Commemorative biographical record of Middlesex County, Connecticut : containing biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens, and of many of the early settled families, Part 172

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 172

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Harry C. Terrill was born in Middlefield

December 18, 1874, in the house once occupied by the late Rev. Andrew Denison. Being de- prived of a mother's tender care at the early age of three years, he was reared by his ma- ternal uncle, the late Walter P. Hall, of Mid- dlefield. He attended the district schools, and when he was twenty-one years old began busi- ness for himself, as a dealer in milk. He is still engaged in that fine, in which he has been very successful. He buys his stock from farm- ers and retails it in Meriden. driving daily to and from that city, which is five miles dis- tant from his home. Shortly after his mar- riage, in 1897, he took up his residence in Mer- iden, but in April, 1899, he bought his present pleasant home, at Baileyville, from John O. Couch, and removed thither. Few of the young citizens of the town are held in higher esteem than Mr. Terrill, and none are more worthy of the enviable place which he holds in the public regard. Notwithstanding the fact that he has inherited a handsome sum from his maternal grandfather, his industry is as tire- less as his moral character is sound. In poli- tics he is a Republican.

Mr. Terrill's marriage took place July 14. 1897, his bride being Miss Nellie Almira Doane, of Essex. She was born October 18. 1874, and is the younger of the two daughters of Alvah R. Doane and Annette R. Risley : her father is a mechanic in Middlefield. Her el- (ler sister, May, is living at home, unmarried. Mrs. Terrill is a member of the Methodist Church. To this union have come two chil- dren: Charlotte May, born August 31. 1808. and Walter H., born October 14. 1800.

D. A. NOLAN, M. D., was born January 14. 1872, in Plantsville. Comn., and is one of the young and rising members of the profe sion at Middletown. Middlesex county, where he came not very long ago, an entire stranger. By reason of his thorough masters of his work and his frank, mandy character, he has won a good standing, not only among his professional brethren, but in the community as well

Dr. Nolan is a son of Martin and Bridget Kain. Nolan, natives of heland, where the ia- ther was born in 1843, and the mother in 1810. Michael Nolan, the grandfather, lived and died in heland. Martin Nolan came to this country after the close of the Civil war. and was married here He learned the trade of molder after Insanisal Chances had been

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poor with him, in both school and at work, in his home country, and he brought little with him into the new land beside an unconquerable spirit and a sturdy frame. In New Haven he learned his trade in Sargent's foundry, and working at it steadily, by industry and frugal- ity became possessed of an ample competence, which enabled him to take life much easier in his later years. Martin Nolan and Bridget Kain were married in Cheshire, Conn. Mrs. Nolan was but an infant when she came to this country with her mother, in 1847, to join her father, who had come ahead to make a home for them. Martin Nolan and his wife lived for a little time with her parents in Che- shire, and later settled at Plantsville. There they remained some years, though spending a brief period at New Haven and Naugatuck, where Mr. Nolan worked at his trade. Mrs. Nolan's mother is yet living, and has her home in Cheshire. The children of Martin Nolan and his wife are: (I) Lucy, who holds a responsible position as forewoman in a button factory at Cheshire, makes her home with her aged grandmother, in that place. (2) Dr. D. A. is mentioned below. (3) Anna is princi- pal in the grammar school at Southington, Conn. (4) Marguerite is a teacher in the pri- mary school at Southington. (5) Martin L., born December 25, 1879, in Plantsville, at- tended the Lewis High School at Southing- ton, Allegany Seminary, at Allegany City, N. Y., and is now a student at the Grand Semin- ary, Montreal, Canada, from which he ex- pects to graduate in 1903, and then to enter the priesthood of the Catholic Church. Mar- tin Nolan and his wife are highly respected people, who have made the most of life, and reared a family which would do credit to any parentage. They are now living in the enjoy- ment of privileges which are doubly sweet to old age when they come as the result of hon- orable and industrious years.

Dr. Nolan obtained his first schooling in Plantsville, and spent two years in the high school at Southington, after which he took a course in Cargill's Business College, New Haven. In 1889 he went to New York . and entered the drug store of Emlin Painter, at the corner of Broadway and 34th street, a no- ted chemist, and then president of the Ameri- can Pharmaceutical Association. There Mr. Nolan remained a year and a half, applying himself closely to his work, and making it a

most admirable foundation for his medical studies later on. In 1891 he became a student in the Philadelphia College of Pharmacy, at Philadelphia, Pa., working for the Milton Campbell Manufacturing Company whenever his college duties permitted. In 1892 he was made pharmacist at the Medico-Chirurgical Hospital, and acquitted himself brilliantly in this position, which he retained for three years. In 1894 he was graduated from the College of Pharmacy, receiving the degree of Ph. G. He had already given considerable attention to the study of medicine, and in 1895 was graduated from the Medico-Chirurgical College, and also from the Philadelphia School of Anatomy. Soon after his graduation he was named the physician of Samaritan Hospital, at Philadel- phia, in which position he served but a short time, as being ambitious to have a practice of his own, he resigned and came to Middletown, where he opened his office July 3, 1895. A stranger in a city where the field was well covered by an army of physicians, he had to fight his own way to a creditable standing, which, however, he soon won. To-day he has a lucrative and rapidly growing practice, which has come to him because of his merit and skill.

Dr. Nolan belongs to the State and Coun- ty Medical Societies, as well as to the Central Medical Society. He was chosen to fill the position of honorary vice-president of the med- ical school from which he was graduated. He belongs to the Alumni Association of the Phil- adelphia College of Pharmacy, and while in the College of Pharmacy was president of the Alpha Phi Society, a college fraternity. Dr. Nolan was a member of Anders' Medical So- ciety, and also of the La Place Surgical Soci- ety, and of the Fox Ophthalmological Society, in connection with the Medico-Chirurgical College.

Politically the Doctor is a Democrat, but does not draw party lines in local matters. In 1899 he was the town physician. Fraternally he belongs to the Knights of Columbus, the Ancient Order of Hibernians and the Knights of the Maccabees.

WILLIAM H. SCOVILLE. The pater- nal grandfather of our subject, Erastus Sco- ville, was born November 30, 1798, was a life- long resident of East Haddam, Middlesex county, and a ship carpenter by trade, being employed much of the time at Upper Landing.

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COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

He married Phobe Sawyer, who was also born in 1798, and they became the parents of chil- dren, as follows: Temperance, born in 1819, married Almon Capen, of Norwich, Conn. Erastus, born in 1821, married Esther New- man; he was a ship carpenter and builder, member of the firm of Newman & Scoville, of Buffalo, N. Y., where he died. Henry W., born in 1824, married (first ) Mary Lamb, and ( sec- ond) Lucy Batchelor, of New Hampshire. Charlotte, born October 12, 1826, married Willard W. Green, of Norwich, Conn. Math- ew, born in 1830, married Julia Bevin, of East Hampton, Conn., and died in Buffalo, N. Y. William W. is mentioned below.

William W. Scoville, the father of William H., was born in East Haddam June 27, 1834, and, being left an orphan at a tender age, was early thrown on his own resources. For the past thirty-seven years he has been employed in the Boardman Britannia ware factory at East Haddam. By his ballot he supports the men and measures of the Republican party. He wedded Mary Jane Ufford, who was born March 23, 1831, and the only child of this union is William H., whose name introduces this review.

Mrs. Scoville's paternal grandparents were John and Martha ( Brainard) Ufford, residents of Middle Haddam, town of Chat- ham, Middlesex county. Their children were as follows: Ephraim, father of Mrs. Scoville; Dennis, who married Elizabeth Tibbals, and died in Middle Haddam; Henry, who married Mary Tibbals; Russell, who married Charity Cone; Caleb, who lives in Utica, N. Y. ; Sally. wife of James Powell ; Lucy, wife of John But- tington; Rosanna, wife of James Walton; and Martha, wife of John Proctor.

Ephraim Ufford, father of Mrs. Scoville, was a native of Middle Haddam. He was a man who could apply himself to almost any line of work, and among other things engaged as a farmer and butcher. He married Matilda Cone, daughter of Phineas Cone, and grand- daughter of Roswell Cone, and to this union were born six children, of whom John P., of Providence, R. L., is the eldest ; Lucy Aim, born April 4. 1827, married Joseph Thompson. and died in 1807: Mary Jane. Mrs. Scoville. born March 23, 1831, is the next in order of birth ; Sarah E., born .August 8. 1835. is the wife of William EL. Pease, of Middletown, Conn. : Susan, born June 7. 1838, married

George Hawley Penfield. a native of Portland, Conn., and they now reside in Boston, Mass .; Adelia, born November 1. 1841. is the wife of George W. Mcclintock, of Boston.

William H. Scoville, the subject proper of this sketch, is one of the best known men in Middlesex county. He has had a varied ex- perience in his business life, and in whatever capacity he has been engaged has always shown enterprise, a shrewd knowledge of hu- man nature and of the conduct of public affairs, with which he has been connected for the last fifteen years. Mr. Scoville was born at Good- speeds Landing, East Haddam, July 7. 1857. and was educated in the public schools of the town. His early employment was in the sil- ver plating works of L. Boardman & Sons, and in J. S. Ray's coffin-trimining establishment. Later he purchased a half interest in the meat business of G. W. Swan, the firm name being Swan & Scoville. The firm, after several years of successful business, sold out to Peck & Harrison, and Mr. Scoville, in 1890, became the proprietor of the "Gelston House," a hotel well known to traveling men and the general public. He was landlord about a year when he transferred his interest to R. B. Swan, and acquired control of the livery stable connected with the hotel, which he sold out after his ap- pointment as county commissioner, in July. 1895. In 1899 he was reappointed commis- sioner, resigning the position July 15. 1901. During his service in this incumbeney he acted as secretary of the board, and at another period as treasurer. Mr. Scoville served as deputy sheriff under Sheriff John 1. Hutchinson, and was reappointed deputy by Sheriff Thomas S. Brown, serving under the latter for twelve years. In July last ( tooth he was appointed jailer of the Middlesex county jail, at Haddam. a position for which he evinces unusual capic- its. He has also filled the offices of constable and tax collector. Mr. Scoville represented the town of East Haddam in the General Assem bly of ing, and served on the important com mittee on Railroads, Since he attamel luis majority he has affiliated with the Republican party, has taken quite an active and prominent part in local politics, and has been a member of the Republican town committee for the past ten years. He is public spirited and progres sive, giving Ins support to any enterprise which he believes will be of public benefit Socially he is a member of Middleses Lounge, No .

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COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

I. O. O. F., and of Columbia Lodge, No. 26, A. F: & A. M., both of East Haddam; and of Burning Bush Chapter, No. 29, R. A. M., of Essex.

Mr. Scoville married Hattie W., a daugh- ter of Ogden and Henrietta (Clark) Brooks, of East Haddam, who was born in that town February 24, 1857. Mr. and Mrs. Scoville have had two children: William Ogden, born March 31, 1891; and George Ephraim, born April 27, 1894.

FRANK SEYMOUR YOUNG, a mem- ber of the progressive and popular grocery firm of Burns & Young, at Saybrook Point, Conn., is a representative of an old family, and worth- ily sustains the honor of a name that has come down to him through several upright and hon- orable generations.

The Young family came to America in the early days and settled on Cape Cod. During the time when many were coming from that region to Connecticut, one member of the fam- ily came into Middlesex county, and located at Haddam Neck in the town of Haddam.

Russell Young, the grandfather of Frank S., was born in the Neck, where he grew up and married Charlotte Brainerd, a descendant of the proprietary settler of that name, who came to the town of Haddam in 1662. Russell Young followed farming, but devoted much of his time to quarrying, then a leading in- dustry in that community. He was the father of three sons: Asaph, who moved to Nor- wich ; Hezekiah ; and Enos Brainerd, the father of Frank S.

Enos Brainerd Young was born in Had- dam Neck February 23, 1822, and died Aug- ust 2, 1899. He was twice married. Julia Col- lins, his first wife, was a native of East Had- dam, and became the mother of two children: Hezekiah, a resident of New Britain, Conn .; and Sarah ( deceased), who married David Patterson, and resided at Piqua, Ohio. For his second wife Mr. Young married Electa House, daughter of Samuel and Susan ( Pier- son) House, of whom the latter lived to the advanced age of ninety-four years. Mrs. Young is still living in Troy, N. Y., at the age of seventy-four years. To the second mar- riage were born: Julia, who married Joseph Ferguson, and is living near Paterson, N. J .; and Frank Seymour. Enos B. Young en- gaged during his more active years in quarry-

ing, and along with it did considerable con- tracting work. He was one of the contractors in the construction of the Morris and Essex Canal. His property included considerable real estate in the Neck. In business his reputa- tion was high, and he was widely known as a successful and energetic man. In his politics, ·both he and his father were Democrats, and in religion he was a Universalist. He died at Glendale, Massachusetts.

Frank Seymour Young was born in the Neck September 12, 1868, where he attended the public schools, and was a pupil in the pri- vate school of the Rev. F. L. Hayward. When he was fifteen he went to Cobalt, for a year worked in the grocery store of Purple & Brain- erd, and the year following was employed by W. J. May, a grocer in Hartford. For about the same length of time he was in the grocery store at Unionville, Conn., and in 1888 he came to Saybrook to enter the employ of H. Potter & Son. With that firm he remained until 1891, when, in company with Robert D. Burns, the business of the firm was purchased, and Potter & Son gave way to Burns & Young. Mr. Young was extensively experienced in all the "ins and outs" of the trade, and has proved himself thoroughly qualified to meet all de- mands of the trade. Their business in all lines. is now very large, with profitable and satis- factory returns.

On December 14, 1897, Mr. Young was. married to Miss Edith J. Pratt, born April 14, 1876, a daughter of Dean and Mary T. (Win- throp) Pratt, the latter a direct descendant through six generations from Gov. Winthrop. Dean Pratt was a son of Edward and Eliza- beth ( Prentice) Pratt, of England. One child has blessed the home of Mr. and Mrs. Young, Harold Seymour, born May 23, 1899. Al- though a stanch Democrat Mr. Young is not an active party worker. Several times he has been elected justice of the peace, but in each case he has declined to qualify. He belongs to Fenwick Lodge, No. 20, I. O. O. F., to which he was admitted as soon as he became of age.

William Henry Winthrop, born in the city of New York, in 1792, died in 1860. He was married in New London to Margaret Ann Parkin, a daughter of Richard Parkin, of England. She was born in 1798, died February 27, 1863. Their children were: William Henry, Thomas Parkin, Francis

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Bayard, John Taylor (who died young), Mar- garet Ann (who died young), Jane Parkin, Margaret Ann (who died at the age of eight years), Mary Taylor ( Mrs. Pratt), and John Taylor ( who died young).

Francis Bayard Winthrop was twice mar- ried, first to Elsie Marston, and then to Phoebe Taylor. By his first marriage were born: Frances, John, Elizabeth and Charlotte. By the second marriage were born : Charles, Mary Jane, and William Henry.

Mrs. Young has a brother and a sister. The former, Deane, born March 21, 1857, is a resi- dent of the city of New York; and the latter, Mary Elizabeth, born June 4, 1865, married Edgar J. Swart, of Sault St. Marie, Mich., sheriff of Chippewa county, Michigan, and they have the following children: Sarah Ol- ive, Chester Winthrop, Arza Martin, Grant Anthony, Janette, Edith Ruth and Frances Violet.

EDWARD EVERETT ELLSWORTH, of the business firm of Ellsworth & Co., op- erating extensive mercantile establishments in Middletown and Portland, is among the young- est of the active and enterprising merchants of the two cities. He has risen from poverty to a position of influence and wealth by his own energy and push, and his character and integrity have given dignity and meaning to his success in life.

The Ellsworth family, while not by any means numerous in Middlesex county, is one of the oldest in the State, and has held a prom- inent place in the old time records ever since its first settlement in these regions. Its pro- genitors pitched their tent in old Windsor at an early day, and from that time this family has given many men of State and national rep- utation to the public service. Among its rep- resentatives have been professional men, doc- tors, lawyers, clergymen and statesmen, and governors of the State, while Chief Justice Ol- iver Ellsworth was from this family. They have become connected by marriage with the first families of New England, and perhaps there is no family in this part of the country that can refer with more pride to its ances- try than can the various members of the Ells worth family. The ancestral lineage of Ed ward E. Ellsworth is as follows: Edgar Lord, 1827; Josiah, 1793-1863: Josiah. 1726- 1815: Sammuel, 1607; Josias, 16:5 1700: Ser 60

geant Josias, or Josiah, 1629-1689; John, of England.

(I) Sergeant Josias Ellsworth was the American ancestor of the family. He was born in Yorkshire, England, and of his father. John, but little is recorded. Josias married Elizabeth Holcomb in 1654, at which time his name first appears on the Windsor records. The next year he bought the property which for a hundred years was known as the "Chief Justice Ellsworth place," and it is one of the historic homes of Connecticut. Josias was made freeman May 21, 1657, and was a good citizen of the time. By occupation he was a farmer. His children were: Josias, Eliza- beth, Martha, Thomas, Jonathan ( the grand- father of Judge Oliver Ellsworth ). John, Job. and Benjamin.

(II) Josias was born in Windsor in 1055. and in 1679 he married Martha, the daughter of Samuel Gaylord. His death occurred in 1706. Ilis children were as follows : Martha. Elizabeth, Josiah, Mary, Abagail. Samuel, lo- seph, Mary and Timothy.

(III) Samuel, born in Windsor in 169 ;. married Elizabeth, daughter of Job Allen, of Enfield, in 1717. The children of this union were as follows : Samuel. Jr., born October 1, 1718; Charles, December 12. 1721 : Elijah, February II, 1723: Josiah. September 18. 1726; and Eliphalet, July 23. 1,40. The fa- ther of these children was a farmer and a prominent citizen.

(IV) Josiah, born in 1,20, in East Wind- sor, was always a farmer, and lived to be ninety years old, dying December 24. 1815. In 1792. he was married to Ann Grover, of Ellington, Conn., who was born in 1706, and died May 19. 18.30. One child blessed this union. . At his death Josiah left a comfort able competence.

( 1) Josiah Ellsworth was born October 1. 1703. at Windsorville. Comn., where Is ja- rents had lived for years. He was a farmici. and, being the only child, came into posses- sion of the home farm. He dealt in stock. slaughtering cattle and selling meat through the surrounding country, and he conducted various other enterprises, among which may be mentioned that of peddling flour. While he is remembered as a large, stout man, his health was never good; he died in 1863, at the age of seventy. In religion he was a promi nent Methodist, taking an active part in the

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affairs of that church, and he filled many offices in its various organizations. On October 2, 1814, he was married to Lucretia, the daughter of Jeremiah and Triphena ( Pease) Lord, and a native of East Windsor, where she was born January 23, 1791. To this union were born : Lucretia Maria, born September 24, 1815, who married Moses Stoddard, a clergyman of the Methodist Church, and removed to Sullivan county, N. Y., where she died; Ann Amelia, born February 18, 1817, died at the age of six years; Sarah Elizabeth, 'born December I, 1818, married Oliver Buckland, of Ellington, Conn., for twenty-five years a tinner in Port- land, whose biography appears elsewhere in this volume, and whose widow is still living in that town; Josiah Orton, born November 14, 1820, married Lucy Mills, and died on his farm in East Windsor, at the age of sixty- nine; Emily Sophia, born August 12, 1822, married Albert Allen, a Methodist clergyman, who died in New Britain, and she died in Mid- dletown, September 1, 1898; Ann Amelia (2), born February 23, 1824, married Lorenzo Bolles, a Methodist clergyman, and died at her home in East Windsor, at the age of twenty- eight; Rhoda Calista, born November 4, 1825, died at the age of ten years; Edgar Lord, the father of Edward E., was born in 1827; John N. Maffitt, born January 6, 1829, resides in Windsorville; Julia Rosette, born January 10, 1831, died at the age of nine months ; and Flav- ius Josephus, born May 16, 1834, married Martha Abbey, and died at the age of twenty- seven years, leaving three children.

(VI) Edgar Lord Ellsworth was born May 23, 1827, in the town of East Windsor, and received his preliminary literary training in the neighboring district school, later at- tending the high schools of Ellington and Wil- braham. He taught one winter in the Irish Row district in East Windsor, and two win- ters in the town of Ellington. After his mar- riage, he located on a farm near Broad Brook, in East Windsor, and lived there many years. He owned two different places, and in 1874. came to Portland, and for ten years farmed the Samuel W. Wilcox farm, and for six years was employed in the Shaler & Hall quarry, but is now living a retired life. On December 29, 1852, he married Miss Elmina McClure, a native of Somers, Conn., where she was born November 24, 1825, a daughter of Pentiel and

Fanny (Lathrop) McClure, of whom the form- er was a joiner and builder, and lived in Som- ers for years, but he died in Hartford where he was living at the time with his sons. Mrs. Ellsworth died July 20, 1898, and was buried in Portland. Their children were as follows: Herbert E., born November 30, 1853, is a carpenter and contractor at Portland; Henry WV., born July 30, 1855, is a tinner at Port- land; Edward Everett, born May 23, 1857, is mentioned below ; Frank M., born January 15, 1863, died in 1869; and Ernest W., born May 2, 1869, is a joiner and builder in Mam- aroneck, N. Y. Edgar Lord Ellsworth is a Republican, and has acted with the party since its formation. He belongs to the Methodist Church where he has filled many important and responsible positions, never having seen a time when he was too busy to help in the work of the Church. He is to-day a highly respected citizen of Portland, and is very active for his years.

Edward Everett Ellsworth, whose career is the subject of this historical sketch, was born May 23, 1857, on the old farm in East Wind- sor, that had been the home of his ancestors for many generations. He attended the neigh- boring school, and the high schools at Broad Brook and Rockville. When he was seventeen his parents moved to Portland, where he at- tended school, and he completed the course at the Middletown high school. He then entered the store of his uncle, O. C. Buckland, to learn the business in an apprenticeship of three years, which was quite a customary time in those days. He grew up with the business, and while he was a young man spent several years on the road. He afterward became manager of the store, and on the death of that gentle- man bought the establishment and conducted it for himself. In 1888 the building he was oc- cupying for his business was destroyed by fire, but was rebuilt soon after, and is now man- aged by Walter E. Clarke, the brother-in-law of Mr. Ellsworth. Some years ago Mr. Ellsworth bought the old Carlos Hale stand in Middletown, and has since largely devoted' his time and attention to the Middletown side of the river. At both stores is carried a full and complete line of hardware, glass, crock- ery, wooden ware, kitchen furniture, and ev- erything pertaining to plumbing, tinning, steam and water heating. He makes a spe-

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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 172

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