Commemorative biographical record of Middlesex County, Connecticut : containing biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens, and of many of the early settled families, Part 34

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 34

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Capt. Jones lived on his farm until he was ninety-six years old, and then retired to the home of his daughter, Mrs. Charles Williams, with whom he resided until the time of his death, February 22, 1889. He retained every faculty except his eyesight. He was proud of the fact that he had lived through every admin- istration of our government. The Captain was a Republican in politics, but not active, and would never accept any office. A consistent member of the Methodist Church, his place was never vacant when it was possible for him to attend.

On September 18, 1822, Capt. Jones married Almira Kelsey, who was born October 28,

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COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

796, in Clinton, daughter of Samuel and fulia (Hull) Kelsey, and died June 6, 1875. The children born to them were: Benjamin ?. , who married Anna Ritter of New Haven, vas a leather dealer in New York, and a dea- on in the church of which Henry Ward Beecher was pastor, and died in 1870. Samuel <. , who married Phebe Bennett, of Glaston- bury, was a well-known portrait painter; he esides in New Haven, with one daughter, Carrie, an artist. J. Henry is our subject. Charles F., who died in March, 1902, first mar- ied Mary A. Gladding, of Essex, who died in 857, his second wife being Sarah Rockwell, of Brooklyn, N. Y., who died in 1882; he re- ided in Brooklyn, with his daughters Jennie A. and Lillias I. Almira L. married Charles N. Williams, a farmer, residing in Clinton; Their children are Hettie, wife of Wilson Hull; Myra J., wife of Edward Benham; Lillian, vife of Dr. George Beckley, of West Derry, V. H .; and Estelle. Hettie C., twin sister of Almira, lives in Clinton. Julia Ann, who mar- ied Sterry Bennett, died in Norwich, in 1872, eaving three children-Charles S. (who mar- ied Elizabeth Shepherd), Samuel J., and Ruth (widow of William Palmer).

J. Henry Jones was born in Clinton De- ember 29, 1827, and was four years old when is father moved upon the farm. His early cd- icational opportunities were those afforded by he Kirtland District school of Westbrook, which was near his home, and later he was sent o a select school kept by Philo J. Williams who was a student for the Baptist ministry ), nd to the Clinton Academy, having the ad- antages of winter schooling until he was twen- v years old. His desire was to put his educa- ion to practical use, and he began teaching Clinton and Madison, but his health seemed oor, and his physician recommended that lie o upon the water. This advice he heeded, eginning upon a market boat running between Clinton and New York, and later shipping un- er Capt. Farnham, on the "Rival," which ras plying between Rondout, N. Y., on the Hudson, and Hartford, Conn., owned by what i now the New York & Hartford Transporta- on Company, then engaged in the carrying of oal. Before the season was over his health ad improved and he was first mate of the essel, with which he remained two and one- alf seasons, leaving it to engage on the "Silas

Brainerd," owned by the Brainerd Quarry Company, of Portland, Conn., under Capt. Hilliard. He hired as a deck hand, but was later given the position of first mate, remain- ing in that capacity for over three years. This vessel carried Portland brown stone. Our sub- ject's next vessel was the "Ellen Duffield," 150 tons, built at Gildersleeve, Conn., in which he served for two years, at the end of that time becoming captain himself and one-eighth own- er of the ship. He continued in this business, with the "Ellen Duffield," for twelve years. In the spring, when the quarries were not yet opened, the vessel was used to carry seed oysters from the Virginia growers to the Con- necticut growers, and was also engaged in the coal trade.

Leaving the "Ellen Duffield." Capt. Jones went to the "Helen P.," 250 tons, built at East Haddam, becoming one-sixteenth owner, and for twenty-seven years without pause he ran this vessel. In 1889 he sold his interest in her and purchased a one-eighth interest in the "James Duffield," of 300 tons, built at New London, and since that time has been plying from Portland quarries, visiting ports from Maine to the West Indies, although his prin- cipal work has been between Portland and Philadelphia, Washington and Baltimore. From September, 1853. the Captain's vessels never went out of Sandy Hook without him on board, until serious illness in his family, in November, 1900, prevented his presence. Dur- ing the Civil war Capt. Jones was the first to bring the news to New York of the burning of the navyyard at Norfolk, Virginia.

The Captain's first marriage was to Sarah M. Hilliard. of Clinton, daughter of Charles and Sally ( Griswold) Hilliard. She died At- gust 31, 1872, at the age of forty-three. On December 24. 1873, he married Anna S. Amb- ler, who was born February 17, 1854. in Chies- ter, daughter of Alfred and Susan ( Chapman) Platts, and one child came to this union, How- ard E. A., born September 5. 18So: he gradu- ated with the class of 1901 from the Morgan school. of Clinton, and is now a student in the Wesleyan University, Middletown. Conn. One son also came to the first marriage of Capt. Jones, Elbert H., horn December 28. 1850, who married Kate Ford, and resides in New York City, being connected with the firm of J. H. Cox & Co.

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COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

In politics Capt. Jones, like his distin- guished father, is a stanch Republican. He is a prominent and active member of the Meth- odist Church at Clinton, in which he is both steward and trustee, all of his family being connected with that society and highly es- teemed there. After a long and useful life the Captain possesses a competency and has a most comfortable home among his friends of many years, where he extends a hearty sail- or's welcome to those who have known him from boyhood. Although he has seen many lands and people, his heart has been true to the locality where he and his family have been respected as representative citizens through so many years.

HORACE R. BUTLER, a prominent citi- zen and business man of Middletown, Middle- sex county, a leading contractor and builder of that city, has had his full share of the "ups and downs" of life. He has fought his own way, and has risen to a position where his value as a citizen becomes apparent. His busi- ness integrity is unquestioned. He belongs to the old Butler family, and also to the Buck- ley family, both well known in Colonial his- tory, and is of the seventh generation of But- lers in America, his line being from Deacon Richard, who died August 6, 1684, in Hart- ford, through Joseph, 1648-1732; Gershom, 1683-1765; Gershom, 1738-1793; Josiah; Philip R., 1810-1898; and Horace R., 1845.

Deacon Richard Butler, the emigrant an- cester of the Wethersfield branch of the But- ler family, came to Boston from Braintree, England, in 1632, and settled in Cambridge, Mass. He had land assigned him, on which he erected a house in that town. He was a mem- ber of the church of Rev. Thomas Hooker and was made a freeman in 1634. The next year he and his eldest brother, William, joined a com- pany for the settlement of Hartford, with Rev. Thomas Hooker and others beginning the plan- tation in the fall of that year. He was deacon of the First Church, and subsequently a grand juror. For several years he was one of the selectmen of the town and was repeatedly chos- en representative to the General Court. He was twice married.

Philip R. Butler was born in Rocky Hill, Conn., September 16, 1810, son of Josiah But- ler. He married Caroline Buckley, who was

born August 8, 1813, in Rocky Hill, Conn. Philip R. Butler was a mason by trade, which he followed in his earlier life. In his later years he was a hotel-keeper at the north end of Cromwell, when his hotel and Shipman's tavern were the only inns between Middletown and Hartford. He also farmed to a limited extent. His family was a numerous one: Richard V., born November 9, 1838, was killed by the kick of a horse, July 17, 184I. Susan L., born June 23, 1842, married Ben- jamin Ranney, of Cromwell, and died Oc- tober 21, 1867; she had two sons, Gaston T. and Charles R., both of whom died young. Henry R. and Horace R., twins, were born April 12, 1845. Henry R. died January 13, 1872, by being thrown from a wagon while on his way to Hartford. Carrie, born April 7, 1852, married January 17, 1872, Arthur E. Coe, and lives in Middletown ; they have one child, Claudine Alberta, who is the wife of Dr. D. L. Maitland, of Middletown. The father died February 13, 1898, and the mother June 1. 1888. They were buried in Cromwell cem- etery. She was a Methodist in religious faith. Mr. Butler was a Democrat.

Horace R. Butler was born on the old homestead in the town of Cromwell, near the Rocky Hill town line. He attended the schools of his native town, living at home until he was about seventeen, when he went to Hartford, to enter the em- ploy of the firm of H. & S. Bissell, the most extensive contractors of their time in that city. He worked at the trade of mason and during the four years of his ap- prenticeship had the yearly wages of $30, $40, $50 and $60, respectively. He also had by his contract schooling for two winters. After he had learned his trade Mr. Butler remained with the firm for a year and a half longer, making in all five and a half years with thent. In 1867 he came to Middletown and entered the employ of Johnson & Arnold, contractors, his first work for them being on the South church, then in process of erection. He also worked on the Middletown Savings Bank building for this firm. In 1869, although a young man, he began business for himself, and during the years in which he has been engaged in this line he has built some of the best blocks in town, such as the municipal building, the Stueck block, Hotchkiss block, Masonic block,

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und many other substantial and creditable tructures. He did the mason work on the Methodist church.

On April 2, 1868, Horace R. Butler mar- ied Corinne A. Wilcox, a native of Crom. zell, born August 28, 1848, daughter of Joseph nd Ann J. (Tryon) Wilcox. Her father was orn February 13, 1824, son of Eben and Lu- retia (Mildrum) Wilcox, who are mentioned sewhere. Mr. and Mrs. Horace R. Butler re the parents of one child, Bernard W., who now in business with his father. He was student in Wesleyan University two years. le married Miss Ethel Allison, daughter of Tilliam J. Allison, of South Farms, and to iem three children have been born, H. Russel, uth, and Philip. Our subject erected his sidence on College street in the early eighties, id has lived there ever since.

Mr. Butler is a leading Democrat in his wn. He served in the State Legislature for ree years, in 1882 and 1883 in the House, d in 1891 being honored with election to e State Senate from the Twenty-second Dis- ct. He has served in the common council Middletown several term's. He belongs to 1e Middletown Board of Trade, is a director 1 the Columbia Trust Company, was one of 1e incorporators of the Electric Light Com- iny, and was interested in the Great Barring- . 11 (Mass. ) Electric Light Company. Mr. Itler belongs to the Middletown Club, a cel- (rated institution of its kind, and was a char- . member of Middletown Lodge, No. 771, t ] P. O. E.

ARNOLD. Among the proprietary set- tors, twenty-eight in number, who came from I:rtford and Wethersfield and took up land 1. "Thirty-mile island." in the town of Had- n, were two Arnolds. At a later period sine of the families and their descendants ssed the river and made settlement in East Addam, and also at Haddam Neck, where one time none but the descendants of the a 0

ginal proprietors lived. At Haddam Neck t1 Arnolds, Clarks and Brainerds were long th leading families, extensively engaged both 11 arming and in quarrying. In late years the Nok has lost very materially in population and Ith.

Freeman Arnold was a native of the Neck,

W re he spent his entire life, dying at the age ofeighty-two. He was an extensive farmer,

and for years was engaged in fishing. He married Sallie Higgins, of Pittsfield, Mass., who lived to be nearly eighty-seven years old, and they had the following children: (1) Theodore married Esther Selden, and died on the Neck, at the age of fifty-four. (2) Sally was born March 26, 1801. (3) Freeman, born March 20, 1804, died February 28, 1877, on the Neck. (4) Justin, born February 16, 1806, died when twenty-nine years old. (5) Almira was born May 20, 1808. (6) Phebe Almira was born August 31, 1810. (7) Samuel Hig- gins, born October 30, 1812, married Mary Dib- ble ; he lived and died on the Neck. (8) Martha was born April 27, 1815. (9) Lyman Brooks, born May 26, 1817, married Sarah Johnson, and died on the old homestead at the age of sixty-one years.

Freeman Arnold was married November 23, 1828, to Elizabeth Clark, daughter of Davis and Polly ( Ransom) Clark. Mrs. Ar- nold died January 5, 1877, at the age of sev- enty-one years, and Mr. Arnold survived her only six weeks. He was engaged in quarry- ing, and in later years devoted his entire at- tention to farming. Mr. and Mrs. Arnold had the following children: (1) Mary A. is men- tioned below. (2) Justin E., born January 18, 1835, married Jane Mack, of East Had- dam, who died June 23, 1889. He died March 6, 1897. (3) Selina B., born February 17, 1838, died April 4, 1891, unmarried. (4) Orlow A., born December 23, 1844, died at the age of seven years.

Mary A. Williams grew up at Haddam Neck, and at the age of eighteen years began teaching. her first school being in what was known as the Candlewood Hill District of the town of Haddam. She was a good teacher, and can look back with satisfaction upon her career in the school room as both creditable and useful. On December 28. 1853. she was married, by Rev. William Lamson, to Nathan- iel A. Williams, a native of Chatham. born October 25. 1829. son of Warren and Nancy (Tyler) Williams. He died December 30. 1893.

NATHANIEL A. WILLIAMS was engaged in the stone business, and two years after his mar- ringe made his home in the city of New York, where he was in business as a stone dealer and general contractor for twenty-eight years, ac- cumulating a comfortable fortune. His health failing, he was obliged to give up business

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that he might return to Saybrook, where he purchased a handsome home, and there his widow has since resided. Mr. Williams was a stanch Republican. While living in New York he and his wife united with a Presby- terian Church, but when they came back to Saybrook presented their letters to the Con- gregational Church of that place.

JAMES M. HAYDEN. A thriving busi- ness in Connecticut a half century ago was that of shipbuilding, and one of its specialties was the building of the fine cabins which orna- mented the stanch ocean greyhounds of that period. Among those who made a success in that line, and whose ornamental handiwork may be found on many a craft yet afloat, is James M. Hayden, the esteemed subject of this review.

Mr. Hayden descends .on both sides from the old Colonial family of Hayden. Upon the maternal side, his first ancestor of whom we have authentic knowledge was Nehemiah Hay- den, born in 1706, who resided in Saybrook, where he married Temperance Parker, born in 17II. She died in 1791, he in 1774. Their children were Uriah, John, Elias, Eliakim, Esther. Ann and Temperance.

Uriah Hayden married Ann Starkey, and resided in Essex, in 1766 building the very house in which our subject resides, located at the foot of Main street, fronting the river. Though called upon to weather so many storms, and to shelter so many heads, it is still in a very good state of preservation, and is one of the landmarks in a historic section. The orig- inal design of the house was for use as a tavern, and it was used as such for many years, Uriah being the first tavernkeeper. The old sign, imported from England, bearing the English coat of arms and the letters "U & A, 1766, Entertainment," is highly prized by the family, and is preserved in Hartford. The letters stand for the names of Uriah Hayden and his wife Ann. On the south door of the old house is a huge, highly polished, George III knocker, and in the old parlor is a picture of the King and Queen of England which has hung there ever since the house was built, fully proving that this was a loyal English family. The mansion is a fine old relic of Colonial days, and is pointed out to strangers with a very pardonable pride, by the good people of Essex.

In addition to his business of innkeeper, Uriah Hayden was also a shipbuilder, a business in which the family has been successfully en- gaged for a number of generations. In the yard near his residence he assisted in the build- ing of the "Oliver Cromwell," which was the first warship built in the lower river. He also conducted a store on his wharf, succeeding in every enterprise. To him and his wife were born: Nehemiah, Ebenezer, Ebenezer (2), Temperance, Mary Ann, Samuel M., Esther, and Charlotte.

Samuel M. Hayden, grandfather of James M., was born February 13, 1772, in the old tavern, and grew up in Essex, where he mar- ried Elizabeth Mather.

On the paternal side of the family, Johr Hayden, son of Nehemiah and Temperance (Parker) Hayden, was twice married, first to Temperance Griffin ; to them one son, Cicero was born. By his second wife, Lucina Pratt John Hayden had three children : George P. Frederick and Abby Ann. George P. Hayder was born April 25, 1801, in Essex, where h always lived. He married Elizabeth, daugh ter of Samuel M. Hayden. During life he fol lowed the business of shipbuilding, that bein the general occupation of the neighborhood Prior to his time all of the Hayden family wer identified with the Democratic party, wit which he also voted. The family born to hil and his wife consisted of: George, Fredericl James M., Jane Elizabeth, Henry, William an Nehemiah. James M. being now the only sui vivor. The father died in 1874, and tl mother in 1876.

James M. Hayden was born in Essex N. vember 7, 1826, and there received his pr mary education, which was succeeded by season of study at the famous Hills Academ one of the noted schools of that part of th State. While still a lad he engaged in cler ing in a general store in Essex, and then stai ed in to learn that particular branch of the ca penter trade, associated with shipbuildin which consisted of making the fancy and orn mental cabins; many of the merchant vess of that period were handsomely finished in th respect. Until shipbuilding as a lucrative ( cupation died out Mr. Hayden continued pursue it on the Connecticut river, but sir that time he has lived almost entirely retir One of his brothers was a sea captain, a

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r. Hayden has taken voyages with him, trav- ing in several of the countries of Europe. s souvenirs of a delightful visit in Italy he ought home with him two tables of marble, autifully inlaid with mother-of- pearl, which cite the admiration of everyone. Mr. Hay- n's artistic taste has been cultivated, and he the fortunate possessor of some valuable intings, among them portraits of his hon- ed parents, also one of the ship in which he iled with his brother.

Mr. Hayden was married January 25, $77, to Helen M. Selden, daughter of John ige and Susan C. (Brooks) Selden, grand- ughter of John Selden, and a great-grand- ughter of Rev. David Selden, of Middle addam, who was known as "Priest" Selden. though he is a Democrat in political belief, r. Hayden has never aspired to hold office d prefers to vote independently. He is a lued member of the Episcopal Church of sex, to the support of which he has con- buted liberally. Fraternally he is a Blue odge Mason. He is a trustee of the Savings ink of Essex. The family is one much re- ected in the community, and Mr. Hayden a worthy representative of an honored old me.

HON. JAMES PHELPS was born in lebrook, Litchfield Co., Conn., January 12, 22, son of Dr. Launcelot Phelps; who was many years a prominent citizen of the State 1 a representative in Congress from 1835 1|

1839.

Hon. James Phelps received his early edu- ion at the common schools of his native vn, and subsequently attended the Episcopal adensy at Cheshire, Conn. He afterward en- ed Washington (now Trinity ) College, at rtford, but owing to a severe illness during first year of his course he was obliged to re- quish his studies for a long period. As soon his health would permit he commenced read- law with Hon. Isaac Toucey, of Hartford.

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1 1 1842 he removed to Essex, Conn., and (lied with Hon. Samuel Ingham, and he was S ao for a time in the law department of Yale Ollege. He was admitted to the Bar in 1845. I sides holding the office of Judge of Pro- 1 e and other local positions, Mr. Phelps was member of the State Legislature in 1853, 154 and 1856, and of the State Senate in

1858 and 1859. In 1863 he was elected by the Legislature a judge of the Superior Court for the regular term of eight years and was re-elected in 1871. In 1873 he was elected Judge of the Supreme Court of Errors, from which incumbency he resigned in the spring of 1875, upon his election to the XLIVth Con- gress. He was re-elected to the XLVth, XLVIth and XLVIIth Congresses as a Demo- crat. In the XLIVth Congress he was ap- pointed on the standing committee on the Dis- trict of Columbia Pensions and Foreign Af- fairs and on the special committee to Investi- gate Frauds in the Louisiana Election. In the XLVth and XLVIth Congresses he was. assigned a place on the committee on Ways and Means, and during that time the entire sub- jects of Tariff, Internal Revenue and Refund- ing of the National Debt were exhaustively considered and reported on by that committee. He also served in the XLVIth Congress on the committee on Expenditures in the Navy De- partment. On financial questions Judge Phelps' votes and views were in accord with those of a large majority of his party in the House of Representatives, but not with those of a majority in his section of the Union. He favored the resumption of specie payment, when it could be safely and properly accom- plished, but was opposed to its being prema- turely forced by violent and extreme contrac- tion of the currency, and was an earnest advo- cate of the restoration of the standard silver dollar. He was noted for faithful and assidi- ous attention to the interests and wants of his constituents at the capital, and in the dif- jerent departments of the government. He was unwearied in his personal attention to the pen- sion claims of soldiers in his district. He pro- cured the establishment of the breakwater at the entrance of the New Haven harbor, and the extensive permanent work for the inn- provement of the channel of the Connecticut river below Hartford, as well as liberal appro- priations for those works and for other needed improvements in his district. During his last terin he was the only Democratic representa- tive from the State in the XLV11th Congress and the fact that immediately preceding his first election his district had for six years been represented by a Republican is convincing evi- dence of his popularity with his constituents. His elections to a judgeship were each time made by a Legislature politically opposed to

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him, and the two last were by the unanimous votes of both houses. His professional and public life were so entirely honorable that no suspicion ever threw even a shadow over his character for uprightness and integrity. He made no pretensions to those classical accom- plishments which are the valuable results of a long course of university training and culture. He claimed nothing from ancestry or pedigree and nothing of popularity or ability or profes- sional attainments and success, which are not common to all others of similar advantages. Whatever of merit he possessed had been ac- quired by persevering industry, energy of pur- pose and fidelity to principles which secured for him a reasonable measure of public con- fidence and support.

In his private life the Judge was quiet, modest and unassuming, and during his resi- dence of more than half a century in the little village of Essex he obtained a strong hold on the hearts of the people. He was a confiden- tial adviser and friend of the rich and the poor alike, and no man has ever lived in the con munity whose loss was more deeply felt. He was for many years a faithful, consistent and devoted member and a liberal supporter of the Episcopal Church. He passed away January 15, 1900.

The marriage of Judge Phelps was to Lydia A. Ingham, and two children were born to this union: (1) Samuel Ingham was for a time secretary to Hon. Charles T. Russell, of Haddam, the consul at Liverpool, England, later became engaged in the Chinaware trade in New York, and at the time of his death was in the employ of a railroad company at Chattanooga, Tenn .; he married Josie Smith, of Essex, and had one child, Harrison F. (2) James L., born May 5, 1856, attended the public schools of Essex, graduated from Yale Law School, and was admitted to the Bar in 1887; he was town clerk and probate judge until his death in 1899. His marriage was to Harriet W. Coulter, a half sister of Judge Thomas D. Coulter, of Essex.

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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 34

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