Commemorative biographical record of Middlesex County, Connecticut : containing biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens, and of many of the early settled families, Part 54

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 54

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COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

dlesex county, and whose lives were interwoven in the interests and history of East Haddam.

Interspersed among the addresses were patriotic music selections by the school children, and poems were read. Shortly before eleven o'clock the First Company, Governors Foot Guards of Hartford, with ex-Governor Bulkeley and ex-Governor Coffin, arrived. With them were also Governor Lounsbury's staff and Brigadier Gen- eral Frost of the Connecticut National Guard and his staff, and many distinguished people, members of the Connecticut and New York Societies of the Sons of the Revolution and Sons of the American Revolution. The celebration passed off without any incident to mar it in the least, and will long be remembered.

STANTON S. CARD, in his lifetime one of the esteemed and progressive business men of Moodus, Middlesex county, was a leader in the manufacturing interests of the place, and was born in Sterling, Conn., a son of Stanton and Elsie Card, and a grandson of Styles Card.

Stanton Card, the father, was born Septem- ber 27, 1768, and his wife Elsie was born Sep- tember 26, 1770. To them came Styles Stan- ton (who always wrote his name Stanton S.), born December 26, 1790; Elsie, January 12, 1793; John D., December 8, 1795; Johiel P., November 23, 1798; Sally B., April 14, 1800; Cyrus W., July 18, 1803; Nathaniel P., Octo- ber 4, 1805; Jason L., September 19, 1808; Hannah E., January 15, 1812; and Mary S., May 14, 1815.

Stanton S. Card came to East Haddam in 1821, and entered the service of the Smith Manufacturing Company, as a machinist. Al- though not a man of education, Mr. Card was possessed of unusual business ability, and in time became the proprietor of the entire plant. At this time, a man by the name of George Higgins owned and operated a gristmill where the Red Mill was afterward located, but it was purchased in 1826, by Ebenezer Nichols, who erected the first cotton factory, and he and Mr. Higgins became partners of Mr. Card. This partnership was continued successfully until 1830, when Mr. Nichols purchased the interest of the other two men. Mr. Higgins and Mr. Card then purchased the site now oc- cupied by the lower Neptune Mill, and erected thereon a mill for the manufacture of seine twine. This mill, completed in the spring of 1832, was 36x40 feet, and three stories high. Here Messrs. Card and Higgins continued the business for manufacturing cotton, wrapping twines, stocking yarns, etc. In 1840 Emory Johnson and Jonathan O. Cone, sons-in-law of Mr. Card, became partners and the firm name

was changed to Card & Co. In 1846 Mr. Higgins retired from the firm, and Elijah Spencer and Roswell Davison were admitted. In 1845 another mill was built, which is now owned and occupied by A. E. Purple. Three or four years later Mr. Davison sold his in- terest in the company, and in November, 1861, Mr. Spencer died, leaving the firm composed of Messrs. Card, Johnson and Cone. Mr. Card had erected a grist and saw mill in the upper part of the town during these years. In 1849 the lower mill was enlarged by the addi- tion of twenty feet to the main structure. In 1867 Mr. Card died, and the lower mill came under the management of Emory Johnson, the upper mill going to Jonathan Cone, who soon after sold his interest to A. E. Purple, its pres- ent owner.

In the death of Mr. Card East Haddam and Middlesex county lost a public-spirited citizen, a loyal and true friend, and his family a lov- ing member. Although many years have passed since his demise his memory is held in tender remembrance, and will be as long as the mark of his enterprise endures in the com- munity he worked so hard to improve.

CAPT. HENRY E. MAY is one of the best known and most highly regarded citizens of Higganum, Middlesex county. His grand- father, John May, was a resident of the south- ern part of the town of Haddam. By calling he was a sea captain, and he died on the water, of yellow fever, on July 31, 1811. He was born in 1758. On November 8, 1789, he was married to Dorothy Arnold, and to them were born children as follows, all now deceased; Janet, who married Linus Parmelee; John, the father of our subject; Edwin, who became a merchant in Augusta, Ga .; Dorothy, who died in December, 1888; and Alexander, a sailor.

John May, the father of our subject, was born in Haddam August 8, 1792, and died Au- gust 27, 1859. Mr. May grew up in the town of his birth and received a common school edu- cation. His first marriage was to Eliza Ann Clark, who died leaving one son, John, who died at the age of ten years. The second mar- riage of Mr. May was to Emma Elliott, who was born in 1808, in East Haddam, lived in Washington, D. C., and died December 20, 1853. She was a daughter of Lynde Elliott,

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who was in the sixth generation from Rev. John Eliot, the apostle to the Indians. To this marriage came : Lynde Elliott, born January 31, 1836, died September 13, 1859; Elizabeth, born June 9, 1837, died June 28, 1864; Henry Edwin, our subject, was born February 17, 1839 ; Statira Emma, born December 29, 1840. is the widow of David Huntington, of Hig- ganum; Richard E., born March 28, 1843, married Viola E. Bailey and resides in Hig- ganum; Sarah Boardman, born March 18, 1845, died March 21, 1853; John, born Octo- ber 10, 1846, married Fannie O. Stephens, of Killingworth, Conn., resided at Higganum, and died in May, 1888; Dorothy Catherine, born February 25, died on July 3, 1853.

In early life John May was a clerk in a store in Higganum, and later embarked' in mercantile business for himself. His taste was for the sea, however, and he built vessels in the Connecticut river, in front of his home, sold them and also sent vessels to the South- ern seas, one of them being lost on the South- ern coast. Our subject has no knowledge of this business of his father, as it was discon- tinued before his time of recollection. The locality was a busy place, four vessels being built there in one season, two by the Childs Brothers, and two by the Mays. Later in life Mr. May also relinquished his mercantile in- terests, employing himself chiefly with farm- ing. Never a politician, he always took an in- telligent interest, however, in public affairs, voting in early days with the Whigs, later with the Republicans. In the Congregational Church he was an active and valued member.

The birthplace of our subject was in Hig- ganum, and he was a schoolmate in the dis- trict schools and Brainerd Academy with many other citizens of the place who have made names for themselves in various walks of life. In his time Mr. Shaw, Mr. Bowen and Mr. Payne were the teachers at the academy, which was located more than two miles from the May home, necessitating a long walk. In 1856 Capt. May went West as far as Dubuque, Iowa, but remained only a short time, return- ing to the old home town, led toward the water by inheritance. When only fifteen years old he had shipped on the "Ethan Allen," of Essex, and remained from home for three weeks, a great achievement for one of his ycars. For a number of succeeding years he

was confined to the farm, but engaged in shad fishing on the Connecticut river. In 1856, when he returned from the West, he obtained a position on the propeller "Parthenia." For eight years he was employed in the Portland service, going as far south as Baltimore on the "Celestia," as master, in 1865: in 1866, as master on the "River Queen;" and in 1867 as master on the "Joseph Rogers," which he continued to command for three years. In 1870 he was made captain of the tug "H. W. Hills," and towed on the river. Capt. May had charge of the building of the "M. R. Bra- zos" and ran it from Hartford to Amboy, N. J., for nine years, engaged in towing; and built the tug "Mable," in Philadelphia. Capt. May had stock in all of these vessels, which he sold in 1882.

In the spring of 1883 the Captain took charge of the steamer "Middlesex," in which position he continued for four years, follow- ing this engagement with one on the passenger steamer "City of Richmond," of the New York & Hartford Transportation Company, continuing to the time she burned at her dock in New York, in March, 1891. He superin- tended the building of the steamer : "Hart- ford," and ran her until November, 1892, in 1893 taking charge of the "Clifford," through the Sound, and for the last two seasons be- ing master of yachts.

Capt. May was married in September, 1860, to Abbie Sophia Brainerd. a daughter of Epaphro and Harriet (Cole) Brainerd. who were married July 22, 1825, and whose children were: Albert, Cordelia, Francis, Lyman, Julia, Marion, AAbigail ( Mrs. May) and Albert. Epaphro Brainerd. the father. was born July 8, 1795, and died July 4, 1849: the mother, born February 9, 1802, died Feb- ruary 1, 1893. To our subject and wife were born: (1) Dorothy Catherine, born June 22. 1861, married October 22, 1890. Winfield Scott Hotchkiss, and they reside in Yales- ville, Conn., with their children. Agnes May, Dwight Edwin. Roy Francis and Emily So- phia. (2) Edwin Sekden, born November 26, 1865. attended the Smith school in Middle- town, and took a business course at Hartford. Conn., passing examinations with such a fine record that his employer. Mr. Mix, drove twenty miles to offer him the position of book- keeper, which he satisfactorily filled, and he is

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now the superintendent of G. I. Mix & Co., manufacturers, Yalesville, Conn., where he re- sides. He married June 15, 1887, Hattie Dur- rie Tarbell, and their children are: Ethel Dur- rie, Elliott John, Ruth Hubbard, Dorothy Em- ma and Lynde Henry. (3) Lynde Elliott, born April 23, 1870, is a conductor on the Consolid- ated Railroad, between Waterbury and New Haven ; he lives in Hartford. He was married October 21, 1891, to Annie Florence Pimm, and has one son, Edwin Highland. (4) Henry Alexander, born June 17, 1876, is also in the employ of the Consolidated Railroad. He was married November 15, 1899, to Jen- nie May Hartman, of Middletown, Conn., and has one child, Charles Huntington.

An ardent Republican, Capt. May takes an active interest in the political affairs of his country and town, and represented his town in the Legislature in 1897, serving on the com- mittee on Claims. This session was consid- ered by the press of the State "as one of the most careful and conscientious Legislatures . that ever transacted business in the State." The New Haven Register said, "upon the whole it was the ablest and most efficient Connecticut has had in a quarter of a cen- tury. Its work has been in the sum total for the good of the State."

The family are members of the Congrega- tional Church, in which Capt. May takes a deep interest, and he was for some time treas- urer of the church society. He is respected highly and his record for ability and judgment in the management of water craft of all kinds, secures for him the confidence and esteem of the public and assists in his deserved popularity.

THOMAS M. DURFEE has had an event- ful life. He has passed the age of three-score years and five, and is to-day as young, in both mind and body, as are many men just stand- ing upon the threshold of middle life. Through direct descent and ancestral inter-marriage he is connected with many of the pioneer fami- lies of New England, some of whom were prominently identified with the inception of cotton manufacture ; among them are the Bor- dens, the Arnolds and the Hathaways. Thomas M. Durfee claims direct descent through five antecedent generations from Thomas, the earliest American progenitor of the line, who crossed the water from England

in 1660, when a youth of seventeen years. He settled at Portsmouth, R. I., and died there in 1712. He was the father of Benjamin, and the latter in turn, of Thomas, who was born November 5, 1721. Thomas was married, in 1747, to Patience Borden. Their son Charles, the grandfather of Thomas M. Durfee, was born November 20, 1761 ; he married Wealthy Hathaway, and was the father of Gilbert H., who came into the world on May 7, 1808, and married Mary A. Arnold, and of this union was born Thomas M., with whose life history and career this narrative has chiefly to do.

Gilbert H. Durfee was a resident of Fall River, Mass., and a citizen of substance and in- fluence. In 1836 he was elected a member of the Massachusetts Legislature, and from 1837 to 1841 was inspector of weights and measures in the customs service. Reference has been already made to his marriage to Miss Mary A. Arnold. Their union was solemn- ized on December 10, 1832, at Providence, R. I., and Thomas M. was their only child.

To return to the gentleman whose name heads this biography is a task of interest to chronicler and reader alike. He was born at Fall River, Mass., on April 22, 1835, and was educated in the public schools of his native town and at a private school known as "Wood- bury Cottage," conducted by Rev. Mr. Gould, a Congregational clergyman, at Fair Haven, Mass. His school days came to an end when he was a boy of fifteen years, yet he remem- bers with gratification that he was a school- mate of Cornelius N. Bliss, who has since achieved a national reputation as a statesman and financier. He had scarcely left school when he was offered an opportunity to visit foreign lands on a vessel whose captain was a friend of the family. He sailed around Cape Horn, and reached California when the "gold- fever" was at its height. The officers and crew, almost to a man, deserted, and one morn- ing, at sunrise the new sailor, who had his first experience on salt water during that long ted- ious, trying voyage, awoke to find himself alone on the vessel whose deck he had walked for six long weary months. Hailing one of the craft plying in the Bay of San Francisco, he succeeded in being put ashore, landing on the beach (there being no wharf at San Fran- cisco), with but two dollars and fifty cents in his pocket. Hungry, yet with modest ideas

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as to his expenditures, he entered one of the eating houses which, sheltered in tents, were preying upon the confidence and the slender resources of the constantly arriving immi- grants. For a piece of leathery beefsteak, a sodden potato, a slice of bread and a cup of coffee the charge was three dollars. The pro- prietor, on being informed that the entire cash resources of his guest did not exceed the sum already named, magnanimously accepted his entire capital, little caring for the "ups and downs," the future successes or reverses, of the young stranger whom he had thus villain- ously robbed. . Penniless, yet not disheart- ened, young Durfee strolled around the streets of what then appeared to be a "mushroom" town. Not in vain, however, had he inherited through five generations, the power of phleg- matic indifference, of patient endurance, of in- extinguishable hope, and of constant watchful- ness. In fact, hope and "grit" constituted his entire capital. Strolling up Stockton street his eye chanced to rest upon a sign over a hostelry, "Fall River Boarding House." The simple words at once appealed to his memories of home, and upon entering he found men from his native town. Pleased as he was to greet them, he sought no favors. He owned not one cent, but he had youth, health, resolution and pluck. Labor was in demand, and he accepted the first task which offered-that of the driver of a mule cart. Not long afterward, with the aid of Mr. Winchester ( an immigrant from Fall River, who subsequently became a multimil- lionaire), he was enabled to start in business as a drayman. 'At that time there was an abund- ance of hauling to do, and teamsters were wont to charge prices which to-day would seem cer- tainly exorbitant, if not positively fabulous. To illustrate: It was not an unusual occur- rence for the young drayman, with an outfit which would today be considered scarcely worthy of notice, to earn fifty dollars before cating his breakfast. Profitable as the busi- ness was, however, it was not consonant with his taste, and after accumulating a small capi- tal he abandoned his profitable business to seek wealth in the mines, and he followed the occu- pation of a miner some years. He was of- fered a position with a Mr. Gardiner, a mer- chant in Sacramento, who was under obliga- tions to Mr. Durfee's family, and a former Fall River ( Mass. ) man. This Mr. Gardiner was

instrumental in having Mr. Durfee pay a visit to his people back in Fall River, which at the time was intended to be but a temporary ab- scence, but later developments made it a per- manent one. Mr. Durfee's residence on the Pa- cific coast was full of interest and replete with eventful experience. Reaching California when the "gold fever" was at its height, when money was easily earned or won, and as quick- ly spent or squandered, he saw life in its brightest and darkest phases alike. He re- mained on the Pacific coast, with varying for- tunes, for ten years, and in December, 1860, started homeward by way of the Isthmus. Gen. John C. Fremont was a passenger on the same vessel, and his meeting with the great ex- plorer, who was also the first Republican can- didate for the Presidency, will always remain one of the cherished recollections of his life.

Mr. Durfee reached Fall River in January, 1861. He had not been at home many months before the enforced striking of the Na- tional ensign in the harbor of Charleston aroused the entire North. A meeting of the patriotic citizens of Fall River was promptly called, at which meeting Matthew D. Borden. then a college student, made the address, and a roll of volunteers was signed at the town hall in that historic town. The name of James Buf- fington was first on the list, and following his came that of Thomas M. Durfee. Both were members of Company A, Seventh Massachu- setts Infantry, which was enrolled on April 25, 1861, and mustered into service on June 15th following, immediately after President Lincoln's first call for volunteers. This pat- riotic spirit of Mr. Durfee changed his entire future, as he otherwise would have returned to California. On August 12, 1863. he was transferred to the Signal Corps, at Washing- ton, under Capts. E. 11. Russell and Paul Bro- die, and there remained until his first term of enlistment expired. He re-enlisted February 20, 1864. From March 8th until April 29th of that year he was detailed on recruiting service at Boston. He was honorably discharged from the service, with the rank of first ser- geant July 17, 1865, his discharge being unex- pectedly brought to him by his wife, who ap- plied for it in person to President Jolinson. While in the service Sergeant Durfee partici- pated in the battles of Williamsburg. Fair Oaks, Seven Pines. Oak Grove, Charles City

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COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

Cross Roads, Fair Oaks 2nd, White Oak Swamp, Malvern Hill, Antietam and Freder- icksburg.

Upon leaving the army Mr. Durfee entered the law office of Childs & Powers, of Boston, as a clerk. In 1867 he went to Rockville, Conn., where he became identified with the Rock Manufacturing Co., serving as treasurer for some time, his entire connection with the company extending over a period of thirteen years. Resigning the treasurership ne went to Montana, where for a few years he was en- gaged in mining. He returned to Connecticut, however, and on May 1, 1889, he was appoint- ed steward of the Connecticut Hospital for the Insane at Middletown, and later Business Manager, the grave and responsible duties of which positions he discharges with rare abil- ity and fidelity. He is a lifelong Republican, and fraternally is a member of Mansfield Post, G. A. R., as well as of St. John's Lodge, A. F. & A. M., Washington Chapter, R. A. M., and Cyrene Commandery, K. T.

Mr. Durfee has been twice married. His first wife was Miss Eveline C., a daughter of Capt. James and Betsey Darling, of Bristol, R. I., in which city their nuptials were solemnized on March 16, 1864. The first Mrs. Durfee died in Rockville December 26, 1874. On Jan- uary 4, 1876, Mr. Durfee led to the altar, at Rockville, Miss Harriet Eliza Selden, who was born at West Hartford, Conn., March 9, 1845. She is a daughter of Henry Selden and a granddaughter of Deacon Hezekiah Selden, and her paternal grandmother was Eunice Stanley, who belonged to the fifth generation, in direct lineal descent, from John Stanley, the American progenitor of the house, who came to New England in 1634, the line running from John through John (second), Samuel (first), Samuel (second), and Amaziah, to Eunice. Mrs. Durfee's mother's maiden name was Harriet Hurlburt Goodman. She was a. daughter of Moses Goodman (captain in the war of 1812), and Harriet Hurlburt, the former a son of Deacon Moses, a soldier in the War of the Revolution, carrying a captain's commission, and later Adjutant in Col. Wyllys' Regiment ; also descended from Capt. Joseph Wadsworth of Charter memory. Through her mother's family, the Goodmans, Mrs. Dur- fee traces her descent from one of the band of Puritan settlers who crossed the ocean in the

"Mayflower" and landed at Plymouth Rock in 1620. She is a member of Wadsworth Chap- ter, D. A. R., and is eligible to membership in the most exclusive Colonial societies. She also takes a deep interest in the work of the Woman's Relief Corps, of which she is an ac- tive and honored member, having served as President of the State body and held various offices in the national organization. She is a member of the North Congregational Church.

CHARLES CHAPMAN. The Chapman family of Old Saybrook, Middlesex county, were among the earliest settlers in that lo- cality. The name Chapman is of Saxon origin, the early spelling being Ceapman, meaning a chapman, a marketman, a manager or mer- chant. The name Chapman occurs among the earliest English surnames, and the family, in many of its various branches, became some- what distinguished at an early day.

Robert Chapman, the settler, was a native of Yorkshire, England, coming in 1635 from Hull, from which place he sailed in company with Lion Gardiner, for Saybrook, on Novem- ber 3d, as one of the company of twenty men who were sent over by Sir Richard Saltonstall to take possession of a large tract of land and make settlements near the mouth of the Con- necticut river, under the patent of Lord Say and Seal. He is supposed to have been at that time about eighteen years of age. Among his personal friends was reckoned Col. John Fen- wick, from the town of Fenwick, in Old Saybrook. That Robert Chapman became a man of influence in the town is evident from the fact that for many years he held the office of clerk, was also clerk of the Oyster River Quarter, and filled many im- portant stations. For many years he was com- missioner of Saybrook, and he was elected their deputy to the General Court, at Hart- ford, forty-three times, and as assistant nine times, his service as deputy coming between September 14, 1654, and October 14, 1680, and as assistant between May 16, 1661, and Oc- tober 14, 1684. Settling upon a tract of land in Oyster River, about two miles west of the Connecticut river, in Saybrook, he became a very large landholder in Saybrook and also in East Haddam. The marriage of this early an- cestor, solemnized in 1642, was to Ann Blith, or Bliss. He died in 1687, and she in 1685.

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Their family: John, Robert, Anna, Hannah, Nathaniel, Mary and Sarah.

Robert Chapman (2), second son of Rob- ert, was born at Saybrook, and was extensively engaged in agriculture, owning at the time of his decease not less than two thousand acres of land in Saybrook, East Haddam and Hebron. He was a man of extensive influence in civil affairs, for many years was clerk of the Oyster River Quarter, and was commissioner and sur- veyor for the town of Saybrook. Elected as representative to the Legislature, he filled that office for eighteen sessions, from 1692 to 171I. In the Congregational Church he was also prominent. His death occurred suddenly, while he was in the courtroom at Hartford, soon after the opening of the November session, in 1711, and he is buried in the rear of Centre Church, in Hartford. His first marriage was to Sarah, daughter of Lieut. Francis Griswold, of Norwich, and by her he had nine children. She passed away April 7, 1692. His second marriage was to Mary Sheater, widow of Sam- uel Sheater, of Killingworth. The children born of these unions were: Samuel, Robert, Sarah, Francis, Dorcas, Stephen, Sarah, two that died in infancy, Benjamin, Mehetable, Stephen and Abigail.

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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 54

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