Commemorative biographical record of Middlesex County, Connecticut : containing biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens, and of many of the early settled families, Part 29

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 29

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ceased; eleven of the Smith family survived. The late Eben Wilcox, of Cromwell, a prom- inent business man and one of the wealthiest men of the town, often said, "that Smith fam- ily of twelve children, six boys and six girls, six dark ones, six light ones, six blue eyes and six dark eyes, and not a fool among them."

Mr. Smith left school when sixteen, and, as he was the eldest of the family, the greater part of the family work fell on his youthful shoulders. When a little over seventeen years of age he began working for Lewis & Holden, of Meriden, manufacturers of coffee mills, with whom he remained one year, and then became an apprentice to 'Squire Pomeroy, at the tinner's trade. He received his board and $25, $30, $35 and $40, a year, respectively, for the four years, after the expiration of which he went to Middletown, where he clerked in the city market for Henry & David Hall, who conducted the first market in that city on the ground floor. For a year he was with them, and spent nearly five years engaged in selling goods and notions at auction sales in public gatherings. A good auctioneer, he had much business, and thus engaged he passed through the Carolinas, Georgia, Florida and Tennessee. Mr. Smith then came back to Connecticut and opened a meat market in Portland, which he conducted for two years, selling out at a good profit.

After leaving the Portland market Mr. Smith took several hundred iren to Florida, and engaged in getting out staves, an enter- prise that proved unsuccessful and brought a large loss upon him. Most of his employes were from Connecticut, and he paid their pass- age back and returned thither himself. He then made his way to Cayuga Falls, Ohio, on foot, carrying all his possessions in a red bandana handkerchief. In that city he be- came a butcher, and there spent three years, doing very nicely, and returning to Connecti- cut with considerable money in his pockets. Mr. Smith and his brother Charles opened a sand-paper factory in Middletown, and built np a very successful business, which was sold after a number of years at a very good profit. Mr. Smith invested his money in a herd of fifty-eight cows, and started with them on foot. for California, driving them as far as Illinois, where he sold them. Returning east to Pennsylvania, he purchased a tract of ser- oral thousand acres of land on the Delaware

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river near Equinunk, erected sawmills, and owned and operated a hotel. The timber was rafted down the Delaware river. This was be- fore the day of the Erie canal. Mr. Smith also bought cattle and drove them to market. For seventeen years he was in the hotel business, and accumulated a large amount of money. Selling out, he came back to Cromwell, where he and his brother Matthew engaged in stock dealing, Luther S. buying horses in Canada, and shipping them to Matthew, who would dispose of them in the local markets.

While Mr. Smith was in Equinunk, his brother Matthew, then a mere boy, came to him from Connecticut with sixty-three dollars, which he had saved, and under his direction bought oxen for the New England markets. In Orange county, N. Y., they bought forty head, on Mr. Smith's credit, having eighteen days' time. While they were on their way East some of their competitors circulated re- ports that the Smiths were not coming back, for the purpose of buying up their notes at a reduced rate. The Smiths disposed of the cattle, however, and returned to Orange coun- ty in time to meet their notes, paying up in gold, which they had brought back on horse- back in shot-sacks. Many of the Orange coun- ty farmers of whom they had bought had never seen gold money before. This prompt dealing gave them credit for anything they wished to buy. In 1864 Mr. Smith went back to Con- necticut, having sold his property piecemeal, mostly on time, and he never lost a dollar of it.

On July 19, 1864, Mr. Smith came back to Newfield with a large amount of money, with which he bought a farm in the town of Middletown, where he lived until the following year. In April, 1865, he bought property from his brother Matthew, in Cromwell, which is across the street from his present home, and which he still owns. Up to within a few years Mr. Smith was actively engaged in stock buy- ing, and has handled in his lifetime nearly sixty thousand head of cattle.

Mr. Smith has bought and sold many tons of native tobacco in the town of Cromwell, and has done very well in that line of business. He is now retired from active business opera- tions, but gives his personal attention to his extensive business interests, which are still in his hands. His eyes have somewhat failed, and his bodily strength is somewhat impaired, yet his mind is strong and clear, and he is

still regarded as level-headed and sound in business judgment.

Mr. Smith has been four times married. His first wife was Catherine Parker. By his second, Clarissa Richmond, he had three chil- dren: George Richmond, Cora A. (who is now the wife of E. D. Hammond, of Crom- well, whose sketch appears elsewhere) and Charles (in his lifetime a business man of Buffalo). For his third wife Mr. Smith wedded Mrs. Marilla C. (Richmond) Hodges, and after her death he married Ruth Edward Smith. Mr. Smith is a stanch Republican, for seven years served as a member of the board of relief, and has been selectman. He is a director and stockholder, and the only surviv- ing charter member, of the Cromwell Savings Bank, which was organized in 1869. Mr. Smith is a stockholder in and was instrumen- tal in the organization of the Cromwell Cream- ery Association. He belongs to no secret so- ciety, and is liberal in his religious views.

GEORGE RICHMOND SMITH, son of Luther Savage Smith, was born November 15, 1852, in Equinunk, Pa., where he went to school in a log house, finishing his education in Middle- town, Conn., where he lived with his aunt and attended high school. His last schooling was re- ceived in the Cromwell Academy, after which he returned to the farm on which he now lives, and where he has since been engaged in farm- ing. He is also a director of the Cromwell Creamery. Mr. Smith was married, April 5, 1881, to Isabella A. Ross, daughter of Abra- ham and Elizabeth (Steed) Ross. Politically Mr. Smith is a Republican, and fraternally he has been a member of Washington Lodge, No. 81, F. & A. M., of Cromwell, since 1875.

SYLVESTER A. COMSTOCK. Per- haps there is no town in the grand old State of Connecticut to which more old residents have returned, after busy lives in other lo- calities, than Essex, Middlesex county, which is the home of many of the wealthiest repre- sentatives of pioneer families. Among these is Sylvester A. Comstock, the subject of this review.

The Comstock family is of German origin, their records dating back nine generations previous to 1547, in which year Charles Van Comstock went from Germany to England. The family is a numerous one in eastern Con- necticut, particularly in New London county,

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where Asa Comstock, the great-grandfather of Sylvester A., resided, owning large estates in Hadlyme.

Bela Comstock. son of Asa, and the grand- father of Sylvester A., was born in Hadlyme, where he followed farming all his life, be- came prominent in politics as an old-line Whig, and was an attendant at the Hadlyme Congre- gational Church. He married Fanny Brooks, and they had ten children : Fanny, Bela, Mary, Sarah, Samuel, Alice, Austin, Sylvester, Rhoda and Temperance. The father of these children lied at the age of seventy-one.

Bela Comstock, the father of Sylvester A., was born December 17, 1797, in Hadlyme, and attended the district schools until he was apprenticed to learn the trade of blacksmith of Timothy Green, who was located at Upper Landing, in East Haddam. After three months of work he had learned an important branch of the trade, that of making edge tools used n the business by first-class mechanics. Com- ng to Essex in 1821, Mr. Comstock soon after burchased the shop of Benjamin Williams, which was located near where the residence f Dr. Shaffer now stands; he also bought considerable land in Essex, some of it being adjacent to his farm, and some of it in the vestern part of the town. At times he em- loyed a large number of men in his shop, vhere was done a great deal of the iron work om vessels then being built in the ship-building hops of Essex. In 1852 Mr. Comstock went o Easton, Pa., and there purchased a large oundry, at times employing as many as forty nen ; he successfully conducted this business ntil 1855, when he disposed of it and returned 1 Essex, where he spent the rest of his life attending to his property interests. Al- vays very active, he continued to look after he details of his farm up to the time of his cath, which occurred suddenly, while per- orming some slight labor, September 20, 884. During his life he was always busy, ot because of necessity, but on account of an ctive disposition. An old-line Whig, and tter a Republican, Mr. Comstock was always iterested in politics, although never to the oint of accepting office; he was a leader and cry liberal supporter, as well as a constant ttendant of the Congregational Church, of issex ; was Sunday-school superintendent for many years ; and gave the land upon which le parsonage was built.

Bela Comstock married Jane W. Bull, born in October, 1798, in Essex, a daughter of Ed- ward and Rose (Turner) Bull; Mrs. Com- stock died May 25, 1884. Three children. blessed this union: ( I) One died in infancy. (2) Frances J. married F. Augustus Tiffany, a farmer, who resided for a time in Hadlyme,. removing later to Essex, where he died July 9, 1888; she was the mother of two children, Jennie and Frederick, both of whom died in. infancy. (3) Sylvester A.

Sylvester A. Comstock was born March 17,. 1829, in Essex. His primary education was received in the common schools of the town,. and later he was thoroughly instructed by his uncle, Rev. Edward Bull, a graduate of Yale College, and a Congregational minister, then residing in Cheshire, Conn. Under his schol- arly training Sylvester A. was fitted for Yale, but an accident interrupted his studies, and he- gave up his intention of going to college, re- maining at home and assisting his father in the shop. At the age of twenty-one he went to Scranton, Pa., which was then a town of 10,000 inhabitants, and secured employment as a clerk with the Delaware, Lackawanna & Western Railway Company. He was em- ployed at Great Bend, Pa., as a clerk, for thirty days, and was then placed in charge, as agent, at Montrose, Pa., where he efficiently dis- charged the duties of that position for two years, at the end of that time resigning to assist his father in the management of the foundry at Easton, Pa. He remained at Easton until his father disposed of the plant, both then returning to Essex. A short time after this the Delaware, Lackawanna & Western Rail- way Company offered him the position of agent at Scranton, Pa., one of its most im- portant offices, which he accepted, and made that beautiful young city his home for several years. While performing the duties of this office, he sent for his sister Frances, Mrs. Tif- fany, and secured her services as a copyist, and she was among the first of her sex to en- gage in office work. Many of his acquaint- ances were remembered by Mr. Comstock, and Essex was well represented in the offices of the railroad through his kind efforts. Remaining in Scranton until 1860, he resigned his rail- way position to engage in the real estate busi- ness, the rapid growth and development of Scranton offering a fine opportunity in that line. That city is now one of the most at-

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tractive of the cities of Pennsylvania, and Mr. Comstock still owns valuable real estate in its Eighth ward. Leaving Scranton, Mr. Com- stock engaged in a new line of business, open- ing up a grocery store in Phillipsburg, N. J., where he remained during the Civil war, and for several years following. During his resi- dence in Phillipsburg he became prominently identified with public affairs, and was honored with election to the mayoralty in 1873; he de- ·clined a second election. Although he still has large holdings of realty in Phillipsburg, which are valuable, Mr. Comstock makes Essex his home. In 18SI he returned to the old place. going back to Phillipsburg in 1885, to 1891, since which time he has resided with his sis- ter, Mrs. Tiffany, at the beautiful old home- stead on Prospect Hill, in Essex. This is one of the most delightful of the many charm- ing homes of the neighborhood, and Mr. Com- stock takes pleasure in adding to its comforts and charms. i

Mr. Comstock was married October 13, 1857, in Easton, Pa., to Matilda Winter, of that city; Mrs. Comstock died June 28, 1891. During his residence in Phillipsburg, for sev- eral years, our subject was both treasurer and trustee of the First Presbyterian Church, but now both he and his sister are attendants at the Essex Congregational Church, he being one of its chief supporters. Mr. Comstock is one of the largest landowners of this locali- ty, one of his holdings being Nott Island, in the Connecticut River, opposite Essex, upon which he has erected substantial buildings, and upon which he raises great quantities of hay annually. Both Mr. Comstock and Mrs. Tif- fany are among the most highly esteemed residents of Essex, and are representative people.

JOSEPH BEAMONT BANNING, Judge of Probate for the District of Saybrook, Mid- dlesex county, which includes the town of Chester, is one of the best known men in that locality. He was born in Deep River, Middle- sex Co., Conn., December 16, 1840, son of Judge Arba H. and Hannah M. Banning, and comes of a family which has long been estab- lished in this country and in Connecticut.

John Banning, the emigrant ancestor, died prior to 1755. He settled in New Shoreham ( Block Island). He had a son John who came to Lyme, Conn., and, according to the records

at Guilford, he probably left an estate, as the court appointed a guardian for his minor chil dren, John, Benjamin and Lurana. Benja min, the second son, was a soldier in the wa: of the Revolution, and died while in the ser- vice. Lurana married Deacon Joseph Willey of Lyme, Conn. John Banning (2) was mar- ried twice, first to Margaret De Wolf, of Kill- ingworth, and the three children were by this union. He married for his second wife the Widow Peck, who was Jemima Marvin. Johr Banning (3), son of John (2) had a son Jo- seph, who was the great-grandfather of Judge Joseph B. Banning.

Joseph Banning was born May 9, 1749, and married Susanna Warner, daughter of Jabez and Hannah (Brainerd) Warner, who had nine children : Jabez, born August 19, 1750; Susanna, April 9, 1753; Hannah, November 21, 1755; Elizabeth, May 18, 1758; Selden, December 8, 1760; Mehetable, August 31, 1763; Daniel, January 22, 1766; Sarah, March 6, 1769, and Lucinda, March 29, 1773. Tc Joseph and Susanna Banning were born the following named children : Marvin, Brainerd, Philemon, Lucinda, Joseph, Selden W., Nancy, Susanna and Benjamin. The last named mar- ried Theodosia Bramble, of East Haddam, and they had born to them twenty living children, from whom have come a numerous line of de- scendants.

Joseph Banning, the grandfather of Judge Joseph B., son of Joseph and Susanna, was born March 2, 1780, in East Haddam, Conn. On October 24, 1805, he married Azuba Clark, daughter of Beamont and Hannah (Bull) Clark, and they had three children: Joseph L., born November 14, 1807, who married Sylvia Mi Post, of Westbrook; Henry S., born January 27, 1810, who married Nancy M. Robinson, of Coventry, Conn .; and Arba ; H., father of our subject, born September 13, 1817. Beamont Clark was a large landholder in Saybrook (now Essex), and was a prom- inent man in his day. The old homestead in which all of his eight children were born still stands in Ivoryton, and is now owned and occupied by a Mr. Savage. The following were his children: (I) Temperance never married. (2) Beamont married Nabby Spen- cer, and after his marriage removed to New York State; he was an early settler at Syra- cuse, and. his son, Elizur Clark, was a prom- inent and well known man of that city. (3)

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[annah and (4) John never married. (5) rusha married Silent Rose. Their descend- its live in the town of Essex, and are prom- ently connected with the town and its in- rests. (6) Zina and (7) Edward never mar- ed. (8) Azuba married Joseph Banning.

Arba H. Banning and his wife Hannah M., ere amlong the early settlers of Deep River, id exceptionally worthy people, highly re- Jected by all who knew them. Mrs. Banning as a daughter of Edward and Judith ( Chap- an) Moore, of Chesterfield, New London ., Conn., who had ten children: Edward, zra, Jarus, John, Joshua, Betsey, Phebe, my, Judith and Hannah. Judge Arba H. and annah M. Banning had born to them chil- en as follows : (1) Joseph Beamont is entioned below. (2) Louisa Camilla, born ctober 2, 1842, married Jabez Southworth, Deep River. (3) Hannah Moore, born July :, 1845, married J. Ely Beebe, of North yme, Conn., and had seven children. (4) ary Pritchard, born October 29, 1847, mar- ed Charles E. Alling, of Waterbury, who is w deceased, and Mrs. Alling resides in Win- ed, Connecticut.

Although Judge Banning has attained dis- iction, his educational advantages were lim- d, but where there is a will the way can al- tys be found, and, taking advantage of every portunity, he has steadily forged to the ont. While still a boy he worked in his fa- er's establishment, learning thoroughly every tail of the boot and shoe making business, that when of age he was made a partner, d upon the death of his father became sole oprietor. Judge Banning is also the suc- ssor of his father as judge, the latter having en Judge of Probate for many years, and ien he died, August 27, 1880, the judicial ipe, as well as the commercial mantle, fell i on the shoulders of his son. Politically dge Banning has always been a Republican, sting his first vote for Lincoln, and never ssing a State or National election since. king so active a part in local affairs as well, 1 was but just that some of the town offices re offered hint, and so acceptable did he jowe that for many years he was retained as yistrar of voters, and also as assistant town rk. For twelve years he has been secretary ( 1 treasurer of the Connecticut Probate As- nbly, and since assuming his present office has displayed rare judgment and accurate 1

knowledge, and is well endowed with that comprehension of multitudinous affairs which is so absolutely necessary in a position such as Judge Banning occupies. For many years Judge Banning has taken an active part in the work of the Congregational Church, and was Sunday-school superintendent for a num- ber of years. Socially he is a member of Webb Lodge, No. 81, I. O. O. F., of Deep River, and is as popular in that body as he is prominent in his native town and within the circles of the party he has supported with such faithful patriotism, since the time he cast his first vote until to-day, when he is one of its mainstays in Middlesex county.

On December 31, 1862, Joseph B. Banning married Ansolette A. Smith, daughter of Charles and Eunice A. Smith, of Deep River, Conn. Mrs. Banning's father was well known and highly esteemed. He was born in New Haven, and, his parents dying when he was a mere youth, he and his brother William came to Killingworth and lived with their aunt, Mrs. Eunice Nettleton, who brought them up. They attended the district schools, and early came to Essex, where both learned the trade of cabinetmaking with a Mr. Denison. . Later Charles went to Deep River and started out for himself-about 1840-and carried on his business, which was enlarged by the addition of a furniture store and undertaking. He died in March, 1900, in his eighty-second year. His wife died eight years previous.

JAMES D. BALEN, one of the leading and influential men of Moodus, Middlesex county, who has always been actively associat- ed with all movements tending toward the up- building of the community and the betterment of humanity, was born in New York City Sep- tember 20, 1834, son of Peter and Anna Maria (Dunlap) Balen. The family probably orig- inated in France, and records are found of various members among the nobility of Europe. In America members of the family have always belonged to the true rank of nobility, that of upright character, sterling worth and unstained honesty.

Peter Balen, the grandfather of James D .. was a native of Holland, as was his wife, Hel- len Coope, daughter of the Lord High Cham- berlain of that country. They came to Amer- ica, locating in the vicinity of New York City. and Peter Balen served as sheriff of Bergen

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county for a number of years. During his residence there his son Peter, father of James D., was born. They had a large family, some of whom followed a seafaring life, while others tilled the soil or became merchants, and all were a credit to their good training.

Peter Balen, father of James D., married, in New York City, Anna Maria Dunlap, daughter of James and Eliza ( Bancker) Dun- lap, and granddaughter of Adrian and Ann Bancker. The mother was born in New York City, and died in 1883, the father passing away in 1881, aged seventy-eight. For many years he was a merchant in New York City, retiring in 1875. To Mr. and Mrs. Peter Balen were born: James D., Helen, Eliza D., Peter, Jr., Abraham D. and W. Conklin.

James Dunlap Balen received a thorough education in the excellent schools of his lo- cality, entered Harvard Law School, from which he graduated in 1855, and began the practice of law, although devoting a portion of his attention to other pursuits. Later he took up newspaper work, and then engaged in man- ufacturing and merchandising, in Ulster coun- ty, N. Y. In 1863 he located in Oil City, Venango Co., Pa., and became superintendent of the Riverside Company for a few years. His next venture was in insurance, when he became general agent for the Equitable Life Insurance Company, of New York. He was also interested in manufacturing in Elizabeth, N. J., and in real estate in Bay City, Mich. After so active a life Mr. Balen finally retired, and in the fall of 1877 removed to Moodus, where he settled in 1886, after a time spent in Michigan and traveling abroad.

In April, 1861, Mr. Balen enlisted in the Twentieth New York State Militia, for three months, and on October 10, 1861, re-enlisted, for three years, at Kingston, N. Y., becoming captain of Company I; after the death of the colonel of that regiment the company was changed to the Eightieth in 1862. During his term of service Capt. Balen had command of the convalescent camp at Alexandria, Va., and was infantry captain of 15,000 men.

Mr. Balen was married, in 1871, to Mrs. Fanny R. S. Fraser, daughter of Charles F. Sisson, and to this union has come one son, James Allen, born May 9, 1888. Politically Mr. Balen is a Republican, and socially he is a Mason, having united with that fraternity December 14, 1859. Both Mr. and Mrs. Balen

are highly respected throughout the cor munity. Mr. Balen is noted for his exhaustive fund of information, gleaned from his wid reading.

CHARLES F. SISSON, father of Mrs. Bale: was born in East Haddam December 7, 181 son of Jonathan Sisson, and died May 2; 1863. Early in life he was a seafaring mar and he was known as "Captain." Later in lit he engaged in the mercantile business, i Moodus, Conn., and thus continued up to th time of his death. Politically he was a Repul lican. He and his wife attended the Baptis Church. Capt. Sisson married Louisa Jan Roberts, who was born in East Haddam, Jar. uary 29, 1819, daughter of Edwin Roberts and died April 2, 1898. They had the follow ing named children: Louisa J., Fanny F (Mrs. Balen), Charles H., Frederick W. Sarah S., Charles, Henry and Allen.

JESSE GARRETTSON BALDWIN (deceased) was in his day a prominent citizen of Middletown, Middlesex county and if many ways a remarkable man. He was ir the fifth generation from Richard Baldwin an early settler at Milford, Conn., his line being, through Richard, Barnabus, Sylvanus anc Charles.

Mr. Baldwin was born March 17, 1804, no far from Hanover, in the town of Meriden New Haven Co., Conn. His parents, Charles and Susannah (Hine) Baldwin, were devout members of the Methodist Church, and be- stowed upon him the names of two noted cler- gymnjen of that denomination, Jesse Lee and Freeborn Garrettson. Their home was head- quarters for the preachers of that church trav- eling through the country. Jesse Garrettson Baldwin was a young child when his father died, leaving him in the care of his elder broth- er. He attended the common schools of the day, and later Wilbraham Academy. Being a young man of push and energy, he deter- mined to make a place for himself in the busi- ness world. He went on the road, and trav- eled far and wide, especially in the South, selling Yankee notions from house to house. While in the South he saw the evils of slavery close at hand, and turned from the auction block with his mind firmly set against this evil and crime, and in after years became a pro- nounced anti-slavery man.

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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 29

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