Commemorative biographical record of Middlesex County, Connecticut : containing biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens, and of many of the early settled families, Part 53

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 53

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Daniel Spencer, the father of our subj ; was born in Westbrook in 1808, and died 1 the fall of 1882. He grew up in his natje village, and there married Minerva Kelsey ? daughter of Russell and Cyntha (L' Homı)- dieu) Kelsey, and to them were born : Russjl, who died in Westbrook in 1899, at the age f seventy-two; Ellen Janette, born in 1829, 10 first married William M. Stannard, secd Horace Wilcox; Louise, who married J. i. Dickinson, of Essex, later of Duluth, Mil., and died in Denver, Colo .; Ann Jane; G. W .- lace, a resident of Westbrook; Augusta All, who married William C. Comstock, of Ess :; D. Wilson; and Gertrude, who died in chi-

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COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

od. Daniel 'Spencer learned the trade of 1 cksmith in the shop of his father. For a die he was engaged in fishing in the Connec- it river and also in the Sound, during this Fiod residing in Lyme, Conn. For the major 1 tion of his time he kept to his trade only (.continuing when advancing years made it avisable. His death occurred at the home his son in Westbrook.

D. Wilson Spencer was born April 4, 1841, i Westbrook, where he attended the common stools and the academy, at the age of nineteen trinning life for himself. Coming to Essex, was for two years engaged in the factory cthe Pettipaug Company, and then entered t employ of Alexander Pratt & Co., as clerk iftheir general store at Centerbrook, remain- il there, however, less than two years. In cipany with G. A. Bushnell he entered into afartnership in the mercantile business, which aociation continued from April, 1863, to Juary, 1866, when Mr. Spencer purchased h partner's interest, and he has, since then, bli the sole owner of the business. In point of service Mr. Spencer is the oldest merchant inthe town of Essex and enjoys a very large onage. Several assistants are required in P 11 establishment and two delivery teams are k busy, Mr. Spencer accommodating his

P ons to the best of his ability.

Aside from his successful mercantile busi- no, Mr. Spencer is interested in farming, an also owns tenement property which is very re unerative. During his long residence h: he has become thoroughly identified every interest of the community, and for tv ity-one years was the popular and efficient 1x [master at Centerbrook; since January I, top, he has been president of the Saybrook B: ‹ of Essex, one of the solid and substan- tia institutions of the State, having served fu three years previously as its vice-presi- le, and for twelve years as director.

.Ir. Spencer was married to S. Imogene Bij mell, daughter of Richard Bushnell, and 10 Iii Fa is union were born: Norman W., who at the age of nineteen ; and James B., his 'r's assistant, who married Edith Munn, ew London, and has one son, Daniel W. Politically Mr. Spencer has always been publican of no uncertain views, taking a and active interest in the deliberations . 11 success of his party. His connection 19

with the bank, which he now serves as pres- ident, has been efficient, and has met with the endorsement of his associates, as has been shown by the confidence they have placed in him. Besides attending carefully to his pri- vate business, Mr. Spencer has been a tireless worker for the good of his community, and has thoroughly identified himself with all pub- lic enterprises which have promised to bene- fit the neighborhood in which he has so long lived, and where he is so highly esteemed.

DEWITT CLINTON WILLIAMS is one of the most esteemed citizens of the town of Chatham, Middlesex county, Conn., and for many years he has been prominently identified with the leading business interests of that locality. Accomplishment and pro- gress ever imply labor, energy and diligence, and it was those qualities that enabled Mr. Williams to rise from the ranks of the many and stand among the successful few.

Among the first settlers of the town of Chatham were the ancestors of the Williams family. Charles Williams, great-grandfa- ther of Dewitt C., died there, and was buried in Colchester. In the same town, the grand- father, Thomas Williams, spent his entire life, engaged in farming. He was buried near where several of the family still reside. In his Bible, which is still preserved by the fam- ily, he wrote: "This Bible dated this 7th day of February, 1770-God give him grace to make a proper use of this Book for we take it to be the Book of Glory." Thomas Williams married (first ) Sarah Sparrow, who died Jan- uary 16, 1784, and by that union had three children : Anna, born January 20, 1776, who died March 7, 1778; Statira, born April 10. 1777; and Grace, born October 8, 1781. Thomas Williams' second marriage was prob- ably to the sister of his first wife, and to them also were born three children: John, July 25. 1785: Sparrow; and Rebecca, born in 1793, who died July 13, 1880.

Sparrow Williams was born March 15. 1788, near the dividing line between Chatham and Colchester, and always lived within a mile of his birthplace. Throughout life he fol- lowed farming and lumibering quite extensive- ly, and in the latter business was assisted by his sons, carrying on operations under the firm name of S. Williams & Sons. He was

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COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

well known throughout his native and neigh- boring towns as an honest, industrious and successful business man, and was held in high regard. Politically, he was a Whig, and later, a Democrat. He died June 6, 1875. On April 22, 1812, he married Rebecca Car- rier, who was born November 3, 1792, and died July 13, 1880. She was the second in order of birth in the family of three children born to Samuel and Abby ( Hyde) Carrier, the oth- ers being Astibulus, who married Electa Adams; and Matilda, who married Elias Loomis, of Colchester. They were descend- ants of Thomas Carrier, a native of Wales. To Sparrow and Rebecca (Carrier) Williams came the following children: (1) Abby Ma- ria, born October 17, 1813, married Avery Latham, of Columbia, Conn. (2) Sarah El- lis, born June 10, 1816, married Isaac H. Day, of Colchester, and both died in Portland. (3) Thomas Newell, born March 29, 1818, died September 22, 1887; his wife, Laura (Root), died early in 1885. (4) Dewitt Clin- ton is next in order of birth. (5) Charlotte Fidelia, born April 10, 1830, married Samuel N. Brainard, who died in 1893, leaving a widow and family residing in Colchester, viz., Roxie M. (deceased), Samuel N., Frederick W., Herbert Day and Herbert Day (2) (all three deceased), Stephen Day, and Charlotte Fidelia. (6) Electa Delucia, born July 10, 1832, married D. B. Clark, of Chatham.

Dewitt C. Williams was born in the town of Chatham February 26, 1825, and was edu- cated in the common schools. In 1850 he built the large and comfortable residence which has since been his home. At the age of eight- teen years he began life for himself as a lum- berman, in company with his father and brother, and ten years later purchased their in- terests in the business, which he carried on alone with marked success. He owned and op- erated a sawmill, being principally engaged in getting out railroad timber, but in times past has handled large quantities of ship timber, much of which was sold at East Haddam. Mr. Williams also engaged in farming, and to him tobacco raising proved a profitable branch of that business. Since 1890 he has been assisted in the business by his son. During the past thirty years he has done a very successful busi- ness in soliciting life insurance.

In June, 1850, Mr. Williams married Miss Fannie Selden, who was born March 1I, 1824, youngest child of Jonathan and Mahitable (Chapman) Selden, representatives of one of the early families of Haddam. Their other children were Robert, who died in Ohio: Maria; Edwin, who died young ; Emeline, wife of Stephen Brown; Joseph Edwin; Jerusha, deceased wife of Calvin Russell; and William Albert, a resident of Anna, Ill. Mr. and Mrs. D. C. Williams have only one child, Frank A., who was born June 10, 1858, and is now en- gaged in farming and lumbering. He married Alice Skinner, by whom he had two children, Jennie and one who died in infancy. His sec- ond union was with Edith Murkett, and they have three children : Alice D., born February 25, 1896; Edgar Dewitt, November 19, 1897; and Clinton Frank, February 26, 1901.

Originally Mr. Williams was a Whig in politics, and he is now a stanch Republican. He resided in the northern part of East Had- dam for a few years, and while there served as selectman, from 1858 to 1862. Both he and his wife are active members of the Congregational Church and the Patrons of Husbandry. Dur- ing his entire life Mr. Williams has taken an active interest in music, and although now well advanced in life his voice seems unimpaired, and he takes advantage of every opportunity to hear and assist in singing. At the age of four- teen he commenced singing in church, receiv- ing fifty cents each Sunday for his services, and led the singing in the Congregational Church of East Haddam for many years, often leading the singing to the present day. He also conducted singing schools in that place, as well as in Westchester and Colchester, and has ever been prominent in musical circles.

GILBERT STANCLIFF (deceased), than whom there was no better known or more high- ly respected resident of Portland, came from its oldest family. his ancestors having led the way in the development of the quarry indus- tries, which have made this section of the State familiar to all the Atlantic coast. Mr. Stancliff spent his entire life in Portland, and by far the greater part of his active years were passed in the quarries.

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COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

try to Middlesex county, and was the first white man to settle on the brown stone quarry grounds on the east side of the Connecticut river. He bought a tract of land, twenty-five rods square, May 2, 1690, and the next day he bought another piece of land farther up the hill, and on June 6th, of the same year, he bought six acres more. He built the first house in what is now Portland, and is supposed to have occupied it until 1720. In the year of his settlement he began the quarrying business, and in 1720 became so prosperous that he built a second and larger house on the six-acre tract. The house built in 1690 was the home of Gil- bert Stancliff, whose name introduces this ar- ticle. He was of the fifth generation to have lived in it, and it was his home until he was ten years old. The old house was torn down in 1840, and seven years later, together with other quarry land owned by the Stancliff family, be- came the property of the Brainerd Quarry Company.

James Stancliff, the emigrant, had a son and a grandson who bore his name and fol- lowed the quarry business. The first James Stancliff died in 1772; the second in 1778; and the third in 1831. A numerous family sprang from the old pioneer, and is scattered over the State. The family had seven representatives in the Revolutionary armies, whose names are recorded in the roll of honor at Hartford. One was taken prisoner, one died in the service, and five were honorably discharged. There was also a William Stancliff, the father of Comfort Stancliff. In all there are now eight genera- tions enumerated in Connecticut.

Gilbert Stancliff was born September 22. 1822, a son of Joseph and Electa ( Tennant) Stancliff, and a grandson of James and Mary ( Wells) Stancliff.

James Stancliff, of the third generation to bear the name, had his home on Congress street, near the old cemetery, and was one of the highly respected men of his day. Among the children born to him and his wife Mary Wells, were: Mary, who married Erastus Brainerd, one of the best known citizens of Portland, a great stone quarryman, and more than any other the leader of his day; George, a farmer, who lived on Gaines Hill, in Port- land, and died leaving one daughter. Ellen, who never married; Jerusha, who married a Mr. Dickinson, of Boston ; and Joseph, men-

tioned below. James Stancliff died in 1831.

Joseph Stancliff was born in old Chatham, now Portland, and died March 23. 1870. at the age of eighty-one. He married Electa Tennant, who died March 2, 1872. aged seventy-nine. Both were laid to rest in the. Episcopal ceme- tery. After his marriage, Joseph Stancliff set- tled in Middle Haddam, and he engaged in blacksmithing work in the shipyard at that point. When his brother-in-law, Erastus Brainerd, became interested in the Portland stone quarries, he came to Portland, and for a number of years was blacksmith at the quarry. Of his children, three were born in Middle Haddam: John, a well known marine artist, residing in Hartford, who died there leaving two sons, Charles and Trumbull; Charles, a competent architect and builder, and a practical carpenter and joiner, who died in Louisville, Ky., Jan. 10, 1873, leaving three children ; and George, a tinner and a stove dealer in Middle- town, later in New York, where he died. After the removal of the family to Portland, the fol- lowing children were born : Jerusha, who mar- ried Capt. George Hilliard, and died in Port- land ; Joseph, who was killed on Lake Erie by the explosion of steamer boilers, while he was coming home from Kentucky ( He left a widow, and one son, Gilbert M. ) ; Gilbert, men- tioned below; Laura, who married Joseph Williams, of Portland, in February, 187! ; Henry, a retired business man of Hartford ; William, who kept a livery stable in Port- land, and died there, in March, 1863. at the age of thirty years ; and Jane, who died unmarried, June 18, 1855, when nineteen years old. Jo- seph Stancliff was a Whig, and then became a Republican. He was a member of the Epis- copal Church, and a highly respected citizen in the community.

Gilbert Stancliff had a district-school edu- cation, and attended the old school on Mul- berry street, where Hiram Penfield was one of his earlier teachers." He finishe l at the Port- land Academy. when Archibald Kinney was the teacher in charge. When young Gilbert was sixteen he went into his father's shop. and when his father closed it, he went into the quarry. where he had a position as overseer. He was made an agent of the company, and for many years was one of the leading characters in the quarries of Portland. When he left the quarry. it was to retire from active life, and enjoy the

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fruits of industrious years. For many years he had been superintendent of the Brainerd quarry, and is said to have been the most effi- cient man who ever occupied that position. He died March 30, 1902. On December 24, 1845, Mr. Stancliff was united in marriage with Miss Elizabeth Perkins Southmayd, who was born in Middle Haddam, January II, 1826, a daughter of Jonathan B. and Emily (Griffith) Southmayd, a sketch of whom ap- pears elsewhere. Mrs. Stancliff came with her parents to Portland when she was fourteen years old, and this town has been her home to the present time. Mr. and Mrs. Stancliff were the parents of the following children : Char- lotte J., born October 3, 1847, married Emer- son O. Puffer, of Meriden; Irving S., August 12, 1853, lives in Denver; Emily G., October 12, 1856, married Frank Woods, of Meriden, and has one son, Arthur; Frederick H., of Portland, November 4, 1863, married Miss Anna Foster, and has two sons,-Gilbert F., (born May 25, 1885), and Francis Henry (January 2, 1902). Gilbert Stancliff and his wife were members of the Episcopal church. Politically Mr. Stancliff was a Republican, and socially he joined the local lodge of Odd Fel- lows when it was first started in Portland. The handsome house which the family use as a home is an octagonal structure of brown stone, and was erected by Gilbert Stancliff in 1855.

E. EMORY JOHNSON, one of the most prominent men in the manufacturing interests of Moodus, Middlesex county,-a gentleman of refinement, culture and travel,-is a native of that place, born May 23, 1841, son of Em- ory and Eliza A. (Card) Johnson.

Jared Johnson, his grandfather, was a na- tive ot Chatham, Conn., where he was reared. He married Sally, daughter of Joseph Ran- som. and to them were born: Emory, Sal- ly, John, Joseph F. and Mary.

Emory Johnson, father of E. Emory, was born near East Hampton, in Chatham, Au- gust II, 18:7, and attended school and worked upon the farm until he was sixteen. About 1833. he removed to East Haddam, near the present site of Johnsonville, where he worked at the trade of wagonmaking until he was twenty-two. At that time he entered the em- ploy of Card & Higgins, manufacturers of

cotton seine twine, etc. By careful manage- ment and great industry he accumulated a few hundred dollars and formed a partnership with Stanton S. Card, (his father-in-law ), Eli- jalı Spencer, Roswell Davison and Jonathan O. Cone, which continued several years very successfully under the firm name of Card & Co. In 1861 Mr. Johnson disposed of his interest in the company mill and purchased a new mill privilege, upon which site he erect- ed, in 1862, a factory which has since con- tinued in successful operation. Not long after the death of Mr. Card Mr. Johnson acquired possession of the lower mill, reconstructed it and fitted it up with all improved machinery and appliances, and entered into its eminently satisfactory operation.

On October 24, 1838, Emory Johnson married Eliza A. Card, by whom he had two children : E. Emory; and Stanton S., who was born March 10, 1851, and died July 20, 1871. The mother died April 10, 1882. Mr. Johnson's death occurred October 30, 1896. Although never taking an active part in poli- tics, Mr. Johnson was prevailed upon by his friends, in 1861, to be the Republican repre- sentative from his town in the State Assembly. For nearly forty years he took an active part in the work of the M. E. Church, was trustee, steward, and superintendent of the Sunday- school, and he was a man of the highest in- tegrity and most upright character. His life is best summed up in the statement, which could only be attained and kept by a fitting character, "he is an honest man."

E. Emory Johnson, our subject, attended the common schools of his native town until he was twelve years of age, when he went to Miss Wood's school, at Saybrook, then fa- mous, but long since abandoned. He then at- tended Chase's school, in Middletown, after which he passed two years at Wesleyan Acad- emy, completing his education in Union Col- lege, Schenectady, N. Y., from which he grad- uated in 1852. The succeeding fourteen months Mr. Johnson served as an officer of the United States Sanitary Commission, after which he returned to Moodus, and acted as his father's secretary, attending to the greater por- tion of the twine and cord business. Upon the death of his revered parent, he came into possession of the entire estate, and has since conducted the mills in his own name. His fac-

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tories are known as the Neptune Twine & Cord Mills, and were incorporated under that name in 1902. They are furnished with every mod- ern appliance, and employment is given to for- ty-four operatives. Not content with his du- ties at the factories, Mr. Johnson studied law wtih Judge William T. Elmer, of Middletown, was admitted to the Bar in 1878, and since then has followed the practice of his profes- sion, in conjunction with his manufacturing in- terests. In other matters he has been very active, having been the prime mover in the organization and chartering of the Moodus Savings Bank ; and in 1869 commenced the pub- lication of the Connecticut Valley Advertiser, first as a monthly, then as a weekly, disposing of it during his third year of ownership. In conjunction with his law practice Mr. Johnson was the founder of and represented through- out the United States, the Connecticut Law and Collection Bureau, and is very successful in this undertaking, as in all others. Believ- ing that workingmen can improve themselves, and that they should be given the opportunity of doing so, Mr. Johnson has provided a fine library, which was opened for the benefit of the Neptune Mill employes, and in fact for all mill employes in the town, in the fall of 1899. It contains about 3,000 volumes, classified un- der fiction, law, books of reference and miscel- laneous. There is a public free reading-room in connection, and mill employes, as well as all others, have free access. Library and read- ing rooms are open every day in the week.

In politics Mr. Johnson is a stanch Repub- lican, and in 1878-79 he represented his town in the Legislature; he was a member of the Ju- diciary committee, and chairman of several others. For twenty-eight years he has served as justice of the peace, and is still acting in that capacity. Taking a deep interest in all educational matters, Mr. Johnson has served most acceptably for many years upon the local school board. Fraternally he has been a Ma- son since 1868, belonging to Columbia Lodge, No. 26, East Haddam, and the Royal Arch Masons of Essex. He is also a member of the Berzelius Society, connected with Yale University, of New Haven. Mr. Johnson was chosen as the public orator best qualified to de- liver the Masonic Centennial address at the Opera House in East Haddam, Conn., in 189.4,

when he surpassed himself by his eloquence, rounded periods and masterful delivery. In 1878 Mr. Johnson made a most delightful trip throughout Europe, and again in 1880 he crossed the ocean in the interests of Thomas Cock & Son, the famous tourist agents of New York and London. Mr. Johnson is very liberal in his donations, and heartily endorses the good work accomplished by the various re- ligious organizations in his native town.

Mr. Johnson was married in New York State, to Josephine A. Calkins, now deceased, who bore him two children: Adelaide Joseph- ine, wife of Dr. Plumstead, of East Haddam; and Hattie Maud, wife of Thomas Bent, of Hartford, Conn. In 1896 Mr. Johnson mar- ried the accomplished Mrs. Elsie S. Talbot, and one daughter, Helen Forrester, born July 30, 1899, has been added to their happy home. Few men are able to do all things well. but Mr. Johnson is a living example that with perse- verance, ability and determination anything is possible. Successful as a manufacturer. an at- torney, a business man, as well as in social cir- cles, he has proven upon more than one occa- sion that the public platform has lost one who was destined to be a leader among those who have distinguished themselves by their elo- quence. This article is best concluded with the following taken from the Connecticut l'al- ley Advertiser, under date of September 21, 1900 (a supplement number ) :

The celebration of East Haddam's Bi-Centennial, and the formal transfer of the Nathan Hale school house from the New York Society of the Sons of the Revolu- tion to the Connecticut Society of the same order, were jointly celebrated in East Haddam on the 6th of June last. The celebration was the greatest in the history of the town. The morning exercises were begun in the Good- speed Opera House at 10:30. The exercises were opened with a prayer by Rev. Francis Parker of the first Congre- gational Church. Silas R. Holmes, chairman of the meeting, then made an address of welcome, in which he spoke of the town and its advancement. Rollin U. Tyler responded for Haddam and extended the greetings of the town. A paper by Judge Julius Attwood was read, in which he set forth the history of the school building and described the life of Hale and conditions under which he labored. Hon. E. Emory Johnson's address which was also delivered at the morning exercises. was the summary of the town's history. In it he set forth the early history of the town and told of its growth, and its early manufacturing influence. Ile also told of the progress, step by step, which the town has made to the present time. The founding of the churches and their various changes he also spoke of. The many manufactories and mills of the town, and their begin- nings and changes were told briefly by him. Mr. John- son also mentioned several well known families that had been and are now prominent in East Haddam and Mid-

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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 53

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