Commemorative biographical record of Middlesex County, Connecticut : containing biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens, and of many of the early settled families, Part 162

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 162

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Jared Eliot, the next in the line of descen ! to George Edwin, was born November 7, 1685 was a minister at Killingworth, and one of the most distinguished men of Connecticut. H. died April 22, 1763. Jared Eliot was greatly interested in scientific matters, and among other things took up the manufacture of iron during the Revolutionary war, making can non-balls for the Patriot army. The Lon don Society for the Promotion of Art present ed him with a gold medal as a recognition o his skill in the manufacture of "very good iro!

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out of black sea sand," as the inscription reads. This medal is now in the possession of Chaun- cey Goodrich Eliot, of Goshen, N. Y., who intends eventually to make Yale University custodian thereof.

George Eliot, son of Jared, became a prom- inent man and a deacon in the Congregational Church. He died in 1810. He married Han- nah Ely, of Lyme, who died in 1820. They were the great-grandparents of the gentleman whose name opens this sketch.

George Elliot, the eldest child of George, was born in Clinton, on the farm which was given to Rev. Jared Eliot by the town on con- dition that he remain there the rest of his nat- ural life, which condition he accepted. George Elliot was an extensive farmer, a man of means, a deacon in the Congregational Church, and prominent in public life. He was well-known as a public speaker, and on account of his gifts as an orator was chosen to make the ad- dress of welcome to Gen. LaFayette, on be- half of the town of Killingworth, when the great Frenchman made his visit to the town in 1825. He was a Jeffersonian Democrat, and was the choice of his fellow citizens several times for representative to the State Legisla- ture. His death occurred October 31, 1828. On December 23, 1790, George Elliot married Patience Lane, a daughter of Noah Lane, of Killingworth, and they had one child, Ely Augustus. Mrs. Elliot passed away October 6, 1852.

Ely Augustus Elliot, son of George, was born September 18, 1791, in the house erected by his father on the homestead place above men- tioned, and which is now occupied by Deacon Henry A. Elliot. At the age of twenty-one Ely A. Elliot engaged in mercantile business, in which he continued alone for several years, finally forming a partnership with James A. Pratt under the firmi name of Pratt & Elliot When John D. Leffingwell bought an interest the style changed to Pratt. Elliott & Leffing- well, and they did a large business as general merchants and were very successful. In time Mr. Pratt withdrew, and in 1852 George E. Elliot bought his father's interest, the latter retiring to private life. He died January 7. 1871. Like other members of his family Mr. Elliot was prominently identified with public affairs, serving as senator, judge of probate. associate judge of Middlesex county, and se- lectman for a number of years. He was a Dem

ocrat in political affiliation, and stood high in the councils of his party. In 1830 he was com- missioned brigadier general of artillery of the State of Connecticut, by Gov. Tomlinson, and held that position many years. He was a mem- ber of the Congregational Church, served on the society's committee, and was an active worker in all its affairs. His death was caused by pneumonia, after a life of robust health.

On July 14, 1818, Mr. Elliot was united in marriage with Susan Maria Pratt, who was born January 8, 1795, daughter of Humphrey Pratt, of Saybrook. She died January 9. 1871. after having been an invalid for several years and unable to walk. Mr. and Mrs. Elliot had children, as follows: George Edwin. Henry Augustus and Charles Alexander (born Jan- mary 6, 1831. who has a sketch elsewhere ).

Henry Augustus Elliot, brother of our sub- ject, was born April 17. 1821, and is a resident of Clinton, with the development of which town he has been closely identified. His liter- ary training was completed at the Parish high school, in Fair Haven, and he devoted his at- tention for a number of years to large farming interests, of which he retained active control until, in 1875. he embarked in the feed and coal business in company with his brother Charles. under the firm name of Elliot Brothers. For many years he has held the office of first se- lectman, in which capacity he served during the Civil war. In 1873 he was elected a deacon in the Congregational Church, and is now senior deacon. Of late years his health has not been robust, and his hearing has been somewhat impaired. On September 20. 1840. he was married to Phobe E. Hull, daughter of Levi and Betsey ( Dibble) Hull, and two chil- dren blessed their union: Susan Elizabeth. born July 27. 1848, died February 21. 1853. William Henry, born February 13. 1853, 15 purchasing agent in the employ of the New York, New Haven & Hartford Railway Com- pany'; he married Ellen Chittenden, and thev have bad seven children, Katherine Chitien- den, born May 2, 1879: Harriet Wheeler, Aug - gust 15, 1881; Augustus Hull, February S. 1881. Pluche E, June 24. 1886. Hems M. January 23. 1880; William L. June 30, 1803. Nellie P. Ma 2. 1800

George Edwin Flhet Was born April 16. 1810, in Killingworth, now Clinton, and 3.15 educated at the Chaton Academy and Amherst Academy, Amherst, Mass, which he attended

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in 1834-35. His intention had been to take a college course, but poor health prevented, and in 1836 he engaged as a clerk in Norwich with Wolcott Huntington, with whom he continued one year. Leaving there he went to New Ha- ven, where he was employed as a clerk until 1840. He then entered the house of Elliot & Leffingwell, in Clinton, in the early 'fifties, purchasing his father's interest in the firm. He continned with Mr. Leffingwell the succeed- ing three years, at the end of which time he became sole owner of the business, remaining proprietor of the large establishment until 1880, when he retired from active life in connection with commercial affairs.

Mr. Elliot has devoted time, means and en- ergy to that well-known educational establish- ment, the Morgan school, of Clinton, being president of its board of trustees ; he was ap- pointed trustee by Charles Morgan, the foun- der of the school, who was one of his intimate friends, and, in his present incumbency, is the successor of John D. Leffingwell. In spite of the cares of a busy mercantile life Mr. Elliot has distinguished himself in public affairs, hav- ing served as judge of probate from 1846 to 1854 ; member of the Legislature from his town in 1853, during which term he was on the com- mittee on Finance; and member of the build- ing committee during the famous contest over building locations between the towns of Fair- field and Bridgeport, which was decided in favor of the latter town. He is a Democrat in political faith. In religion he is a member of the Congregational Church, and he serves as a member of the society's committee.

On September 25, 1844, Mr. Elliot was married to Cornelia Chloe Redfield, who was born November 20, 1821, in Clinton, daugh- ter of David and Chloe ( Kirtland) Redfield, and granddaughter of Capt. Elisha Kirtland. To this union came children as follows : Mary Cornelia, born March 23, 1850, graduated from Grove Hall Seminary, New Haven, and has been a teacher in the Morgan school, at Clinton, since its establishment. Grace Red- field, born February 7, 1852, attended Provi- dence Conference Seminary, at East Green- wich, R. I. Ely Augustus, born March 18, 1854, married Nellie M. Hunt; he resides in New Haven, where he is engaged in business as a commission merchant. George Edwin, born August 1. 1859, died June 12, 1860. George Edwin, Jr., born June 1, 1864, gradu-

ated from the Morgan school in 1882, from Yale in 1886, B. A., received the degree of M. A. in 1888, and since 1899 has been princi- pal of the Morgan school; he is the first grad- uate of that famous institution to hold the po- sition. The pleasant home occupied by the fam- ily was erected in 1878-79.

Our subject bears his years well. It is not difficult to trace the blood of illustrious an- cestors in his career. In church, in business, in public affairs, as well as in his home, Mr. Elliot has made his name highly honored, and it must afford him gratification to realize that he will leave it to worthy descendants.

LOUIS D. PRATT, one of the prominent and successful business men of Deep River, Middlesex county, was born in Saybrook, along the Essex road, south of the center of Deep River, July 10, 1864. Mr. Pratt is a descend- ant of two old and prominent families of Say- brook, being a son of Obediah and Achsah Ann ( Hale) Pratt, and his relatives are numerous throughout this part of Middlesex county.

In the district schools of the home vicin- ity Mr. Pratt received his education. Leaving home at the age of twenty he went to Broken Bow, Custer Co., Neb., where he engaged in business in a hardware store and learned the carpenter's trade, remaining in the West for the four succeeding years. In 1888 he re- turned to Deep River and opened up a busi- ness in wood and timber, buying and selling, and in 1893 added ice to his other commodi- ties. Later Mr. Pratt began the trucking bus- iness, in a small way, gradually going into it more extensively, as it proved both pleasant and profitable, until he now finds almost all his time occupied in properly conducting same.

Mr. Pratt is a stanch Republican, and in 1897 was sent as the representative from Say- brook to the Legislature, serving very accept- ably on the committee on Roads and Bridges. He is now holding the office of registrar of voters, which position he has efficiently filled for the past two years, and in October, 1900, was elected to the honorable office of second se- lectman, being at present engaged in the active discharge of the duties of that incumbency.

On April 10, 1894, Mr. Pratt was married to Annie E. McNamara, who was born July 2, 1869, in Chester, Conn., daughter of Pat- rick and Mary (Cooney) McNamara, the former of whom was born in County Limerick,

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the latter in County Galway, Ireland. The fa- ther died at the age of sixty-five, the mother when she was but forty-two. Besides Mrs. Pratt they had children as follows: Catherine, of Chester ; Mary, of Chester ; John, who mar- ried Anna Larsen, of Deep River ; James, Ag- nes and Frances, all of Chester; and Theresa and William, of New Haven. To Mr. and Mrs. Pratt have come two daughters: Rosa- mond Miriam, born February 20, 1895, passed out of life the following June, and her name was given to another bright little child, born June 20, 1896.

Mr. Pratt has built up a fine business in this locality by his own thrift and energy, and by a display of admirable qualities has won the confidence of his fellow citizens, who have deemed him worthy to be a standard bearer.

G. PHILIP LECRENIER, postmaster at Moodus, Middlesex county, and one of the publishers of the Connecticut Valley Adver- tiser, was born in Lyme, this State, August 9. 1862. The family came to Moodus a few years later, and there he attended the public schools. He learned the printing trade under J. E. Selden, former proprietor of the paper with which he is now connected, continuing in his employ until 1894. On the death of Mr. Sel- den, Mr. Lecrenier became the junior publisher of the Advertiser, and its editor.

In 1885 Mr. Lecrenier married Miss M. Alice Skewes, daughter of T. J. D. Skewes, M. D., and they have four children, Frank Il. S., G. Philip, Alphonse J., and Zelia E. Mr. Le- crenier represented the town of East Haddam in the General Assembly of 1893, and while there served on the committee on Cities and Boroughs. In 1898 he was appointed post- master at Moodus. his appointment dating from July Ist, of that year, and he has since been reappointed. He is a member of Cohim- bia Lodge, F. & A. M., and of Middlesex Lodge, 1. O. O. F.

CHARLES H. BAILEY. Among the well-known residents of Higgan, Middle- sex county, is Charles H. Bailey, who bears a name inherited from John Bailey, one of the proprietary settlers of this part of Connecticut. who came hither in 1662. Lyman Bailey, the grandfather of Charles H., a native of Had- dam, was a large farmer in that neighborhood. He married twice and reared the following

children : Lyman R., Lydia, Clarissa, Orcity. Henry D. (the father of Charles H. ), Sylvanus. Thaddeus, Alvin and Elizabeth.

Henry D. Bailey was born in Haddam. where he died at the age of forty-two years. In early life he was employed in the Scovil shops in the making of chisels, and later en- gaged in farming in Haddam and vicinity. In politics he was a Deniocrat, although he never sought any party offices. He married Jane Atwood, a native of Meriden, Conn .. and to them were born: Emma, who married Fred Fuller, of Norwich, Conn. : Harriet, who mar- ried Charles H. Barker: Charles Henry, our subject; and Frank W., who married Alice Treadwell, and resides in Hartford, Connecti- cut.

Charles Henry Bailey was born December 26, 1856, grew up in his native village, and was obliged to care for himself at a very early age. While still a lad he came to Higganum and engaged in the first work he found. which proved to be driving an ox-team, and later found work with the Valley Railroad Company. He spent some time in the district schools. Later he became a molder in the Higg Mam- facturing Company, located at Higganum, re- maining in that position for ten years. Until 1802 he continued as a molder and bench worker in machine shops, and in that year em- barked in the milk business. in connection with a grocery and meat market, also farming on a small scale.

Mr. Bailey was married to Effic Walkley. a daughter of Ellsworth and Emphasis ( Treadwell) Walkley, both of whom are still living. To Mr. and Mrs. Bailey came one daughter, Angie May, born November 21. 1883.

Gordon Walkley, the grandfather of Mrs. Bailey, was a prominent man and extensive farmer of the town of Haddam, owning gom acres of land at the time of his death During the war of 1812 he was among those who marched to New London to assist in repelling the expected British att ich Patrolling the beach, he saw a craft in the darkness, at which his company fired, and which, when captured. proved to be a scos taking supplies to the en Mr. Walkles received Fruits Jul. which he afterward sold On March 11, 1818. he was married to Martha Skinner can hte of Richard Skinner), who was borre Lionais 1. 1798, and died at the age of seventy Gvc

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To them came children as follows: Ellsworth, the 'father of Mrs. Bailey, born January 2, 1819: Chauncey, born March 27, 1820; Mar- garet, born February 25, 1824, now the widow of Jesse Smith; Merilla, born March 16, 1828, who married Hubbard Spencer, and died April 4, 1900; and Jane, born January 3, 1832, who died April 22, 1900.

The children of Mr. and Mrs. Ellsworth Walkley were: Martha was born October 12, 1842; Adeline, born November 20, 1845, mar- ried George Scoville; Euphrasia, born Decem- ber 10. 1847, married Henry Peters; Ida was born March 21, 1850; Frank was born Sep- tember 29, 1852; Effie, wife of our subject, was born January 28, 1855; Jennie was born June 9, 1858; Casey, born May 6, 1860, mar- ried Annie Phelps, of Haddam; and Ella, born July 30, 1865, married Henry F. Raynor, of Middletown, Connecticut.

Mr. Bailey is a close attendant and liberal supporter of the Methodist Church, of which Mrs. Bailey is a member. In political matters he is a Democrat, and consistently adheres to the principles of that party. Among his many friends he is very popular, and he is a man de- serving of great credit for his persevering ef- fort against adverse circumstances in his early life.

JOHN FRANCIS CONVEY, one of the leading cigar manufacturers and dealers of Middlesex county, is established in desirable headquarters on Main street, Middletown. He is a thoroughly practical man, and with his over thirty years' experience in the business, his familiarity with it extends to the most minute detail. His identification with the man- ufacture of cigars dates back to his youth, so that he works to-day with that intimate knowl- edge of all the requirements of his trade which comes only from actual performance of every part of its work.

Mr. Convey is a native of Thompsonville, Conn., born August 16, 1855. His parents, Patrick and Eliza (Scanlan) Convey, were well-to-do Irish people who came to Connecti- cut when quite young and settled at Thomp- sonville, where they were married. The elder sons, James W. and Thomas Convey, are also engaged in the cigar business, being located at Tariffville. The mother, Eliza, died when her youngest boy was three years old, and the fa- ther has also passed away.

John F. Convey passed the first ten years of life in his native town, and then went to Tariffville, where he soon after began an ap- prenticeship to the cigar trade, under the in- struction of his older brothers, receiving the customary wages of two dollars per week and board. His educational advantages were lim- ited, because of his early beginning of a busi- ness career, but being a close observer, he has learned much from his experience and contact with the world. When he had learned his trade he immediately began as a journeyman cigarmaker, and presently forming a partner- ship with Ariel Mitchelson, went into business at Tariffville, under the firm name of Mitchel- son & Co. In 1888 Mr. Andrew N. Shepard purchased the interest of Mr. Mitchelson, and the entire plant was removed to Portland, where it was operated until the spring of 1901, when the firm was dissolved, Mr. Convey be- coming its successor, and the plant was re- moved to Middletown. The business has en- joyed a healthy and substantial growth, giving employment to a number of skilled workmen, and the annual output now exceeds a million cigars. The celebrated "Brownstone" cigar manufactured by Mr. Convey is one of the most popular made in the State, and the same can be said of other popular brands known to smokers.

In December, 1874, Mr. Convey was mar- ried to Miss Bridget Hill, a native of Tariff- ville. The following children have blessed their union : Mary Elizabeth is the wife of Fred J. La Rouche, of Middletown, who has charge of the retail department of Mr. Convey's bus- iness ; James W. is a cigarmaker by trade, and is employed by his father ; John J. is a stenog- rapher at Asheville, N. C .; Helen, Francis Edward, Mildred and Beatrice resides at home with their parents.

While Mr. Convey may be said to have sympathies with the Democratic party, he sup- ported William McKinley for President. He is a member of Freestone Council, No. 7, Knights of Columbus, and was formerly a member of Torrington Lodge, No. 372, B. P. O. E. He was instrumental in organizing Middletown Lodge, No. 771, of the latter or- der, and subsequently severed his connection with Torrington Lodge, and became a member of Middletown Lodge. He is a Roman Cath- olic in religion. A man of genial personality and much native refinement, Mr. Convey en-

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joys the regard of a wide personal and business acquaintance. His unflagging industry and up- right business methods have contributed to make him a successful man, and he is adjudged to be entitled to his good fortune by all who have observed his career.

G. H. APPELQUEST, deceased, was one of the best known representatives of his na- tionality in the city of Middletown, Middlesex county, a striking illustration of a citizen val- uable to any community. His thrift and push caused a decided improvement in the business property of the city, and the transformation of the lot at the corner of Rapello avenue and Main street is evidence of his enterprise. In 1898 he erected the Appelquest block, which is one of the substantial buildings of that local- ity.

Mr. Appelquest was born one mile east of Gislawed, Sweden, November 28, 1859, and was one of a family comprising four sons and one daughter. His parents were well-to-do, occupied a prominent place in their locality in the Old World, and were possessed of a large property. Mr. Appelquest had a brother, Os- car, in New Britain, Conn., who is a skillful joiner, and another brother, Edward, in Phil- adelphia, who is engaged in the same profes- sion. His brother, Charles, in New Haven, is a mechanic. His sister, Ida, married Frank Anderson, of New Britain. The father died at the age of forty-one, and the mother yet lives in her old Swedish home.

G. H. Appelquest obtained his schooling in his native community, and was well educated, receiving good advantages until he left school, at the age of fourteen. He early displayed far more than ordinary mechanical ingenuity, and was set to learn the patternmaker's trade, giv- ing his thought especially to the machinery used in weaving fancy and flowered goods. In the spring of 1879 he came to the United States on an Inman Line steamer, and landed at New York, with Portland, Conn., as his objective point. There he secured work in the Middle- sex quarry, but after a few weeks left the place, going to New Britain, where he was em- ploved eleven months in a factory as pattern- maker. While there he became one of the first members of what is now the most promi- nent Swedish society of the city. New Britain then had about thirty of his countrymen, and now contains about five thousand. After his

engagement at New Britain was ended Mr. Appelquest went to Manchester, Conn., where; he took up the photographic art under C. A. Huff. This was a line of work that appealed to his artistic ingenuity, and he soon came to greatly excel in it. He was in the employment of Mr. Munson, in Middletown, for a time, and then opened a gallery for himself at Portland. which he successfully conducted for a time. He sold it, and was in the employ of A. B. Stowe, of Middletown, later engaging with L. R. Newman, the pioneer view photographer in the United States, whose office and headquarters were at Rochester. N. Y .. for three years en- gaging in traveling over the greater part of the country in this work. During this time he took views in twenty-two States.

Mr. Appelquest returned to Middletown af- ter the expiration of three years of travel, and resumed his work with Mr. Stowe. He con- tinned with that gentleman until he engaged in other business, and after two years outside the studio opened a photographic establishment for himself. in a 'temporary building on the site of the present very complete and well con- structed building. This property had come into his possession about 1886, and he first erected there a temporary building, intending to replace it later with a more substantial structure, which he did two years later. In 1898 he put up the Appelquest block, which is one of the substantial buildings of the city. and a credit to the locality.

On July 17. 1886, in Middletown, Mr. Ap- pelquest married Miss Emily Andren, a native of Sweden, born May 20, 1865, who came to the United States at the age of seventeen with her brother Charles. They had two children : Jerome .A., born June 1. 188 ; and Olga Fran- ces, born September 28, 1801 ; both are living. Mr. Appelquest was a stanch Republican on all State and National issues, and was a nem- ber of the first Swedish Republican club formed in Middletown. He was a member of the Kronan Society, of Middletown, was deadgh 11 the Swedish Lutheran Church, and served as a member of the building committee when that alitice was constructed. He was for a time the local cashier of the Security Savings & Lom Association of Minneapolis, and, as may be m forred from this buiet account of his merest. was Im tenterprising and successful business man, and a good citizen He was self made. and, in the tallest sense, the architect of his

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own fortune, and his death, which occurred April 3, 1902, deprived Middletown of one of her useful, worthy residents. He was buried in Indian Hill cemetery, at Middletown. Mr. Appelquest crossed the Atlantic five times, having visited his native land in 1884 and again in February, 1899, the last time with his fam- ily.

GEORGE WISEMAN was in his life time one of the substantial citizens of Portland, and in his active life was a man of great exec- utive ability, handling extensive business in- terests most successfully. He was born in the western part of County Cork, Ireland, about 1823, a son of John Wiseman, who was of Eng- lish parentage.

John Wiseman was very well-to-do, and was the owner of a shoe factory, besides be- ing engaged in farming. Several of his sons left Ireland and sought home and fortune in the New World. On son, William, became extensively engaged in mining in Peru, South America, and left a very valuable estate. Anoth- er son, Thomas, at one time held a prominent position under the Mexican government.

George Wiseman came to this country in early manhood, and resided variously in Con- necticut, Wisconsin and Kansas before his marriage. After that event he located in Leav- enworth, Kansas, then in its infancy. Mr. Wiseman engaged in farming and made ex- tensive investments in land. He also owned and operated a farm in Atchison county, that State. After seven years in the Sunflower State, Mr. Wiseman and his wife, in 1865, vis- ited in Boston, and after a short stay there lo- cated in Portland, Conn., where he was for a time employed in the quarries-the only time in his entire career when he worked for others. In 1885 Mr. Wiseman removed to the Alfred Hall homestead, in Portland, where he made extensive improvements and expensive altera- tions, until it was one of the elegant homes of the town. Here he died of apoplexy February 9, 1900.

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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 162

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