Commemorative biographical record of Middlesex County, Connecticut : containing biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens, and of many of the early settled families, Part 22

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 22

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In the spring of 1836 Mr. Allen removed to New York and entered the service of Per- kins, Hopkins & White, wholesale merchants then extensively engaged in the dry-goods job- bing business with the South. He remained with that firm in confidential relations, through a period of unusual instability and difficulty ir the mercantile affairs of the country, during which time, by active participation in the busi- ness, he gained valuable experience in laying the foundation of his future prosperity. Upor the reorganization of the firm, in 1842, he be- came interested as a partner with Perkins & Hopkins, and upon a subsequent organi- zation the firm name was changed to Hop- kins. Allen & Co. It was as a member o: this firm, whose high reputation was a fitting tribute to its enterprise, integrity and success that he became prominently known in the busi- ness world. His intercourse with the people o: the South made him familiar with their views and policy in reference to the institution o: slavery, and, perceiving the growing antagon ism between free and slave labor, which fore shadowed serious difficulty to the country, ho

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resolved to withdraw from mercantile business (then conducted largely upon credit) and re- tire, for a time, to private life. He thereupon removed from New York and established his home in Saybrook, Conn. Being in active sym- pathy with the Government of the United States in its efforts to maintain its integrity, and suppress the Rebellion, he received an un- sought nomination to represent the Nineteenth Senatorial District in the State of Connecticut, and was elected in 1863 and again in 1864, and in both years was chairman of the joint com- mittee on Finance whose labors were of the highest importance in that critical period of public affairs, when the State was raising money for the war.

The financial measures recommended by that committee, and adopted by the Legislature, not only enabled the State to creditably place its full quota of men in the field but established a policy in the revision of the tax laws which has met the approval of the people of the State for forty years, and reduced to a minimum amount of public debt. The present equitable method of taxing railroad property, on the oasis of what it will sell for, by which the market value of its stock and bonds is made the measure of value of such property for purposes of taxation, was suggested by him. On June 7, 1864, Mr. Allen introduced into the Con- iecticut Legislature the first resolution in favor of the abolition of slavery by constitutional mendment. Mr. Allen was one of the dele- rates from Connecticut to meet a convention of yal Southerners at Philadelphia on September , 1866, called to give expression to the senti- ients of the people in support of Congress gainst the defection of Andrew Johnson. He as prominent in the movement that arrested le "peace flag" heresy at Saybrook, or the rising of any flag not representing all the tates of the Union. Mr. Allen was one of the ellows of Yale College while lie was senator, je old law being that the six senior senators cre members er-officio of that corporation. 1 the Hayes Presidential campaign of 1876 he as a Republican Presidential elector for this tate. In 1867 lie was elected president of the coria, Pekin & Jacksonville Railway Com- my, of the State of Illinois, which position he ld in the active administration of the property rr many years, during which time that part of road from the town of Virginia to the city Jacksonville was constructed. In 1883 he as again elected to the State Senate, from the

Twenty-first District, formerly the Nineteenth and was made chairman of the joint standing committee on Railroads, for which his experi- ence in railroad affairs eminently qualified him. During the session of the Legislature of 1884 he was appointed chairman of the commission raised by the General Assembly to inaugurate, with appropriate ceremonies, the Gov. Buck- ingham Statue, which ceremonies took place on the 18th of June, 1884. As such chairman, it devolved on Mr. Allen to introduce the speakers participating in the exercises at the State Capitol. His opening address upon that oc- casion is a matter of public record.

On November 10, 1847, Mr. Allen married Mary Ann, daughter of Hon. Elisha Phelps, of Simsbury, Conn., whose father, Major-Gen. Noah Phelps, served in the French and Indian wars, and was a distinguished officer of the American Revolution. Seven children blessed that marriage: Lucy Phelps, who married Charles Leslie Morgan, of New York; Jane Jennett, who married Hon. William Hammer- sley, of Hartford; Edith Electa, who died aged six years; Mary Constance, who married Ben- jamin Knower, of New York; John H .; Will- iam Hall; and Grace Electa.

Mr. Allen had a keen love for the beautiful in nature, was simple in his habits, thorough in all matters of business, a man of quiet and dig- nified demeanor, thoughtful of the wants of others, zealous and earnest in liis efforts to pro- mote the public good, conscientious, fearless. truthful and independent.

J. D. SIBLEY, the far-famed architect. whose well-equipped business apartments are located at No. 72 Church street, Middletown, Middlesex county, is a native of New York State, born September 11, 1833. at Geddes. at that time a suburb of Syracuse, now a part of the city.

Asa Sibley, his father, was born in Addi- son, Vt., and when a young man went to New York State, where he married Miss Maria Austin, who was born in the Mohawk Valley, N. Y. They had a family of thirteen children, our subject being the youngest, but only four -- two sons and two daughters-reached adult age. One sen. Elijah H., went to Minnesota. later settling in Missouri, where he died. 1.sa Sibley served in the war of 1812, being pres- ent at the battles of Platsburg and Lake Champlain. He died at Geddes, N. Y., at the age of sixty-eight years.

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J. D. Sibley. received a good common- school education in his native town, and then commenced learning the trade of carpenter there, his first wages being $40 per annum. When he completed his apprenticeship he re- ceived $1.25 per day, the regular wage paid to the journeyman carpenters in those days. He continued at his trade until 1856, in which year he was appointed inspector of salt for the State of New York. In that capacity, with headquarters at Geddes, N. Y., he served until 1862, when he removed to Rockfall, Conn., having secured a position in the musket-lock department manufacturing Springfield mus- kets, and for a time he had charge of the shop for the owner, Ira Johnson.

In 1864 Mr. Sibley made his home in Mid- dletown and was first employed in the gun shop on Church street, where Remington car- bines were being manufactured. Later he was employed as toolmaker in the Finkle & Lyons sewing machine factory. In 1865 he became a member of the firm of Simonds. Lawrence & Co., silver platers, etc., Middletown, selling out his interest in that concern to become sec- retary and treasurer for the Warwick Tool Co., Middletown, at the same time doing the traveling and general office work for that firm, with which he remained until 1870. In the latter year he entered the employ of Smith & Marble, contractors and builders, keeping their books, also acting as their draughtsman, and so continued. until 1875, in which year he formed a partnership with Fred Smith, the style of the firm being Sibley & Smith, contractors and builders ; however they dissolved partnership after a year. We next find Mr. Sibley in the capacity of traveling salesman for G. I. Mix & Co., of Yalesville, Conn., manufacturers of plated goods and table cutlery, his territory be- ing throughout the New England States, and as far west as Ohio. But his health becoming impaired he retired from that line of business, and in 1878 established his present one. For some years in the middle eighties his son, Howard A., was associated with him in the business, the style of the firm being J. D. Sibley & Son, but since 1886, the son having retired, our subject has conducted it alone. That he is a first-class architect, and the mas- ter of his business, is evidenced by the class of work seen in the buildings he has planned and erected, among which may be mentioned the handsome residence of Henry Bullard, on

Washington street, and that of W. W. Wilcox, Jr., on High street. Mr. Sibley has made a specialty of preparing general plans and speci- fications, also superintending the erection of buildings, in which connection may be men- tioned the construction of the Middlesex Opera House, and of several buildings belonging to the Connecticut Hospital for the Insane at Mid- dletown. Gifted with unusual natural ability and mechanical skill, he is recognized as most erficient in his line of business, and is a man of unquestioned integrity, his connection with the construction of any building meaning hon- est work, to say the least.

On December 12, 1858, J. D. Sibley mar- ried Miss Mary A. Abell, a native of Con- necticut, born in North Franklin, New London county, daughter of Daniel Abell. Mrs. Sibley passed away March 6, 1898, in Middletown. Two children graced this union : ( I) Howard A., a graduate of Yale Art School, for some eighteen months was associated with his father in his business in Middletown (as already re- lated ) ; then for three years was an architect. in New York, and also eleven years in New Haven, but failing health compelled him to give up the profession and he retired to Mid- dlefield, where he now resides. He married Miss Jennie Bailey, of Middletown, and they have four children, Marion A., Jasper Duncan, Ruth and Elizabeth. (2) Mary Bell died at the. age of twenty-two months.

In politics Mr. Sibley has always been a stanch Republican, his first Presidential vote being cast from Fremont. In 1884-85 he was a member of the common council, having been elected thereto without his knowledge, and he performed the duties of that office in his cus- tomary business-like manner. In religious faith he is a member of the Baptist Church, in which he has held various offices, being at present a deacon ; for twenty years he served as clerk, and for several years was superin- tendent of the Sunday-school. Socially he is a Freemason, but is not now identified with any lodge, and he is a member of the Knights of Honor. As a man and a citizen he enjoys the well-earned confidence and esteem of all who know him.

HON. WILLIAM T. ELMER, lawyer and jurist, Middletown, is a native of the State of New York, born November 6, 1835, and comes from an old New England family.

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Those of the name-Elmore, Elmour and El- mer -- are descended practically from one com- mon ancestor.

Theodorus Elmer, grandfather of the sub- ject of this sketcli, was a large dairy farmer in Herkimer county, N. Y. By his wife, who was a Miss Hopkins, member of an old Rhode Island family, he had a family of eighteen children; whose posterity are scattered all over the United States.

Lebbeus E. Elner, father of William T., was a pioneer merchant and prominent citizen of Rome, N. Y., and served as United States marshal. He was a successful man, and was regarded as one of the best of citizens. He lived to be eighty-one years of age. In poli- tics he was a Whig and Republican, in relig- ion a prominent member of the Methodist Church, of which for half a century he was trustee, and fraternally he was a Chapter Ma- son. In 1833 he married Charlotte Mudge, a native of Rome, N. Y., where she is now living at a ripe old age, and six children were born to them, of whom one son ( our subject) and three daughters lived to adult age.

Judge Elmer received the benefit of a good education, in part at the common schools, in part at Rome (N. Y.) Academy, after which he entered Wesleyan University, at Middle- town, Conn., from which he was graduated in the class of 1857. He also spent one year in his father's store. During one year he studied law at the University Law School, Albany, N. Y., and then entered the law of- fice of Wells & Strong, of Hartford, and in 1860 was admitted to the Bar in that city. In the following year hel practiced law at Suffield, Conn., succeeding Calvin W. Philo, a noted lawyer and literary man, and imme- diately thereafter opened a law office in Middle- town, Conn. Soon after his arrival in that city he took an active part in politics as an ardent Republican, and in 1863 he was ap- pointed State's attorney, an incumbency he filled until 1875. In 1883 he was reappointed to the office, and served the State in that ca- pacity until his election to the Superior Court Bench. In 1863-64 he was clerk of the House of Representatives, and in 1865-66 was Judge of Probate, also clerk of the State Senate; in 1873 he was elected Senator for the old Eighteenth District. In 1876-77 Judge Elmer served as mayor of Middletown ; and in 1880, upon its organization, he became Judge of

the City Court, serving four years. He was a member of the State convention that nomi- nated his fellow townsman, O. Vincent Coffin, for Governor, and aided materially in his elec- tion. That same fall, at the request of his party, he became a candidate for the State Legislature, was elected by a large majority, and was made chairman of the Judiciary com- mittee, becoming leader of the House. In March, 1895, Hon. William T. Elmer was elected unanimously to the Superior Court Bench, by the Legislature, an action that re- ceived universal approval throughout the State, and he has proven himself one of the most popular judges on that Bench. As a lawyer he was successful, and his efforts, both as a lawyer and as a judge, have ever been char- acterized by energy and determination along the lines of justice and right.

On May 21, 1862, Judge Elmer was united in marriage with Miss Catherine L. Camp, who was born December 13, 1837, in Middle- town, daughter of William Smithson and Mar- garet (Cook) Camp, a sketch of whom ap- pears elsewhere. Four children have blessed this union, a brief record of whom is as fol- lows: ( I) Margaret Camp, born April 7, 1863, died unmarried October 20, 1892. (2) Charlotte Mudge, born October 7. 1864. at- tended St. Margaret's School, Waterbury ; she is now the wife of Rev. J. Eldred Brown, rec- tor of Trinity Church, Norwich, Conn., a grad- vate of Trinity College and Berkeley Divinity School, and they have three children. Cather- ine E., Thomas and Dorothy. (3) Annie Avery, born June 5, 1869, was educated in Middletown; she married Dr. Howard H. Hawxhurst, of Washington, D. C., and they have one child, Catherine. (4) Avery Theo- dore, born September 20, 1879, is a graduate of Montelair Military Academy, and attended Yale Law School, from which he received his degree in June, 1902, when he was admitted to the Bar. Mrs. Ehmver is a member of Wads- worth Chapter. Daughters of the American Revolution, and is ex-treasurer of same: was president of the Woman's Auxiliary of the Y. W. C. A., declining re-election, and has been secretary of the Orphans' Home Society, in fact. in all charitable and benevolent work she is most prominent.

Judge Eliner has ever taken a deep inter- est in educational matters, and has done much toward bringing the schools of Middletown

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up to their present high standing, and benefited them in many ways. For many years he was a member of the board of education, and for several years was its president. Fraternally he is a member of St. John's Lodge, F. & A. M., and while attending college was affiliated with the "Mystic Seven," whose membership included Bishops Ninde and Andrews, and President Warren, of Boston University.

BACON. One of the oldest and most numerous families of Middletown, Conn., is the Bacon family, which dates back to the very earliest settlers, and which has given to the town many of her best citizens.

Nathaniel Bacon was the progenitor of the family in Middletown. The home of the first of this family was at the head of Main street, and there the descendants lived for several gen- erations after, some of the property once owned by the progenitor. Nathaniel, being in the pos- session of some members of the family.

William Bacon, of the parish of Stretton, County of Rutland, England, was born about 1608, and married and settled there, where he reared a numerous family. His eldest child was Nathaniel, who emigrated to New Eng- land about 1648-49. It does not appear on rec- ord whom William Bacon married. This same William had two brothers, namely : Andrew, who came to Hartford in 1635, and later went to Hadley, where he died October 4, 1669. His wife was Elizabeth, widow of Timothy Stanley, to whom he was married in England. She had three children by her former husband, but none by Andrew Bacon, and she died in Hartford, February 23, 1679, aged seventy-one years. The younger brother was Henry Bacon, who married at Stretton, England, and had one son, Thomas, who settled on the Island of Barba- does, West Indies, where he died unmarried.

Nathaniel Bacon, the progenitor of the fam- ily, was born about 1630, in the town of Stret- ton Rutland, England, and after emigrating to America he first settled in Hartford, Conn., residing there with his uncle Andrew Bacon. In the fall of 1650, Nathaniel Bacon joined a company for planting Mattabessett ( Middle- town), and became one of the prominent men of the Colony in later years. He was an in- fluential citizen and a large land owner. On the death of his uncle Andrew, he came by vir- tue of the will, into possession of no little prop-

erty, which became still greater by the death, in 1679, of Elizabeth Bacon, his uncle's widow, who had a life interest in her husband's property. Nathaniel Bacon was twice mar- ried, first to Ann Miller, who died July 6, 1680. She was a daughter of Thomas Miller Sr., who came from Rowley, Mass., to Middletown, in the early days of the latter Colony. There were ten children born to this marriage, among whom were: Nathaniel, born in 1653, died April 8. 1655; Hannah, born April 14, 1655, married in October, 1677, John Boame, and had six children; Andrew, born February 14, 1657, died July 5, 1662 ; Thomas, born July 20, 1659, about 1690 removed to Simsbury, Conn., where he married and had a family ; John, born March 14, 1662, on November 26, 1689, mar- ried Sarah Whetmore; Mary, born April 7, 1664, married Samuel Whetmore December 13, 1687, and had eight children. For his second wife Nathaniel Bacon married, April 16, 1682, Elizabeth Pierpont. The will of Nathaniel Bacon was dated February 24, 1698, and he died January 27, 1705. He was probably the ancestor of most of the name in the State.

John Bacon, son of Nathaniel, was born at Middletown, March 14, 1662, and settled on his father's homestead as a farmer. By his father's will he secured the new house and eleven acres of the homestead, and also one- half of the land in Hartford which his father had inherited from Andrew Bacon, and other property including a mill. On November 26, 1689, he was married to Miss Sarah Whetmore, daughter of Deacon Thomas and Sarah Whet- more, of Middletown. An odd anomaly is presented in these two families (those of Na- thaniel Bacon and Deacon Thomas Whetmore), by the marriage of three of Nathaniel Bacon's sons, to three of Deacon Thomas Whetmore's daughters, and two of Deacon Whetmore's sons to two of Nathaniel Bacon's daughters, thus making double cousins of thirty-two chil- dren by those five marriages. The children born to John and Sarah ( Whetmore) Bacon were as follows: Sarah, who was baptized September 14, 1690, died in infancy; Twins, who died unnamed on day of birth; Daniel,. who was baptized August 26, 1694, died in infancy; John, born January 30, 1695, mar- ried Sarah White; Sarah (2), who was born September 14, 1696, married June 3, 1708, Nathaniel Brown, and had one daughter

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Sarah (born March 14, 1710), who died in infancy ; and two children who died in infancy. Sarah ( Whetmore) Bacon, wife of Elder John Bacon, died February 14, 1698, and is buried in the old cemetery, northeast of the center at the head of Main Street, in Middletown, and there her husband, Elder John, is also buried, Elder John Bacon married for his second wife, on April 13, 1710, Mary, the widow. of Jacob Cornwall and daughter of Ensign Nathaniel White. This wife died November 16, 1732, aged seventy-three years. Elder John Bacon died November 4, 1732, in his seventy-first year. His will was dated October 30, 1732, in which it was mentioned that his wife Mary was to have what she brought, with the use of the home and garden; Daughter Sarah was to have the pewterware, which was her mother's, "Sarah, my wife," and the land next to her husband's Nathaniel Brown; Son John was to have the remainder of the estate.

Lieut. John Bacon, son of Elder John, was porn January 30, 1695, in Middletown, Conn. As the only surviving son he inherited the greater portion of the estate and became ulti- nately a large property holder. On March 5, 719, he married Sarah White of Upper Mid- lletown (now Cornwall), daughter of Joseph und Mary White. The children of Lieut. John vere as follows: (I) Sarah, who was born anuary 31, 1720, May 4, 1757, married John Vhetmore. (2) John, who was born April 'I, 1723, married Rhoda Gould, of Cromwell, Conn., and settled in Westfield, Conn ; his sec- nd wife was Molly Ely, of Lyme, Conn., but is children were all born of the first marriage. Iis second son John, born January 22, 1751, vas the grandfather of Curtiss Bacon ( de- cased), of Middletown, whose sketch appears Isewhere. (3) Jerusha, who was born Octo- er 25, 1724, married Nehemiah Doane, on lay 19, 1742, and had nine children. (4) lary, who was born January 12, 1727. (5) oseph was born May 11, 1728. (6) Martha, ho was born September 14, 1729, on June 6, 1748, married Fermor Ward, and had three hildren. (7) Ebenezer, born February 4, 731, on May 22, 1766, married Millicent romwell ; they had no children. (8) Abigail, orn July 21, 1732, married ( first) Joseph lumb, and ( second) Ebenezer Hough, and id one child. (9) Sybil, born February 19, 734, died April 24, 1734. (10) Sybil (2)

born August 17, 1735, married February 3, 1757, Daniel Knowles, and ( second) a Mr. Norton. And (II) Dorcas, who was born November 25, 1736, married Luke Osborn, an Englishman, who settled at Blandford, Mass., in 1772; they had no children. Lieut. John Bacon was a man whose property was sufficient to enable him to give his seven daugh- ters each a farm; his sons no doubt received double portions as was customary in those days. He died August 8, 1781.

Joseph Bacon, son of Lieut. John, was born in Middletown and settled on the old home- stead of his ancestors, on North Main Street. He was twice married. On April 30, 1752, he married Elizabeth Miller, born December IO, 1732, daughter of Ichabod and Mary (Elton) Miller. She died September 2, 1752. On November 27, 1760, Joseph Bacon married (second) Rhoda Plumb, born May 1, 1738, daughter of Waitstill John Plumb. The chil- dren of this marriage were: (1) Joseph, Jr., born October 26, 1761, in September, 1782, married Miss Eleanor Loomis, who bore five children, as follows: Clarissa, October 22, 1783; Mhry, October 26, 1785: Martha, No- vember 12, 1787, Joseph, March 22, 1790; and Martha (2), December 13, 1791. Joseph, Jr., died at sea, in December, 1794: his widow, Eleanor, lived to be ninety-one years old. ( 2) William. January 27, 1764, married Bathsheba Cook, of Middletown, and removed to Whites- town, N. Y., where he died in 1841 ; his chil- dren were Joseph. William and Samuel, and several daughters. (3) Isaac, born May 30. 1766, married Dorothy Stow, of Middletown, born Dec. 14. 1765, and she died September 13. 1836. (4) Elizabeth, born August 23. 1768, died October 2. 1773. (5) Samuel was born in 1772. (6) Capt. John was born in 1776. (7) Ebenezer, born December 14. 1780, died August 28, 1783. (8) Elizabeth (2). baptized June 30, 1782, died March 15. 1844. unmarried. Joseph Bacon died December 20, 1785, aged fifty-seven years. His wife Rhoda died December 22, 1823. aged eighty-five years.

Isaac Bacon, son of Joseph. inherited a portion of the old homestead on North Main Street where he settled and lived to the age of ninety years, dying March 5. 1856. His chil- dren were: (1) Lois, born March 12, 1786, married Joseph Bement, a ropemaker, the busi-

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ness being a profitable one at that time. Both he and his wife died in Middletown. Their children who grew to adult age were, Joseph, Charles, Celia, Mary, Sarah and Samuel. (2) Almasa, born May 3, 1788, married Betsey Foster, and died in 1841. By trade he was a cabinetmaker, although at one time a farmer, and later he engaged in trucking. All his life was passed in Middletown. His children were, Harriet, Alfred, Jeanette, Capt. Charles (born December 17, 1815), Mary, Willard and Sarah. (3) Esther, born February 12, 1790, married William Sumner, and lived to old age in Middletown ; her two children were, Augus- tus and Hulda. (4) A daughter, born in Jan- uary, 1792, died in April following. (5) Charlotte, born March 2, 1793, married in mid- dle life, a Mr. Abbee, of Portland, and died in Middletown, leaving no children. (6) Sally, born October 28, 1794, married John Butler, a joiner and trucker, of Middletown. (7) Samuel, born March 28, 1796, died March 5, 1805. (8) Caroline married Albert Tal- madge, of Stamford, and had two children, Albert and Caroline. (9) Jefferson, born April I, 1802, was twice married, (first) on August 18, 1829, to Sarah Waterbury, of Darien, Conn., who died April 26, 1834, in Middle- town, and (second), July 9, 1837, to Jerusha Caswell, of South Glastonbury, who died July 5, 1889. He died December 19, 1877. For years he was a business man in Middletown and left at death a good estate. His son

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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 22

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