Commemorative biographical record of Middlesex County, Connecticut : containing biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens, and of many of the early settled families, Part 56

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 56

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Arthur Boardman was born in Middle- town, Westfield Parish, Middlesex county, April 28, 1839, a son of William Frederic and Lucy Ann ( Wilcox) Boardman, the former of whom died in 1847, and the latter in 1843. Our subject was their only child who lived to adult age. In the district school in Westfield Parish, he began his education, but in 1847, he came to Cromwell, to live with his uncle and guardian, Selden G. Ely, with whom he re- mained until he was twenty-one, and he con- fessed lasting obligations to the stern discipline the uncle maintained in his house and home. In Cromwell he attended district school, and here Evelyn Hutchinson, now the wife of Cephas Brainard, a prominent attorney of New York city, was his first teacher. At Nor- wich, Conn., he attended the Normal Semin- ary for one year, Rev. T. D. P. Stone, princi- pal (and former principal of the State Nor- mal School at New Britain), and for two years attended the Mineral Spring Institute of Cromwell, taught by Ebenezer Beckwith, a graduate of Yale. Reared a farmer boy, young Boardman had a practical knowledge of life, and was always busy. Under Isaac Baldwin he learned the trade of carpenter and joiner in Middletown, and afterward worked for D. C. Tryon of Cromwell, and for others in Hartford, Conn., in the same line.

To Mr. Boardman belongs the honor of being the first man from Cromwell to enlist for the defense of the Union in the Civil war. He enlisted in Hartford for three months in Rifle Company A, Third Connecticut Volun- teer Infantry, April 25, 1861, a few days after the firing on Fort Sumter, and was mustered out at Hartford August 12, 1861. On Au- gust II, 1862, he re-enlisted in Company K, Twentieth Connecticut Volunteer Infantry, for a period of three years. Wounded in the first battle of Bull Run, he recovered, and took

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part in the memorable engagements at Chan- cellorsville and Gettysburg, participating in all in more than eighteen hard-fought engage- ments. Mr. Boardman's service in the two regiments up to September 25, 1863, was with the Army of the Potomac, aterwards with the Army of the Cumberland, and Army of Geor- gia, respectively, and he was with General Sherman in his famous March to the Sea. He was on the Brigade Staff of both Brig. Gens. Samuel Ross and John Coburn, where he served as commander of the Pioneer Corps of the Second Brigade, Third Division, Twen- tieth Army Corps. This regiment was trans- ferred to the Third Brigade, same division, and Mr. Boardman was consequently relieved from his command with commendation for service by Gen. John Coburn, then in command of the Brigade. Mr. Boardman was promoted sev- eral times for gallant service, and was mus- tered out, at Washington, June 13, 1865, with the rank of first lieutenant, having been com- mended by his ranking officers for gallantry in the field, and for an intelligent understand- ing and faithful discharge of the general duties of the soldier in camp life.

After Lieutenant Boardman returned from the war he followed the builders trade in Hart- ford, and in 1868 he came to Cromwell, and bought from his uncle the estate where he now resides, also carrying on farming for his uncle, Selden G. Ely, and on his decease for his widow, in connection with his own work. Sel- dom is there found in any community a man whose friends are more universal than those Mr. Boardman possesses. He is a substantial citizen of the town, plain and unassuming, but thoroughly efficient. He was noted as one of the most extensive tobacco raisers in the State until 1883, but that year retired from that line. With very substantial improvements on his place, it is one of the elegant country homes of the town.

In his religious belief Mr. Boardman is a member of the Baptist Church, a promi- nent man in that denomination, holding the office of trustee, and he has been clerk since January 18, 1870, and he has served as a Dea- con of the body since October 4, 1874. Mrs. Boardman is also a member of the Church, and with her husband takes a special interest in the auxiliary societies therewith connected. Socially Mr. Boardman was a charter i11em- 20

ber of Crown Temple, No. 9. Temple of Honor, and was its first worthy chief, and he also be- longs to the Cromwell Grange. He is secre- tary and treasurer of the Cromwell Cemetery Association, and of the United Association.

On August 21, 1862, Mr. Boardman was married to Miss Maria E. Paddock, who was born January 28, 1841, daughter of Seth J. and Lucinda (Kenyon) Paddock. Mrs. Boardman received a good education in the school conducted by Mr. Beckwith in Crom- well, and has drawn to her a circle of cultured friends. The marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Boardman has been blessed with children as follows: (I) Frank Crawford, born October 10, 1866, in Hartford, Conn., is a graduate of the Yale School of Fine Arts ; he has studied abroad in Paris, and holds a prominent place among American artists. (2) Charlotte Hall, born May II, 1869, died June 21, 1875. (3) Arthur Howard, born October 15, 1870, is now a deputy sheriff of the county, a collector of taxes, also Registrar of Voters in Crom- well. (4) May Wilcox and (5) Wallace Sel- den (twins), born December 9, 1875. May W., married June 4, 1896, George W. Brewer, now depot agent at Pomperaug Valley station, Highland Division, New York, New Haven & Hartford R. R., and lives in Southbury, Conn. Mrs. Brewer attended the Boston Con- servatory of Music, and is a musician of far more than ordinary ability. She is the mother of two children, Grace Anna, born August 22. 1897, and Howard George, born January 26, 1899. Wallace Selden graduated with hon- or, in the class of 1901, from Wesleyan Uni- versity, Middletown, and is now attending the Rochester Theological Seminary, in prepara- tion for the ministry.

James Paddock, the grandfather of Mrs. Boardman, was born July 5, 1784. He mar- ried Grace Roberts, who was born January 26, 1784, and to them were born the following children: (1) Jonathan R., born November 9. 1803, was a prominent physician in Mays- ville, Ky., and his daughter Jane, by his first wife, married Congressman Phister, of that State. (2) Daniel Il., born September 29, 1805. died in Cromwell: (3) Seth J. is men- tioned below : (4) Maria. born December 16. 1813. married Daniel Bailey, and is deceased. Seth J. Paddock, father of Mrs. Boardman. was born November 22, 1810, and died May

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COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

12, 1888. From the time he was four years old he made his home in Cromwell, where he engaged as a farmer and builder. On December 4, 1833, he married Lucinda Kenyon who was born December 9, 1807, and is still living. The children born of this union were as follows: (I) Luman, born February 27, 1837, was a member of Company A, Twenty-fourth Connecticut Volunteer In- fantry, during the Civil war, and died in the service at Donaldsonville, La .; (2) Catherine, born January 21, 1839, is the widow of Charles Stevens, and lives in Cromwell at the paternal home caring for her aged mother in her de- clining years. (3) Sherman, born February 27, 1840, was in Company K, Twentieth Con- necticut Volunteer Infantry, and is now a builder at Caldwell, N. J .; (4) Maria is Mrs. Arthur Boardman, of Cromwell; (5) Hannah born March 10, 1843, is now Mrs. Albert L. Congdon, of Middletown; (6) Emma, born September 2, 1845, married Charles W. Bacon, of Middletown; and (7) Seth, born January 24, 1848, is a farmer, and lives on the home- stead of his grandfather, the late James Paddock in Cromwell.

ERASTUS W. DANIELS (deceased) was one of the substantial citizens of East Hampton, Middlesex county, where he en- joyed the high regard of the community. His ancestors as far back as his great-grandfa- ther, Lemuel Daniels, were also born and reared there. Amasa Daniel, son of Lemuel, was born February 14, 1776, and on May 15, 1798, married Mary Shepherd. To this union were born: Bartlett; Nelson; Marietta, now the widow of Dr. Frank Edgerton, of East Hampton ; Elmira, who married Thomas Sel- ler; and Adeline, who married William Young.

Bartlett Daniels was born in the town of Chatham February 26, 1799, and married Florilla Fuller, who was born July 2, 1800. Their children were: Frances, who married David Strong, of East Hampton, and is now deceased ; Erastus W .; Elmira, who married A. B. White, of West Hartford, Conn .; and Emily, who is the widow of Jerome Alvord, of East Hampton. Bartlett Daniels was born just south of the village, on the property now owned and occupied by Henry B. Brown. His whole life was spent in the town of Chatham.

where he was well known as a successful farm- er, and a worthy and consistent member of the Congregational Church. His death took place April 25, 1878, his wife dying in August, 1880. Though a prominent man in many ways, and an active Democrat all his life, he would never accept office.

Erastus W. Daniels was born January 28, 1833, on the old farm in East Hampton, now owned and occupied by Henry F. Seller. When he was two years old the family moved to the southern part of the town and settled on the grandfather's property, and there our sub- ject grew to maturity and remained. His ed- ucational advantages were confined to those provided by the district schools, and early in life he engaged in agricultural pursuits, in combination with work in lumber. This was a sensible procedure, as later the farm of 250 acres, which had been in the Daniels family for several generations came into his posses- sion, and he was prepared for its efficient man- agement. Mr. Daniels added some 100 acres to the original tract, and devoted his time prin- cipally to lumbering, hauling his product to East Hampton, where it was shipped to other points. When ship building was at its height in Portland, lie sold quantities of ship tim'ber to the Gildersleeves, and one autumn, recently, sold 140,000 feet. He employed large crews of men in the woods through certain seasons of the year, and also carried on extensive farming operations, besides raising some fine stock. As one of the special features of his fine farm, his orchards became celebrated for supplying a superior article of cider that could not be excelled in the market.

Mr. Daniels was married (first) in East Hampton, to Julia, daughter of Stephen and Emeline (Selden) Brown, and to this union was born one son, Julian E., whose death was caused by the cars, in Cadillac, Mich., November 25, 1877, when he was aged twenty years. For his second wife, Mr. Daniels mar- ried Martha E. Selden, daughter of Augus- tus and Nancy Selden; she died leaving one son, Frank L., who married Minnie Little, of Sussex, New Brunswick, September 5, 1899. and lives in North Manchester, this State.

The farm on which Mr. Daniels spent al- most his entire life and where he died Feb- ruary 28, 1900, was cleared by his great "grand- father, and the old house in which he lived is

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one of the relics of Colonial days. It was built in 1772, and is still in a fine state of pres- ervation, putting to shame many more ornate buildings erected a century later. One of the noticeable features of the old mansion is its electric lighting, and it is probably the only. country home so fitted in its locality. The supply is obtained from the Leesville Water plant, whose wires to East Hampton pass by the door.

As the representative of an old and honored family, Mr. Daniels possessed the respect of the entire community, while his personal char- acter won the esteem of all with whom he came in contact. His kindness and generosity were well known throughout the neighborhood and no one had a wider circle of personal friends.

ALEXANDER HALE was born in Port- land, Middlesex county, January 1, 1834, and is a son of Alexander and Annie (Strickland) Hale. His father was a farmer and carpenter, and worked in the shipyards at Gildersleeve. He died when fifty-seven years of age, while his widow lived to the age of ninety-five years and seven months. They were buried in Cen- ter cemetery, in the town of Portland. Mr. Hale was a hard-working man, and made his own way in the world against great obstacles. He was a Democrat, but though he took an in- terest in politics was never in any sense a pol- itician or office seeker. In his family were children as follows: Daniel died in Hartford, where he had been a bricklayer, and was in his later years a farmer. Harriet married Capt. Harley Case, and died in Portland. Eliza married John H. Thomas, of New Haven, and died in that city. John went to Illinois and died there. Seth died in East Hartford, Conn. Vienna married Thomas Baker, and died in Portland. Lucy married Thomas Baker, after the death of her sister, and died in Illinois. Alexander is the subject of this article. Mrs. Annie (Strickland) Hale came of a family noted for longevity, and, as above related. reached the great age of ninety-five years. Her sister Asenith died at the age of ninety- four years and seven months her sister Amy at the age of ninety-seven.

Alexander Hale attended district school in Portland, and Mr. Rathbone and Mr. Lord are remembered among his teachers. He was

reared a farmer boy, and when his father died ne was a stout and ambitious lad of sixteen1 years of age. He sought work with Noah Try- on, on a farm in Glastonbury, and received nine dollars per month for his labors. When he was eighteen years of age he went West, to Illinois and Wisconsin, and spent a year in that section of the country. He concluded that Connecticut was a better land for him, and accordingly returned- to his native heath, and began farming on the old Seth Strickland homestead, where several of his mother's sis- ters were then living. He cultivated this place on shares until April, 1898, when he bought the farm, which he had tilled forty-four years. He also owns a farm adjoining the old Strick- land home, where he lived for some sixteen years or more.

Mr. Hale was married when he was twenty- eight years old to Miss Arvilla Reeves, of Portland, daughter of Samuel and Lucy (Clark) Reeves. She has been a good wife and helpful to her husband. They have had children as follows: Alice, who married Al- fred Post, of Portland; Harry Arthur, who lived at Syracuse, N. Y., where he died aged thirty-three years; Grace, who married Elmer Hale, of Hazardville, Conn .; Clifford, a farm- er ; and Bertha and Howard, at home. Polit- ically Mr. Hale is a Democrat, and is regarded as a good citizen and has been reliable and hon- orable throughout his career. The church close to the old homestead of our subject stands on land given by Mr. Hale's Grandmother Strick- land. It has been closed for years and belongs to the cemetery association, being opened only for funerals or affairs connected with the in- terests of that body.

SETH CROWELL (deceased) was a highly respected citizen of Durham, Middle- sex county, at which place his death occurred March 22, 1896. He was born February 16. 1820, in the West Long Hill District of Mid- lletown, a son of Seth and Phebe ( Birdsey) Crowell. The family is mentioned further in the sketch of Daniel Crowell.

Seth Crowell's early life was spent after the manner of the farmer boy of that period. He attended school only in the winter season, the summer time being devoted to hard work on his father's farm. He remained with his father at home until after the latter's death, and

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then purchased the farm of the other heirs, and for many years was quite successfully en- gaged in farming. He also, during this time, engaged in getting out timber in a small way, and for several years was interested in the livery business with John Coe, his nephew, in Middletown. He disposed of the farm at West Long Hill, and in May, 1867, located at Durham, on the property known as the Guernsey Camp place, which Mr. Crowell pur- chased from S. S. Scranton. There he resided until his death. He was engaged in farming and in the livery business, and was very suc- cessful. At this time the village had no hotel, and Mr. Crowell, being of a very hospitable nature, opened his nice large home for the ac- commodation of the traveling public, his house being a sort of private hotel ; he never hung out a sign. He never sold liquor, nor used liquor or tobacco in any form. As he was very liberal, it was not unusual for his generosity to be imposed upon, but no worthy individual ever went away from his home empty-handed. He was a quiet man, retiring in manner, al- ways avoiding publicity, but was very fond of company, and particularly loved the society of young people. In politics he was a Republi- can, and, while he never sought office, he held a few minor offices while residing at West Long Hill. The later years of his life he lived retired, and his death occurred after a decline of several years. Fond of horses, he bought and sold a large number during his lifetime. He was not a church member, but was pos- sessed of that broad charity that finds good in all.

Mr. Crowell married Jane Harris, who was born in January, 1820, at South Farms, and died August 21, 1892, aged seventy-two years. She rests beside her husband in the Farm Hill cemetery. Their children were: (I) Emma Jane, born April 20, 1842, died June 28, 1848. (2) Elnora, born July 18, 1846, died July 8, 1848. (3) A son, born July 12, 1847, died July 13, 1847. (4) Albert, born July II, 1849, died September 11, 1862. (5) Ella J., born April 17, 1851, married Charles B. Mer- win, of Durham, who is engaged in the print- ing and stationery business in New York City; she died January 2, 1892, at Bayonne, N. J. (6) Adele, born May 25, 1859, is the wife of Frederick S. Newton, of Durham, and has one son, Stanley Sill, born April 22, 1890.

HOMER CHURCHILL (deceased) was one of the substantial and respected citizens of Middletown, Middlesex county, whose blame- less life won for him the genuine esteem and affection of a very wide circle of acquaintances. Beginning life a poor boy, he climbed the ladder of success rung by rung, having been wholly self-made and, in a large degree, self- educated as well. The story of his life is a pleasant one to tell, and it is believed that thoughtful minds will find it entertaining read- ing.

Mr. Churchill was born in Litchfield, Conn., June 10, 1822, and was one of eleven children born to John Churchill and his wife, Ruhama Orton. The baptismal name of John was also borne by both his grandfather and great-grandfather. John Churchill, father of Homer, was a shoemaker, and kept a modest store in Litchfield. Both he and his wife were Episcopalians, and reared their children in the same faith. They were plain people, held in high regard on account of their recognized moral worth, the mother, especially, being con- sidered a noble woman. The father died in 1841. Some mention of the children will be of interest in this connection. Ten members of the family, seven sons and three daughters, grew to maturity, one daughter dying in in- fancy. John, the eldest son, graduated from Yale College, and was ordained to the Congre- gational ministry. Hiram was a shoemaker in New Haven, while Daniel carried on the same trade at Litchfield. Charles died in early youth. Henry was a carpenter and builder at Waterbury. The late Homer Churchill and his twin brother, Hobart, were the youngest boys. The daughters were named Janet, Ann and Sarah. Janet became the wife of a Mr. Palmes, a tailor, and removed with her hus- band to Constantine, Mich. Ann married a Mr. Alvord, and also went to Michigan, living first at Detroit, and afterward at Trenton, in that State. Sarah, who was married first to a Mr. Coon, later became the second wife of her sister's husband, Mr. Alvord. She is de- ceased.

The parents of this large family, while in comparatively comfortable circumstances for the times, were far from being rich, and, with ten growing boys and girls to feed and clothe, they found it necessary to set their sons to work early in life. Young Homer enjoyed such

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advantages as were afforded by the district schools, supplemented by a brief attendance at the Litchfield Academy. He was an apt schol- ar, learning quickly and retaining his knowl- edge. Indeed, it may be said to be cause for regret that with a mind so preter-naturally bright, and a memory so strongly retentive, his intellectual powers could not have received a deeper, broader, higher cultivation. Yet, de- spite the handicap of imperfect scholastic train- ing at the outset of life, he achieved a meed of success which might well arouse the desire of emulation in more fortunate youth, whose advantages are frittered away in the vain pur- suit of illusory pleasures. Mr. Churchill was inured to toil from boyhood, first working as a farmer's lad. His natural bent, however, was toward mechanical pursuits, for which early in life he displayed a rare aptitude. His school days ended, he found himself face to face with the great perplexing problem of life, with all its struggles and responsibilities. He determined to learn the trade of a machinist, and first found employment in a carriage fac- tory at Plymouth Hollow, Conn. Subse- quently he worked in Birmingham, Derby and New Haven, going from the city last named to Newark, N. J., where he was also employed at his trade.

In 1846 Mr. Churchill was married, his bride being Miss Julia A. Ives, of Walling- ford, Conn., a relative of the distinguished Dr. Ives, of New Haven. Their union was sol- emnized at St. Paul's Church, New Haven, on October 13th, of that year, by Rev. Dr. Cook. Mrs. Churchill was born at Wallingford Jan- uary 2, 1823, daughter of Levi and Asenath (Buell) Ives.

Within a short time after his marriage Mr. Churchill went to Utica, N. Y., for the pur- pose of installing and operating machinery in a screw factory, and remained there for nearly two years. Thence he returned to New Ha- ven, and in March, 1849, came to Middletown, to superintend some special work in the Doug- las Pump Factory. His reputation as a skill- ful and scientific mechanical engineer had by this time become well established. and his services were in constant request. He re- mained with the Douglas Company some seven years, when, in connection with a part- ner, he established a factory for the manufac- ture of brass locks, on Church street. The

plant was destroyed by fire, and Mr. Churchill sustained a very serious loss. He next en- tered the sewing machine works of C. A. New- ell, at Middletown, and these, too, were soon afterward burned down. Wilcox Hall & Co., thereupon offered him the superintendency of their factory, which he accepted, and upon the re-organization of the firm in 1869, under the name of the Wilcox Crittenden Company, Mr. Churchill became a partner with W. W. Wil- cox, E. B. Chaffee and A. R. Crittenden. This firm rapidly attained position among the lead- ing manufacturers of ship-chandlery in the United States. Mr. Churchill's connection with that concern continued throughout the remainder of his life. His death occurred May 2, 1889, after an illness which con- fined him to the house for only a few days. His grave is in Indian Hill cemetery. Al- ways a Republican in politics, he regarded it the duty of a good citizen to cast a ballot, but took no active interest in party affairs. He adhered through life to the faith which he had learned at his mother's knee, and died in the communion of the Episcopal Church, falling asleep in the happy recollection of a life well spent, and in the firm hope of a glorious im- mortality.

The narrative of such lives should not end with the mere mention of their termination by physical death. Men like Mr. Churchill leave an influence which survives them, just as the roseate hues of a glowing sunset linger long after the sun had gone down. Faith- ful in every relation of life, the architect of his own career, he left to his family a hand- some competence, bequeathing to them at the same time a legacy of far greater worth-a name unsullied and a reputation without a blot. He was a man of rare amiability of temper, never giving way to anger, and his widow pays to his memory the high tribute of saying, that never, during the forty-three years of married life, did she hear him utter a profane or angry word. He was fond of music and reading alike, and his tastes, no less than the habits of his life, were thoroughly do- mestic. In boyhood he and his twin brother were frequently employed as fifers in the days of "general training," and he never lost his inborn appreciation of rhythmic melody. Apart from his wife and daughter, books were Mr. Churchill's most cherished companions,

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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 56

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