Commemorative biographical record of Middlesex County, Connecticut : containing biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens, and of many of the early settled families, Part 36

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 36

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Mr. Browning was reared in the ranks of the old Democratic party, and continued a loyal supporter of same until it abandoned the prin- ciples of "free soil." In 1856 he was one of 1

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the few who organized the Republican party in Middletown, and ever afterward. up to his death, remained a steadfast Republican. In municipal affairs he was prominent. He held various local offices, and filled them all with characteristic zeal and ability. For nine years he served as member of the city council and board of aldermen; for seven years was a se- lectman of the town of Middletown; for nine years he was a member of the board of educa- tion, and for fourteen years prior to his death was treasurer of the city school district of Middletown. At the age of twenty-one years, while living in his native town, he served as major of the old Eighteenth Connecticut State Militia. During the war of the Rebellion, al- though not drafted, he sent a substitute as a representative, while he himself remained at the factory, helping to get out army work. He held many trusts during his long useful life. settled estates, and was always found faithful and attentive to even the smallest trust. When he died he left a comfortable property, much of it accumulated by his own efforts, and his name goes into history as that of a man of sterling integrity. Briefly stated, Major Browning was a good, conservative, well-read business man; a pleasing conversationalist; an interesting and at times a forcible speaker ; a' close observer of men and affairs; was pos- sessed of rare common sense and judgment ; of sterling New England character, tempered by a kind, generous heart ; of a genial disposition and pleasant countenance; strict in political, but liberal in religious views; faithful in the discharge of every duty, public or private, and. fearless in the courage of his convictions; so- ciable, fond of anecdote, a true friend. He died June 10, 1894, and his remains lie in In- dian Hill cemetery. He attended and contrib- uted toward the South Congregational Church ; socially he was in younger days a member of the I. O. O. F.

On August 22, 1849, Charles F. Browning was married, at Middletown, to Sarah P. Lewis, who was born November 15. 1828, in Middletown, Conn., daughter of Elias and Sarah ( Prentice) Lewis. Mrs. Browning re- ceived her education in her native city, attend- ing Sidera Chase's School for Young Ladies, at the corner of Court and Pearl streets, at that time one of the most noted educational es- tablishments for girls in Connecticut. She is

passing her declining years at her home, No. 158 South Main street, where she and her hus- band took up their residence in 1864. She is a member of the South Congregational Church.

Elias Lewis, father of Mrs. Browning, was born in Hopkinton, R. I., in August, 1795, and was the third "Elias" in the family. John Lewis, the first in the line of whom we have record, was made a freeman at Westerly, R. I., in 1668. Elias Lewis (1795) for years was president of the Sanseer Manufacturing Com- pany, and was connected with that firm for the long period of thirty-five years. By his first wife, Sarah ( Prentice), who was born in 1798 in Griswold, Conn., he had one child, Sarah P. (Mrs. Browning). The mother died in 1844, and for his second wife Elias Lewis married Mrs. Mary F. Bound, widow of John Bound, and daughter of John Fisk, who was town clerk of Middletown for many years, and a well-known citizen. By this union there was no issue. Mr. Lewis died in 1862, and was laid to rest in Indian Hill cemetery.

CAPT. THOMAS STEWART is one of the best known vessel masters that ever came out of the Connecticut river. He has done serv- ice on the boat in almost every capacity since 1848, and worked his way from a sailor's rating before the mast to the rank of captain. Look- ing upon him, still agile and active, the ob- server is almost certain to take him for a man younger than he is by at least twenty years.

Capt. Stewart comes from one of the old families of Middlesex county, and his forefa- thers were prominent in Chatham and Portland for many generations. He was born on the old family homestead on Penfield Hill, this county, August 18, 1831, son of Ralph and Emeline (Somers) Stewart. His mother was the daugh- ter of Dudley and Tabitha ( Pease) Somers, who were born June 29, 1769, and September 26, 1776, respectively. They were the parents of the following children : Aurelia, born March 22, 1803, married Hector Stewart, and lived and died in Portland. Dudley, born May 8, 1805, was a stonemason, and lived and died in Norwich; he left a large family. Caroline and Emeline, twins, were born January 14. 1807 : Caroline married Ashbell Bell, and lived near Syracuse, N. Y .; Emeline was the mother of Capt. Stewart. Lucius, born November 7, 1813, died in New Britain, Conn., in Novem-

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er, 1899; he was head machinist and an in- entor in Corbin's factory. Dudley Somers vas a farmer, and lived on the Somasick Hills, Portland. He was a bagpipe player, and was ften seen and heard at social gatherings.

Ralph Stewart was born in June, 1802, in 'ortland, Middlesex county, and died Novem- er 7, 1886. He had some schooling on Pen- eld Hill, and in the Bacon Academy, at Col- nester, and then went to work farming on le old homestead, which his grandfather wned, and which had fallen to his heirs, etsy, Fanny and Clarissa Stewart, maid- 1 ladies. He married and made a home or them in their old age, and when hey passed away the farm became his. here he lived and died, and there his widow sided. She died October 1I, 1891, at the ome of her daughter in Colchester. Mrs. tewart was a woman of remarkable strength id endurance. Her children were: Capt.

homas is mentioned below. Lucius is an ange grower at Redlands, Cal .; he worked ie home farm for his father a number of ars, and at the death of that gentleman se- fred the farm to himself. Emma is the wife M. W. Robinson, M. D., head surgeon of e Connecticut Soldiers' Home at Norcton, ad a man of much professional repute. Ralph :ewart was a Democrat, but never an office eker. He was a man of genial character, a fun-loving disposition, and had a host of iends. He died after several years' illness, of eeping paralysis, and was buried in the Cen- r cemetery.

Thomas Stewart, grandfather of Capt. ewart, was born July 10, 1777, married ary Smith, and died July 13, 1820. He was farmer, and lived on Penfield Hill. He was e father of the following children: Ralph is the father of Capt. Thomas. Harriet mar- ed a Mr. Clark, and moved to Cleveland, nio, where she died at an advanced age. mes was a tailor by trade; late in life he ent to Vermilion county, Ind., where he be- me an extensive farmer, and there died. aria married a Mr. Tuttle, and lived and died Cleveland, Ohio. Henry married D. Al- ra Whitmore, and died October 22, 1842; was a merchant, and at one time was post- ister at Middle Haddam. Mary married illiam Lewis, and died in Portland, Conn. illiam went to Cleveland, Ohio, where he

worked at the trade of harnessmaking for many years.

Daniel Stewart, the great-grandfather of Capt. Stewart, was born in Colchester, Conn., April 4,, 1745, son of Michael and Margaret Stewart, and died April 28, 1826. On October 4, 1770, he married Elizabeth Stewart, daughter of Samuel and Elizabeth (Stewart) Stewart, and they be- came the parents of the following named children : James, born July 12, 1771, died at sea April 13, 1822. Samuel, born Au- gust 8, 1772, died in April, 1817. John, born December 1I, 1773, died March 30, 1830. Daniel, born December 24, 1775, died Novem- ber 9, 1777. Thomas was the grandfather of Capt. Thomas. Elizabeth and Daniel, twins, were born June 26, 1779; she died October 12th, and he August 13th, following their birth. Betsy, born August 13, 1780, died Oc- tober 12, 1873. Peggy was born May 26, 1782. Clarissa, born January 6, 1784, died June 30, 1861. Fanny, born December 6, 1786, died November 3, 1865. Susanna, born December 13, 1788, died December 29, 1788. Daniel Stewart was a school teacher, and a man of much character ; he taught in what is now Portland as far back as 1768. He was a soldier in the Revolution, and Capt. Stewart now has his sword. His father, Michael Stewart, d'ed November 27, 1782.

Capt. Stewart attended the Penfield Hill school, and Lucius Waldo, Evelyn Overton and Mr. Whitmore were numbered among his earlier teachers. Evelyn Overton also taught a select school in the parlor of the home of Solomon Edwards, which he attended. He was reared as a farmer boy, and as he was the eldest son in the family he early bore his full share of the family cares. At seventeen he entered upon the career in which he has been so successful, going out with Capt. Russell Pen- field as a sailor before the mast on the schooner "Undine," which was engaged in carrying stone from the Portland quarries, and in the coast-wise trade. The following season the young man sailed with the "Silas Brainard." Capt. Hilliard, also a coast-trader, taking out Portland quarry stone. The same season he shipped on the "Trumbull," a vessel of 1,350 tons, one of the largest ships of her time. She was a curiosity in every port where she touched. She sailed from New York, under the com-

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mand of Capt. William D. Smith, a great- uncle of the subject of this article. Capt. Stewart was in the ship's forecastle about three years, and then became third mate. From the "Trumbull" he went into the service of the Black-Ball Line, then the leading line of trans- Atlantic vessels plying between New York and Liverpool, and acted in various capacities up to second mate, being with the line for some fifteen years. After this long period of time he went back to the "Trumbull," and sailed around the world twice in that vessel as mate. He went from Boston to New Zealand and Callao, Peru, and from there to Liverpool, re- turning to New York. His second voyage was from New York to New Zealand, sailing around the Cape of Good Hope, and returning by Cape Horn.

Leaving the "Trumbull" after some five years' service Capt. Stewart found employ- ment with other ships for a time, and then en- tered the coasting trade, in which he has been engaged for twenty-five vears, all but three years of this time on the schooner "Gen. Sheri- dan." She was never sailed a mile or a day without Capt. Stewart on board and in com- mand, a record almost unequalled. . Capt. Stewart is at present engaged on the "Helen Augusta," sailing from Portland.

The Captain was married in Moodus, July 24, 1859, to Miss Emeline Hurlbut, who was born in Portland October 13, 1833, daughter of Job and Cornelia ( Stocking) Hurlbut ; her mother was a daughter of Elijah and Polly (Sage) Stocking. To this union came one son, William, who was born August 5, 1861, and is now living in Portland. He was married Jan- uary 12, 1887, to Miss Esther Sliarples, a na- tive of Portland, born June 5, 1864, daughter of Samuel and Mary (Ferguson) Sharples. Her father came from England, and her mother from Scotland. One daughter, Emeline, was also born to Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Stewart, on July 31, 1865 ; she died November 23, 1872. Mrs. Emeline Stewart died August 13, 1868, and was buried in Center cemetery, at Portland. She was a Methodist in religious faith, and a lady of many attractive qualities. On January 25, 1870, Capt. Stewart married Miss Mary J. Mehaffey, a native of Portland, who died October 1, 1877. There were no children by this marriage. The third wife of Capt. Stew- art, Miss Emma F. Strickland, was a daughter

of Norcott Strickland. They were married February 25, 1879, and she died February 24, 1895, leaving no children. Capt. Stewart had a home in the beginning of his domestic career on Penfield Hill, and lived there several years. He moved to Portland many years ago, and has an excellent home on Spring street. He has among his heirlooms a silver tankard that has been in the family for generations.

The Captain has been a Prohibitionist for fifteen years, from the impulse of sound con- victions. Fraternally he is a Mason and a charter member of the A. O. U. W. at Port- land; he belongs to the Temple of Honor at Portland, and is one of the leading men in that society. In religious connection he is a Meth- odist, and has been an active worker in that church for many years. He is an honorable Christian man, as fine a specimen of well pre- served manly vigor as may often be found, and is respected by all.

Capt. Stewart was ill with the yellow fever in New Orleans, in 1857. When he was taken down he weighed 185 pounds, and when he could leave his berth again he weighed 139 pounds. He recalls it as an uncanny . experi- ence that when he was ill in his bunk on board ship he could look out of his window and see cartloads of the victims of the plague being ferried over the river to the cemetery in Al- giers. They were buried in a great trench. It was his grit and will power, together with his splendid constitution, that enabled him to recover.

HON. RICHARD PRATT SPENCER. A good name is the best heritage that a man can leave to his son, and when it is not only one free from stain of any kind, and honored by contemporaries, but is also one which has appeared in history for centuries, connected with nobility, bravery and uprightness; when its possessors are accounted among the great of the earth, then is the gift above any price, Hon. Richard Pratt Spencer, the distinguished gentleman whose life history is briefly touched upon within these pages, bears a name well known, not only in America but in England, where it can be traced back to the time of the Norman William himself. The name of Spen- cer is derived from the Latin noun dispensator, or steward, the original holder of the name in England being Robert Dispensator (or Robert le dispenseur, according to the French nomen-

Richard That Sheney

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clature), who was attached to the household of William the Conqueror.

The family of Spencer was raised to the Peerage by James I, the title of Lord Spencer of Wormleighton having been conferred, dur- ing the reign of that monarch, upon one of the name, who became connected with the famous Duke of Marlborough by marriage with Lady Annam, second daughter and co-heir of John Churchill; the title of Earl of Sutherland was also bestowed upon one of this family, and these are still borne by members thereof. The arms of the Spencer family, described by Col- lins, denote their ancient origin and nobility.

Richard P. Spencer traces his line directly to Michael Spencer, who was a landholder in Stotfold, England, and who, according to the Edworth ( Bedfordshire) Register, was mar- ried January 25, 1555, to Annis Linde. To this union came: John, born in 1557, who died in 1558, and Michael, born in 1558, who died in 1568. The mother of these dying, Michael Spencer married again, his second wife being named Elizabeth, and their son was Gerrard (or Garrard), who, the Stotfold Register. states, was baptized May 20, 1576. Gerrard Spencer was the father of four sons, William, Thomas, Michael and Garrard, all of whom came to this country in 1633-34. There is evi- (lence that William or Thomas was here in 1631. The youngest son, Garrard Spencer, was born in 1610, and was the ancestor of Richard P. He first settled at Newtown (now Cambridge), Mass., where he became a land- owner in 1634. He moved thence to Lynn, same State, where in 1638 he was granted a franchise for a ferry. He also served as grand juror and as ensign of the militia company. In 1660 he removed to Hartford, and in 1662, according to the history of Rev. Dr. Field, be- came one of the twenty-eight original proprie- tors of the town of Haddam. He was a mem- ber of the committee chosen to settle the bound- ary dispute between the towns of Haddam and Saybrook, and represented the town of Had- dam in the General Court at Hartford, in 1675. 1678, 1679, 1680 and 1683. He and his wife, Hannah, were probably married in Lynn, Mass., or in that vicinity. They had eleven children. He was a landowner and left a will, and these children are all mentioned, viz. : John. Hannah, Alice, Mehitable, Thomas, Samuel, William, Nathaniel, Rebecca, Ruth and Timothy.

Thomas Spencer, son of Garrard, married Elizabeth, youngest daughter of James and Ann ( Withington) Bates, according to Good- win. In 1678 he removed to Westbrook (town of Saybrook), Conn., from Haddam, was voted an inhabitant of Saybrook town December 8, 1687, and from him descended nearly all of that name now living in Saybrook, Westbrook, Old Saybrook and Essex. He died February 3, 1699- 1700, but the date of his wife's death is not known. Their children were: Jared, born Oc- tober 8, 1673, at Haddam; Thomas, born April I, 1679, at Saybrook; and Caleb, born January 19, 1695-96.

Caleb Spencer, son of Thomas, was twice married. He and his first wife, Hannah, were joined in wedlock July 29, 1719, and their chil- dren were: Joseph, born April 18, 1720; Mary, September 19, 1721 ; Caleb, December 8, 1724; Hannah, February 13, 1727; Lemuel, March 14, 1729 (died March 30, 1729) ; John, February II, 1730; Sarah, February 21, 1731- 32 ; Jemima, August 3, 1734.

Joseph Spencer, son of Caleb, married, in 1743, Lydia, daughter of Paybody and Ruth ( Nettleton ) Grinnell, who was born August 28, 1723, and was a descendant of John and Priscilla Alden. Joseph Spencer died Febru- ary 18, 1810, and his wife died November 26, 1810. Their children were: Joseph, born August 12, 1744; Daniel, born February 2, 1746; Lydia, born February 22, 1748: Ruth, born February 2, 1750; Hannah, born January 31, 1753: George, born June 17, 1755: Mary, born January II, 1757; Nabby, born May 4, 1761 (died March 26, 1764) : Peter, born August 31, 1763; Phebe, born May 26, 1767.

Joseph Spencer, son of Joseph, was twice married, first, November 2, 1768 to Elizabetlı Clark, who was born April 9, 1748, daughter of John and Elizabeth ( Williams) Clark. She died June 25. 1777. aged twenty-nine. Their children were : Nabby, born January 14. 1770; Elizabeth, born March 26, 1772: Hester, born June 24, 1777. Joseph Spencer was married ( second) July 5, 1780, to Lucy Post. born Jan- nary 4. 17446, daughter of Benjamin and Mary (Colt) Post. Joseph Spencer died November 15. 1793. and Lucy, his second wife, died Jan- uary 1, 1834. They had five children : Joseph, bort May 1, 1781; Ezra, December 29. 1782; David. December 16, 1785 : George ( father of Richard P. Spencer), October 6, 1787; and

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Lucy, September 6, 1789 (died October 31, 1793).

Deacon George Spencer, the father of Rich- ard P., was born in Westbrook October 6, 1787. He married Julia Pratt, a daughter of Comfort and Susannah ( Tiley) Pratt, of Pau- topaug, now Essex, and there were born to them six children: George Tiley, born No- vember 6, 1814, who resides at Corning, N. Y., ex-judge of Steuben county; Julia, who died young ; Richard Pratt, born February 12, 1820 ; Julia Minerva, born November 27, 1822, widow of Dr. Ambrose Pratt; Jane Elizabeth, born February 23, 1825, widow of J. W. Mar- vin, of Deep River; and Susan Augusta, born February 16, 1829, wife of Rev. Charles H. Bullard, of Hartford, Conn. The father was, during the greater part of his life, associated with the manufacture of ivory combs, having been an active partner in the firm of George Read & Co., of Deep River. He was a man of strong religious convictions, endowed with great strength of mind and character, and re- tained his extraordinary mental vigor up to the time of his death, at the great age of nearly ninety-one years.

On the maternal side Mr. Spencer is de- scended from Lieut. William Pratt, who came from Hertfordshire, England, to Cambridge, Mass., in 1633. He thence removed to Hart- ford in 1636, as one of the original proprietors, and finally settled in Pautopaug (now Essex), Conn. He was a member of the General Court in Hartford from 1666 to 1678, and was one of the largest landowners of his time.

Richard Pratt Spencer was born in Deep River, town of Saybrook, in what is now known as Saybrook, February 12, 1820. Until he was twelve he attended the district schools of the home neighborhood, and then went from home to attend the academy at Madison, Conn. He subsequently went to school at Berlin, Conn., finishing in the academy at Belchertown, Mass. At the age of eighteen, on leaving school, he entered the employ of George Read & Co., man- ufacturers of combs and ivory goods, of which firm his father was a member, continuing there until soon after becoming of age, when he was taken into partnership. Afterward he with- drew from the firm, and with Ulysses and Alexis Pratt formed a partnership under the style of Pratt, Spencer & Co., for the manu- facture of fancy ivory turnings and later ivory piano keys, etc. In 1850 Mr. Spencer disposed

of his interest in this business, soon afterward removing to Corning, N. Y., where he em- barked in the banking business. In 1866 after a successful career in New York State, he re- turned to Deep River, and was soon after- ward elected to the position of president of the Deep River National Bank, which he still retains. The length of his term of service in this capacity is sufficient evidence of the abil- ity he has displayed in the successful discharge of his duties. For two years Mr. Spencer was treasurer of the Deep River Savings Bank. In all of his business enterprises he has been uni- formly successful, proving himself a man of great financial ability, good judgment, high sense of honor, one in whose hands may safely be trusted the great financial secrets of the in- stitution of which he is the honored chief. His- courtesy and admirable personal traits have also been marked factors in his successful ca- reer.

Except upon one occasion Mr. Spencer has taken no active part in politics. In 1882 and 1883 he represented the Twenty-first District in the State Senate. During the first session he was chairman of the committee on Fisher- ies, and in the second session was chairman of the committee on Banks. He supported the Whig party until the formation of the Repub- lican, of whose principles he is a sturdy advo- cate, though he has never been active in politi- cal circles.

On May 15, 1850, Mr. Spencer married Clarissa Chapman, daughter of George H. and Lucia (Tully) Chapman, of Saybrook ; by this union he had no children. Mrs. Spencer's death occurred December 16, 1871. On Febru- ary 28, 1877, Mr. Spencer married Juliana Selden, daughter of Richard L. and Sarah (Loper) Selden of Hadlyme, Conn., the form- er a descendant of Col. Selden, of Revolu- tionary fame. Mrs. Selden was a daughter of Rev. Stephen Alonzo Lopor, a graduate of Bowdoin College, who became a Congrega- tional minister, serving in the churches at Higganum and Hadlyme for many years. He died at the home of his daughter, Mrs. Richard L. Selden. Mr. Selden is a leading resident of Hadlyme. His father, Richard E. Selden according to records found in the church at Hadlyme, was a graduate of Yale College, anc was a farmer and leading man of his day ir Hadlyme, where he died.

To Richard P. and Juliana (Selden) Spen

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cer have come three children: (1) Richard Selden, born February 15, 1878 was educated in private schools in Hartford and Lakeville, Conn., and prepared in same for Yale College, from which institution he was graduated in the class of 1901. He is now in the employ of the Erie Iron Works, at Erie, Pa. (2) Florence Elizabeth, born at Deep River February 29, 1880, was educated at home under private teachers, and spent one year in a select school at Neuchatel, Switzerland. (3) George Sel- den, born May 27, 1884, attended for two vears the Lakeville (Conn.) preparatory school, studied one year under a tutor, and s now a student at Yale University, class of 1905. In the beautiful residence Mr. Spencer las erected he and his charming wife dispense a generous hospitality, and have surrounded themselves with every comfort. Their library s a good collection of books, carefully selected, ind contains many rare editions. Mr. Spencer nas no social affiliations outside of his mem- pership in the Connecticut Historical Society, und the New England Genealogical Society of Boston, preferring the companionship of his amily to the privileges of the fashionable clubs ind societies.

GEORGE REDFIELD FINLEY, who or years was a very important factor in the business life of Middletown, Middlesex county, well-known and highly respected man, died April 18, 1885.

Mr. Finley was born in October, 1820, at Clinton, Conn., son of John and Nancy (Red- ield) Finley. The father was a sailmaker by rade, and followed same in Clinton, Conn., where he was born and married, and where he uried his wife. The children of their family ere: Martha married John Hills, of Middle- own, and died in that city ; John, a sailor, was rowned at sea; George R. is our subject ; Francis K., a mechanic, worked in Meriden? or a number of years ; Cornelia married John helley, of Durham; other children died in in- ancy. John Finley, the father, died on Long sland, where he resided during his latter years.

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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 36

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