Commemorative biographical record of Middlesex County, Connecticut : containing biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens, and of many of the early settled families, Part 50

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 50

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HENRY VALETTE BARTON, a well known citizen of East Hampton, Com., be- longs to one of the old and highly respected families of this State. His paternal grand- father was William Barton, who was married

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in Windsor, Conn., February 14, 1790, to Clarissa Betts.

Hiram Barton, son of William and father of Henry V., was born in the town of Bloom- field, January 20, 1799, and died October 22, 1878. On September II, 1825, he married Lois L. Watrous, daughter of John Watrous. She was born September 5, 1805, and died January 23, 1882. This worthy couple were the parents of four children, of whom Henry V. is the youngest. The others were Sarah Ann, who was born July 7, 1828, and married Orlando Clark, of Montreal, Canada; Will- iam, deceased, who was born February 8, 1830. and married Annette Watrous; and John Wat- rous, who was born May II, 1835, and married Victoria Gates.

Henry V. Barton was born in East Hamp- ton, May 2, 1837, and received his education in the common schools of that town and at Chase's Institute in Middletown. When a young man he learned bell-making with his father, and has devoted his life to that occupa- tion. In 1856 he was married to Miss Jose- phine Hills, a daughter of Gilbert and Hannah (Strong) Hills, and a granddaughter of David and Polly ( Welch) Hills. Polly Welch was a daughter of Rev. William and Deborah (Jew- ett) Welch, while her husband was a son of John and Mindwell (Wright) Hills. John Hills was a soldier of the Revolutionary war, and died of smallpox while in the service.

Gilbert Hills, father of Mrs. Barton, was born March 27, 1799, and was married, Jan- uary 29, 1823, to Hannah Strong, a daughter of Adonijah Strong. By this union were born the following children: G. Minor, born Feb- ruary 8, 1824, married first Eilen Shaffer and second Martha Miller; Emily, born March 28, 1825, is the wife of J. Jerome Niles, of East Hampton ; Elizabeth, born December 24, 1826, married first P. J. Albright and second George W. Cone, and died June 16, 1899; Frank, born June 15, 1829, married (first) Anna Williams and ( second) Nancy -, and is now a resident of Cedarvale, Kan. ; he was a soldier of both the Mexican and Civil wars, and was promoted to colonel in the latter; Josephine, born March 24, 1831, died at the age of three years; Hannah, born June 23, 1833, married A. H. Markham and died Jan- uary 9, 1881 ; Socrates, born May 26, 1836, is a resident of Durango, Colo .; Josephine, born

February 6, 1840, is the wife of H. V. Ban1: Thadeus N., born July 6, 1842, died Decer 24, 1844; Osmer, born January 9, 1845, a resident of Durango, Colo .; and Lucy ... born July 30, 1849, died at the age of ie year.

Mr. and Mrs. Barton had three chil În, whose names and dates of birth were as bl- lows: Gertrude, October 6, 1861 ; Maud, In- uary 22, 1869 ; and Lois, August 22, 1870. the oldest child died at the age of twenty year:

During the Civil war Mr. Barton enled in 1862 for nine months' service in Com [ny C, Twenty-fourth Connecticut Volunteeren- fantry, but remained in the service thi en months. His duties were such that he didtot take part in any actual engagement thoug he was present at the capture of Port Huem. Politically he is a radical Republican, Ind served as deputy sheriff of Middlesex conty two years under John S. Hutchinson. He was constable in the town of Chatham si: en years, deputy of the Humane Society, andl'as also connected with a branch of Pinkert's detective agency. Mr. Barton is now an On- ored member of Mansfield Post, No. 5: G. A. R., of Middletown, while his wife member of the Woman's Relief Corps anche Woman's Christian Temperance Union, nd she and her daughters are connected wit che Congregational Church. The family ispne of considerable prominence in the comm ity where they reside.

MERRITT S. BROOKS. Among the well-known citizens who have retired fro an active career in the industrial life of Cher, Conn., where his family is an old and prni- nent one, is Merritt S. Brooks.

Simeon Brooks, Sr., his grandfather vas born near Cedar Lake, in Saybrook, pow Chester, in 1740, and became a farmer bloc- cupation. He died on May 9, 1819. ; a soldier in the Revolution, he entered the my as a private from the parish of Saybroo on May 8, 1775, he was discharged in to- ber, 1775, and after having served in the xth Regiment under Col. Samuel H. Parson re- maining on duty in New Haven. His

second enlistment was from Killingworth ow Clinton, in July, 1776, and he then sived as a private in Colonel Mott's Battalion,and served under General Gates, at Ticondega.

Himcon Brooks

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COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

Ththird enlistment was in 1777, and he be- can oi kill a private in Colonel Whiting's regiment nnecticut Militia, and he served at Peeks- der Capt. Bristol. All these names pos- sesifor true Americans a more than common inte Ch

ist. Simeon Brooks, Sr., married Lois h1, and their children were: Asa ; Lydia, whenmarried a Mr. Smith, and moved to Ohio; Nat n, who married Nancy Clark, and re- sidel in Guilford; Eliza, who married Uri Chugh, and lived in Winsted, Conn. ; Phebe, whomarried Samuel Warner, and lived in Suslehanna, Pa. ; Mary ; and Simeon.

MEON BROOKS was born in Chester Apr 6, 1793, and was reared on the home farn

His educational opportunities were lim- ited. 3 at that time it was as difficult to obtain an e cation as it now seems to escape it, but Mr. rooks had a taste for study, and when he clid obtain books studied after he had fin- ishednis day's labor. He taught school for fifte winters, eleven of which were spent in Chestr. Many other lines opened up to him, eachbring the shad fishing in the Connecticut river ever his 1 this this laimed his attention, and being of a me- channel turn of mind he became interested in hing in the way of machinery. Near ne was located a carding machine, and operated, doing considerable work at .lustry every winter, carding the wool for sfming into yarn. His patrons came long dostajes to have this service done for them. At tl years matlı choc time liis eldest child, Susan, was but ten ld, but she had inherited some of his latical ability, and kept the books, and n the mill while her father was teaching Mr. Brooks was the inventor of the nach : for the manufacture of gimlet pointed rews, and went into the manufacture of association with his son-in-law, Will- Clark, who was also an inventor of abil- s firin then engaged in the manufacture pt lig wire goods, being the pioneer in that me, all the inventive powers of both partners vere od t

ustantly at work devising new goods ir process of manufacture. The firm d for a time under the name of Brooks , Mr. Brooks later buying the interest lark, our subject taking his place, and atlı made another change necessary, ect took sole charge and changed the M. S. Brooks, this in 1888, becoming rooks & Sons, the same being known 18

to the trade the world over today. Simeon Brooks was an unusual man, his ideas being far beyond the discoveries yet made in electri- cal appliances, succeeding in every thing he ever attempted, and was active until the time of his decease, he long having predicted that this would occur when he neared seventy, and he passed away in April, 1864. Very fond of music, he was proficient on the violin, and one of the great enjoyments of his life was his at- tendance upon a concert of Ole Bull. His be- loved violin was with him in his last sickness. When he became a member of the Masonic fra- ternity, he was almost ostracised by his neigh- bors, feeling running high at that time in some circles on account of secret societies, but he was laid away with the ceremonies of the order, this being the first funeral ever so conducted in Chester. Honesty was a cardinal principle in his life, and although he was never con- nected with any religious denomination, he lived up to the teachings of the Golden Rule. In politics he was a Democrat, and held many of the minor offices of the town.

Simeon Brooks married Lydia Watrous, a native of Chester, and a daughter of Abigail and Josiah Watrous, and she survived her hus- band several years. The children of this union were: Susan, who married William N. Clark, died in Hartford; Myra, the widow of Ed- mund Jones, lives in Hartford ; Lois, who mar- ried George M. Abbey, resides in Chester ; Harriet A., widow of Elias M. Woodruff. lives in Hartford; Alice is deceased; and Mer- ritt S.

Merritt S. Brooks was born near Cedar Lake, in Chester, March 6, 1833, and in this locality his early years were spent in attend- ance upon the district school, later receiving ad- vantages in a seminary conducted at Winthrop by a Baptist minister, named Rev. William Dennison. When he had reached his eighteenth year, he entered into the employ of Messrs. Silliman, who operated a factory for wood turning and for the manufacture of wooden ink . stands. At that time this factory employed forty hands and our subject was one of this number for some three years, working at piece work, earning $1.50 per day, good wages for a mechanic at that date. Mr. Brooks relates that one day he and a companion, in a spirit of emulation, decided to try how much it was possible to earn in one day, his efforts netting

1 la

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COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

him $3.40, this being considered a remarkable earning. It was about this time, in 1846, that liis father established the present great busi- ness, and erected a mill which was about one- fourth the size of the present edifice, and here our subject began work, and continued until March, 1864, at which date his father died Merritt S. was given a small amount of capi- tal, and the factory, the work at that time re- quiring from fifteen to twenty hands, men, boys and girls. It is not difficult to trace in his life the distinguished traits of his father. Also an inventor, he built the first machine to make screw eyes automatically, and by the aid of new machinery and appliances, quite quad- rupled the former output of the factory. In 1874. Mr. Brooks rented the factory to Will- iam N. Clark & Sons, who conducted it for a number of years, when he again assumed con- trol, continuing until 1889 when he was suc- ceeded by his sons, Hilton C. and Simeon S., the firm still continuing in the manufacture of bright iron and brass wire goods of all kinds, the product being in demand throughout the world. They employ about eighty-five hands through the year. The factory has recently been much enlarged to enable the company to meet the constantly increasing demand for its products, and the plant has today four times the capacity of the pioneer business established by the grandfather Simeon. This healthy growth has been brought about since the two grandsons of the founder, Hilton C. and Si- meon S., came into control of the business, and is a result of their energy and careful manage- ment, coupled with the introduction and use of modern machinery, and methods of marketing the goods.

Before Merritt S. Brooks reached the age of fourteen, some aural trouble manifested itself, and by the time he was twenty-five, it had so increased as to render him almost totally deaf. However, he has taught himself to understand conversation by the motion of the lips, and thus saves himself the annoyance of outside help, so expert has he become in this accom- plishment, that he has frequently made pur- chases in stores where not known, and trans- acted his business without the salesmen having cliscovered his affliction.

On October 16, 1860, Merritt S. Brooks was married to Maria A. Spencer, who was born in Old Saybrook, November II, 1838, a

daughter of Charles C. and Lucretia M. ( r- vey ) Spencer. The children born of this ton were: (I) HILTON C., a member of ne firm of M. S. Brooks & Sons, married Oc ler 12, 1887, Winnie, daughter of Louis A. Ella ( Hitchcock) Gallup, of Philadelphia a direct descendant in the tenth generatio of John Gallup, who came to this country in ¡0, from the Parish of Morterne, County Doet, England. The children born to Mr. and er's. Hilton C. Brooks are: Louis M., born tab - ruary 7, 1889; Marjorie C., June 12, 1 2; and Malcomb G., December 6, 1894. (2) Jessie L. is deceased. (3) SIMEON S., rII November 17, 1865, is a member of the fin of M. S. Brooks Sons. He married Septeper 26, 1888, Mary B. Wright, of Clinton, danh- ter of Edwin H. and Lucy L. (Becly) Wright, and they have one child, FlorencE., born October 21, 1889. (4) Agnes M. ille- ceased.

Although his respected father was a [m- ocrat, Merritt S. Brooks is a stanch meper of the Republican party, but has never asted to office, as his affliction would prevent h as- suming such responsibility. Aside from the trouble mentioned, he commands attenticon account of pleasant personality, and is o of the most hospital and agreeable hosts in des- ter, where he possesses a delightful home. ars. Brooks is one of the entertaining socia fac- tors in the pleasant life of Chester, andflias efficiently filled a position on the commit of the Middlesex County Home for Depe ent Children, located at Haddam, ever since iļvas established.

GEORGE GORHAM MCLEAN, re- spected citizen of Portland, was born Įep- tember 21, 1837, in New Britain, Conn., son of Silas O. and Phoebe (Congdon ) Mclean. His ancestors had lived for many gener ons in Glastonbury, Conn., and his paternal eat- grandfather, Silas McLean, served as sol- dier in the Revolutionary war from that WII. Silas O. McLean died when his son wa but two years old, and his brother, Charle Mc- Lean, died in Hartford, where he had ong been engaged in business as a jeweler.

The first fifteen years in the life of Corge Gorham McLean were spent in Glasto: ury, where he attended the district school. rom there he passed to the high school at NewBrit-

Ma. S. Brooks

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COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

, graduating in due course of time, and he tn entered the normal school at New Britain, In which he graduated in the class of 1858, N I-prepared for work in the school room. became a teacher, and proved very success- 1 In 1858 he came to Portland, having pre- usly taught school one term at New Ca- rn, for which he received the very modest compensation of four dollars a week and his bird. The young teacher studied hard, ac- qred a broad information, and was regarded afone of the best posted men of his time. As a acher he was the instructor of two genera- tis in Portland. He taught three years, and tlji after an interval of sixteen years resumed lı labors in the local school room, and among h pupils were the children of some who were a his pupils during the first period of his tehing here. During eleven years of this bik he was proprietor of a book store in Mid- dipwn. He taught one year as first assistant pi cipal in New York City, and was three ydes principal of the Bridgeport High School. F the past twenty years Mr. McLean has Ix connected with the Joseph Dixon Crucible Copany, of Jersey City, N. J., having charge vi - educational department, and has traveled in s interest over almost the entire country.

Mr. McLean was married to Miss Bessie Non, the daughter of Captain Parker Nor- to and a descendant of an old and honored fa ly. To this union were born the follow- in; children : Julia, a graduate of St. Marga- school at Waterbury, is living at home.

ret Bel e attended St. Margaret's school, and is the wife of the Rev. H. L. Mitchell, rec- toft Saybrook, Conn. ; and Norton Williams, vi fortland, is the youngest of the family. McLean, a most estimable lady, a thor- oufly Christian woman, and a devoted men- les i the Episcopal Church, has entered into

r. McLean has found time during the lastfew years to give some attention to farm- og and owns two farms on Rose Hill, where ends his summers, but passes the winter vai in Portland. He went into farming y from a desire to improve his health, ut till continues and enjoys it, keeping a supervision over the active work of the Mr. McLean is one of the incorpor- of the Freestone Savings Bank and is Vice resident of the First National Bank of

Portland. One of the solid men of the place, these extensive and varied interests give him a great influence in the town, an influence that is deepened and strengthened by his character and religious convictions. He is a vestryman of Trinity Episcopal church at Portland, and has taught the Bible class connected with it nearly twenty years. For some thirty-six years he has been a member of Warren Lodge, No. 53, A. F. & A. M. He is a stanch Republican, and in 1897 was sent to the State Legislature, where he served as a member of the committee on Education. He has been president of the local board of education, and for years has been one of the active workers for better schools. His familiarity with the world and his power of close observation have enabled him to bring to bear upon the local schools a positive influence of good. He has fought his way upward against hindering obstacles, and now has an ample competence, with the re- spect of the community, and the knowledge of useful and strenuous years, to sustain and comfort his old age. Mr. McLean has never invited publicity, but rather shrinks from it. His friends bear testimony to his kind heart and generous spirit, and hold him in high es- teem.

RUFUS C. SHEPARD, a prominent and successful contractor and builder at Saybrook, Middlesex county, is the senior deacon of the local Congregational Church, and is highly esteemed in the community alike for his in- dustrious habits and upright character.

Abraham Shepard, grandfather of Rufus C., was born June 15, 1739, and lived in Saybrook, though he was probably not a native of that part of the State. He was engaged in shipping horses and mules to the West Indies, and bringing back the island produce, then a a very profitable business. Mr. Shepard was married October 24. 1762, to Zipporah Shep- ard, who died September 30, 1766, and he was married a second time, to Ruth Parkhurst, January 21, 1768. She died March 28, 1700, the mother of the following children : Zip- porah, Mary, John (who married Ruth Cady), Ruth, Isaac, Abraham, and Job.

Job Shepard, the father of Rufus C., and the youngest of the family, was born Janu- uary 25. 1780. He married Azubah Clark. who was born July 29. 1789, and died June

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COMMEMORATIJE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

7, 1882. They were the parents of the fol- lowing children: (1) Amelia C., born Oc- tober 30, 1807, died September 21, 1856. She married Erastus Clark, October 17, 1830, and became the mother of two children-F. Eras- tus, of Saybrook, and Sarah E., who married Robert E. Chalker. (2) John Clark, born December II, 1809, died when a small boy. (3) Frederick William, born March 18, 1812, married Maria L. Green in 1840, and died in 1860, his widow surviving until May, 1883. He was a physician in Essex for many years. (4) Rufus Clark was born August 18, 1814. (5) Lydia Ann, born June 28, 1816, died June 4. 1892. (5) John Edwin, born Au- gust 16, 1818, died when a year old. (6) Azubah, born May 14, 1820, married Henry S. Chapman, August 24, 1840, and died May 24. 1859. It is probable that all the children of Abraham Shepard were born in Plainfield, Conn., and it was there that Job Shepard grew up. He was married in Saybrook, but lived and died in Plainfield. After his death, in 1823, his widow returned to Saybrook, where she died as noted above.

Rufus Clark Shepard was born in Plain- field, and when he was nine years old accom- panied his mother and the family to Saybrook. The educational advantages which he en- joyed were confined to those of the district school, and when he was sixteen years old he went to Massachusetts, to learn the trade of a carpenter and joiner. He was a year in New York City, after which he returned to Saybrook and engaged in his trade. There he was mar- ried September 10, 1837, to Mary Anne Bush- nell, and to this union were born seven chil- dren, three sons and four daughters. Two sons and two daughters died in early life. One son, John Bushnell, and two daughters, Mary Witter and Frances Clarke, survive ; the elder daughter, Mary Witter, was married to John H. Granniss, M. D., October 17, 1871. Dr. Granniss has been engaged in practice in Saybrook since 1870. He is the father of two daughters, Ruth Shepard and Sarah Gray.

Rufus C. Shepard has been a contractor and builder all his life, and even now, at the advanced age of eighty-eight years, is still active. For some years Mr. Shepard and Rufus C. Dennison were in partnership, and many of the leading houses of Saybrook, and

especially those of Fenwick, were evidence of their handicraft.

Mr. Shepard has always been a Rfib- lican, and in his active days filled several (the more important town offices. For years he was assessor of the town, and [: a fer-

number of years was deputy collector of nal Revenue. He was a representative ofthe town in the State Legislature, and for ght years was county commissioner. When a ying man he united with the Congregation'al Cl ch, in which he has always been an active water, and at the present time he is senior deon, a position he has held for many years; tlhigh wishing to retire from it on account oilge, protests from the congregation make it iffi- cult for him to accomplish his purpose.

RICHARD ATKINS, deceased. ThAt- kins family has been settled in Middle wn since the early days of the Colony, and pre- sentatives in each generation have bornefon- orable parts in public affairs, and have letrec- ords of upright Christian lives. The fit of the name to locate in Middletown was hiah Atkins, who was presented with four res, probably in the South Straddle Hill Di,ict. On October 8, 1673, he married Elizabeth et- more, daughter of Thomas Wetmore, S, of Middletown, and seven children were boi of this union. Josiah Atkins died Septemb 12, 1690, and his wife passed away about 1;p.

Ephraim Atkins, son of Josiah, wasborn March 9, 1685. On June 16, 1709, he m/ried Elizabeth, daughter of Thomas Wetmor Jr., and she bore him eight children. He die De- cember 26, 1760, preceded, however, 1; his wife, who died May 20, 1752.

Thomas Atkins, eldest son of Epluim. built, in 1734, a house on the old Durhar road a few rods northwest of the present res ence of Thomas J. Atkins, in the West Lon Hill District, Middletown. In June, 1735, honar- ried Martha, a daughter of Benjamin ; ller.

Ithamar Atkins, youngest child of Tpmas and Martha, was born November 16, 17., be- came a farmer, and was highly respecd in his neighborhood. In 1807 he erected to res- idence now occupied by Thomas J. Atki:

A man of much energy and business sagac 7, he accumulated a large property, owning ov 800 acres of land. On November 27, 17 , he

Richard & Hking

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COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

n/ ried Anna Hubbard, twelfth child of Nehe- n h Hubbard, Sr., who had six sons in the Rolutionary army. Nehemiah Hubbard, Jr., appointed deputy quartermaster general he State of Connecticut in May, 1777, by Mor Gen. Greene, and later became a mer- chat in Middletown, where also he was the fı president of the Middletown Savings B k, holding that office at the time of his d.h. To Ithamar Atkins and his wife Anna we born twelve children; three died in in- ia y.

Richard Atkins, son of Ithamar Atkins Anna Hubbard, was born August 29, 1:2. On October 17, 1838, he married Ma- Jim Edwards, of Middletown, Conn., and seled upon ancestral land, in the vicinity of hibirthplace in Long Hill. He died Decem- be 19, 1868. Their only child, Annie Tal- m ge, born September 10, 1839, is the wife of ichard Davis, of Long Hill, Middletown, Checticut.

.n character Richard Atkins was a man, gol and true, of keen judgment and refined in ligence. His gentle manners were those offie "old school," a school that is not sur- paed at the present day. He had a flavor of willind humor in conversation, and his com- pa ship was sought by young and old. Win a young man, in the interest of health on business, he traveled in our Southern Stus, taking his violin-a real "Cremona," wi him. He not only made his travels a indy success, but also charmed the people hynie sweet notes of the instrument. Music nherent in his nature, and there are many livky now who listened with delight to the wo of his bow across the strings, while he pland on, forgetting himself and his auditors. M'Atkins was just, yet generous. During the great conflict of our Civil war he was a trig adherent to the Government and "up- Nel the hands" of those that fought in the Ir gle for national unity.

AMES ELIPHAZ BAILEY (deceased). 'tilture has numbered among its fol- s many men whose mental and moral ications eminently fitted them for what unetimes called the higher walks of life. st notable instance of this devotion to the i y superior, even eminent, talent is pre- er I in the life of the late James E. Bailey,

of Durham, Middlesex county, for, though by choice he followed the vocation of farming. his intellectual worth brought to him, unsolicited, many of the more important of the local offices, while in his earlier years he won local fame and respect as a successful teacher.

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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 50

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