, and after a long voyage from Liverpool he landed in New York, with a few dollars yet in his pocket. Being an excellent workman, Mr. Grosvenor was soon able to secure remu- nerative work, entering the employ of John Stevenson, of New York, who had a contract for the making of all the army wagons used by the government in the Mexican war ; Mr. Gros-

venor made all the nails used in their construc- tion. For seven years he labored faithfully in New York, going from there to Guilford, Conn., to engage in whitesmithing (polishing) in the factory of the Guilford Manufacturing Company. But soon afterward this company failed, and Mr. Grosvenor lost not only his position, but also his wages, this being a heavy burden to a poor man. Soon after he secured employment in the lock shop at Guilford, and remained there until the firm went out of busi- ness. Establishing then a small shop in Guil- ford, he worked as a smith and maker of horse nails for a number of years ; he was an expert in that line of work, being considered one of the best workmen in the country. Mr. Gros- venor then retired to the small farm in Guil- ford, where he now resides, in comfort, at the age of eighty-three. He reared a large fam- ily, and accumulated a competency, by his own efforts succeeding in making his children com- fortable until they could care for themselves. A stanch Republican since his location in America, he upholds the laws of the country in which he lives, and in religion is one of the valued members of the Methodist Church of Guilford. He was married in Dudley, Eng- land, to Ann Oakley, a native of the same place. After her husband left to provide a home for the family in America, Mrs. Grosvenor worked hard to care for the children, displaying a noble character, which causes her now to be beloved not only by her relatives, but by neighbors and friends in the home at Guilford. In 1844, a little over a year after her husband's voyage, Mrs. Grosvenor came with the children to the United States. The family born to Mr. and Mrs. Grosvenor consisted of : (I) Hannah, who married Philo M. Blatchley, lives at East River, in Guilford. (2) Daniel W. is our sub- ject. (3) Samuel taught school for a time at various points in Connecticut. He enlisted during the Civil war in Company B, Sixteenth Connecticut Volunteers, fought with his regi- ment in many engagements, and was made ser- geant. He was captured at the battle of Plym- outh, N. C., taken to Andersonville for sev- eral wretched months, and later to Libby for ten months; while at the former place he was one of the one hundred sergeants whose duty it was to collect and deliver rations. This -

brave man met his death on the Potomac river, in a collision between the transport "Massachu- setts" (on which he was going to join his regi-

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ment) and the "Black Diamond," being one of the sixty whose lives ended at that time. (4) Joseph, who also enlisted in Company B, Six- teenth Connecticut Volunteers, was killed on his twentieth birthday, in the fight at Antietam, and his body was buried where his brave life went out. (5) Mary, who married Capt. Lewis E. Evarts, lived and died in Guilford. (6) William died in infancy. (7) Rebecca, who married George O. Bradley, lives in New Haven. (8) Ann, who married Charles Par- malee, resides in Guilford. (9) Emily, who married Abner Le Baron, died in Guilford. (10) Simeon married, and died in Fair Haven. (II) John W. married Abby Tripp Clark, and lives in Guilford.

Daniel W. Grosvenor was born January 16, 1839, and came to the United States with his mother when five years old, in company with the rest of the family, making the trip in the sailing vessel "St. George," from Liverpool, and after a tempestuous voyage of forty days, during which time they encountered icebergs, landing in New York where they were met by the beloved husband and father. In that city Daniel attended school until he was ten years old, and then began to assist in the support of the family, working during the day, and at- tending school in the evening. After the re- moval to Guilford he attended the district school for six weeks, one-half day sessions. this completing his education so far as school opportunities were concerned: but his desire for books and general reading was so great that he eagerly embraced every chance to sat- isfy it, and as a result he possesses a great fund of information, being one of the best informed men in his locality.

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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 160

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