Commemorative biographical record of Middlesex County, Connecticut : containing biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens, and of many of the early settled families, Part 60

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 60

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acre, to comply with the law. The nearest land office was Chatfield, ninety miles distant. A club of settlers, formed to keep claim jump- ers away, tried to drive Mr. Leonard away by intimidation and threats, but he held his ground. Many Indians were around, and he lived mostly on game. He remained on the claim about seven months, sold out then at a good price, and returned to Bridgeport, Conn. Securing a position as fireman on the Housa- tonic road, from Bridgeport to Winsted, his first trip was on a passenger engine. He fol- lowed firing about six months, and was then promoted to engineer, in which capacity he- was on the road three years, and during that time broke in many new firemen, who are now engineers, widely scattered over the United States. Retiring from the railroad service, Mr. Leonard hired out to Alva Merriman, to superintend a large farm in Crow Hollow, West Meriden, where he remained about two years. He then bought a farm of 100 acres on the Waterbury Turnpike, near the present factory of Charles Parker & Sons, of which eighty acres were improved land and twenty acres timber.

While living at the latter place Mr. Leon- ard enlisted, in December, 1861, at Hanover, Conn., in Company C, First Connecticut Cav- alry, under Capt. Fish, who later became col- onel of the regiment. The First, in the spring of 1862, went to Shenandoah, Va., and thatt year participated in the following battles and skirmishes, all in Virginia: McDowell, May 8; Franklin, May II; Strasburg, June 1 ; Mt. Jackson, June 3; Cross Keys, June 8; Port Re- public,. June 9; Waterford, August 1; Cedar Mountain, August 9; Freeman's Ford, Augustt 22; Sulphur Springs, August 24; Waterloo Bridge, August 25; Groveton, August 29; second battle of Bull Run, August 30; Chan- tilly, September 1; and Fredericksburg, De- cember 13. At Waterloo Mr. Leonard was wounded in the left hand, and one of his fingers was affected ever afterward. On March 1, 1863, he was promoted to corporal. He re-enlisted October 26, 1863, receiving $800 bounty, and was later promoted to ser- geant. He fought around Petersburg, Va., and was there when the mine exploded. He was at Winchester when Sheridan made his famous ride. He served throughout the Vir- ginia Campaign, and was an eyewitness near

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Gen. Grant at Appomattox Court House when Gen. Lee surrendered to the commander of the Federal Army. Our subject was mus- tered out with the regiment at New Haven, in I865.

Mr. Leonard returned to his family on the farm near Meriden, which, in his absence at the front, his wife had cultivated, caring for the family. A few years later he disposed of this place, and moved to Harwinton, Conn., where he bought a farm of 160 acres, one mile east of Harwinton Center. This he cleared up, making many improvements. He bought and sold a great deal of land while living there, at one time owning about 500 acres. There he followed farming until 1882, when he came to Durham, and purchased of Henry Parsons a farm of 125 acres, located in the Haddam Quarter, on which he made many im- provements, built barns, remodeled the house, and most industriously followed farming ; he bought and sold much cattle. Continuing there until 1898, he then purchased his late home in Durham, from the heirs of the late L. Mars- den Leach, and lived the retired life which he had well won and which he well deserved after his long and very active career, passing away September 6, 1901. For disabilities received in the Civil war he received from the Govern- ment a small pension.

Mr. Leonard married (first), in Kent, Conn., Mary Jane Leonard, daughter of Elijah and Abigail Leonard, and two children were born to them: George, who died in infancy; and Elizabeth, who married Isaac D. Drew, and is living in New Jersey. For his second wife Mr. Leonard married, on October 5, 1866 Olive A. Harvey, who was born Sep- tember 19, 1844, in Haddam, daughter of Ed- win and Betsey ( Nettleton) Harvey. By this union there were six children, namely: (1) Josephine died unmarried at the age of twen- ty-four years. (2) Ida A. graduated from the New Britain Normal School, taught school ten years in Connecticut and three years in the Sandwich Islands, and in 1900 graduated from the Emerson School of Oratory, Boston, Mass. : she married, September 28, 1901, George B. Fiske. (3) Nelson died in infancy. (4) Harriet L. married George B. Fiske, of Hollister. Mass., a journalist in the employ of the Orange Judd Company, at Springfield, Mass. She died March 9, 1899, and was

buried at Durham. (5) Bessie died in in- fancy. (6) Chauncey H. died young. The mother of the above named children died No- vember 1, 1888, and was buried in Durham. Mr. Leonard married, for his third wife, May 2, 1890, Mrs. Orrie E. Tibball, widow of Samuel W. Tibball, of Killingworth, and daughter of Alvin and Julia ( Wright) Davis. By her first marriage Mrs. Leonard had one daughter living, Louisa, wife of Luzerne Stevens, of Durham.

In politics Mr. Leonard was a Republican. His career was eminently successful. and weil typified the rewards which come to honest and unflagging effort. It may well be said that the life of Mr. Leonard was representative of that restless energy which has made the United States a great world-power, constructing from the crude material in a marvelously brief period a nation cemented in unified purpose and mov- ing swiftly to its wide visioned destiny.

LYMAN OLIVER WELLS was born June 12, 1827, in Portland, Middlesex county. His grandparents, Roswell and Mehitabel Wells, were natives of Lebanon, New Lon- don Co., Conn., whence they removed to East Hampton, where the grandfather en- gaged in farming, besides working as a carpenter and wheelwright. He died Feb- ruary 18, 1821, aged fifty-two years. His widow survived many years, and both now rest in Lake View cemetery, East Hampton. Their son Oliver was the father of Lyman Oli- ver.

Oliver Wells was born June 9. 1807. in Lebanon, shortly before the removal of the family to East Hampton. He learned the trade of a wagonmaker, which he followed all his life, spending three years in Wilmington. N. C., and working in various towns, among them Glastonbury and Hebron. It was at the last named point that he passed away, July 19. 1875, in his sixty-ninth year. He married Lydia Brown, daughter of David and Mehila (Pettis) Brown, who died nine years before him, April 20, 1866. They were the parents of two sons and four daughters, of whom: Lyman O. was the first-horn : Eliza, born Feb- ruary 10, 1829. is the wife of Elizur Latham. of Gilead, Conn. : Mary N., born July 7. 1837. married Dr. Cyrus Pendleton, of Hebron ; Jane, born May 24, 1842. is Mrs. Albert Blish,

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COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

of Hebron; John B., born September 27, 1843, died October 7, 1864; Ellen the youngest of the family, born October 7, 1845, died July II, 1872, unmarried.

Lyman O. Wells accompanied his parents to Glastonbury, and afterward to Hebron, and remained at home until he had completed his thirtieth year. He received a good English education, in district and private schools, and was taught the trade of wheelwright by his father, working in the latter's shop at Hebron. He began acquiring a knowledge of the trade when but thirteen years old, and when his father gave up active work, continued in the business alone. In 1859 he removed to East Hampton, where his success has been com- mensurate with his business ability and un- flagging energy. He built a shop in the north- ern part of the village, and for twenty-five years gave it his constant personal supervision. He also bought some sixty acres of land, and devoted his leisure time to farming, and since giving up work at his trade he has followed that pursuit more extensively. For several years, also, he has been largely interested in the purchase and sale of real estate in East Hampton. He bought lots on a street which has since been named Wells avenue, in his honor, and on which he has built and sold several handsome cottages, still owning several tene- ments. In politics Mr. Wells is a stanch Dem- ocrat. He enjoys the undivided respect of his fellow townsmen, who have shown their ap- preciation of his worth by repeatedly electing him to office. He has served on the boards of relief and selectmen (on the latter for three years), and has also filled the responsible post of assessor. Both he and his wife are mem- bers of the Congregational Church.

On May 8, 1859, in Andover, Conn., Mr. Wells married Laura J. Webster, daughter of John L. and Mary (Chappell) Webster, who were natives of Hebron. Children as follows have been born to the marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Wells: Frederick, born December 25, '1861, is at present in the employ of a fruit growing association at Pomona, Los Angeles Co., Cal. John C., born March 3, 1867, was when a youth employed in a tin and bell shop, and later, for about a year, in a machine shop at Providence, R. I. : he learned the trade of a machinist, and in 1890 secured a patent on a bicycle saddle which he had devised, and since

then has been successfully engaged in its man- ufacture, also conducting a machine shop. Francis Eugene, born August 3, 1869, is a master builder and carpenter, of East Hamp- ton.

Both of Mrs. Wells' parents are deceased, her mother departing this life November 8, 1889, at the age of seventy-eight years, and her father going to his reward November 6, 1891, at the ripe old age of eighty-four. Five children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Webster. Luman, the eldest, died March 7, 1886, in his fifty-seventh year; Laura J., now Mrs. Lyman O. Wells, was born October 21, 1837; Eliza- beth married John Whitcomb, of East Hart- ford, and both have passed away, Mr. Whit- comb dying first; Dwight married Mary Loomis, and died in Andover; Ella is the wife of George Curtis, of Bolton, Connecticut.

THURBER L. HARRIS. The history of a nation is the record of the lives of its peo- ple, for among the industrious, public-spirited, honorable citizens is cherished the spirit of true patriotism, and their deeds constitute the motive power in the development and advance- ment of civilization-the maintenance of schools and the upholding of a high moral and Christian code. Among the men who may well be considered to have done their duty as citizens, in the highest sense of the word, may be mentioned Thurber L. Harris, the capable superintendent of the Ivory, or West Factory, Pratt. Read and Company, of Deep River, Middlesex county. Mr. Harris was born Jan- uary 27, 1845, a son of Henry H. and Cather- ine A. (Smith) Harris, and is of the seventh generation descended from James Harris, of Boston, Mass. The line of his descent to the present time is traced as follows :

(I) James Harris, of Boston, was born about 1640 and married Sarah Denison, of that city, in 1666, Morgan, in his "Harris Geneal- ogy," published in 1878, says he could not as- certain the nativity, parentage or time of ar- rival in this country of James Harris. This American ancestor and his wife, Sarah (Deni- son), had eleven children born to them, and the births of all these are recorded in Bos- ton. All except the last three and Margaret, who died an infant, were baptized in the "Old South Meeting House," in 1683. The Boston record of births, referred to, gives the dates of

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births of the children as follows: Sarah, March, 1668; Deborah, July, 1670; James, April 4, 1673 (married first Sarah Rogers, second widow Sarah Jackson, nec Harris) ; Margaret, January 16, 1675, (died an infant) ; Mary, February 3, 1677, (died aged six years) ; Elizabeth, June, 1678 (married Will- iam Rogers, New London, August 28, 1713) ; Asa, November 10, 1680; Hannah, April 22, 1682; Ephraim, May, 1684, (died an infant) ; Mary (2), June, 1686; Ephraim (2), July II, 1688 (died about 1710, unmarried). About 1690 James Harris and his wife Sarah came from Boston to New London with all three of his sons, James, Asa and Ephraim, all minors, and at least two or more of his daughters. It is not clearly known what was his occupation, if any, while there, but Morgan thinks he was by trade a weaver. His wife Sarah survived him, as she was made executrix of his last will, which was dated at New London June 4, 1714, and proved in probate there September 13, 1715.

(II) Asa Harris, son of James, was born in Boston, Mass., November 10, 1680, and on March 17, 1709, married Elizabeth Rogers, of New London, daughter of Samuel and sister of Sarah, the wife of his brother James. He re- moved from Mohegan, soon after his marriage, to Preston, Conn., where all his children were born, and where he died August 20, 1715, aged thirty-five. He was a landholder, and had considerable personal estate. Soon after his death the family removed from Preston to Old Saybrook, where his widow died about 1750. They had four children, whose births are on record at Preston, viz .: Asa, born November 27, 1709, was twice married, and had children by each marriage: Annah, born March 27, 17II, married Samuel Becbe May 14, 1739; Ephraim was born December 28, 1712; Mercy, born November 14, 1714, married John Water- house.

(III) Ephraim Harris, son of Asa, and Elizabeth ( Rogers) Harris, was born Decem- ber 28, 1712, in Preston, Conn., and married about 1735, but the name of his wife is un- known. He settled first in Old Saybrook ; from there removing about 1745 to the north- ern part of Lyme (now Salem), and thence to Nova Scotia, where he remained several years. He returned with his family to New London. and settled in Colchester, Conn., where he

died in November, 1781, aged sixty-nine years. He left a large landed estate. His wife died before him. In his will he men- tions twelve children then living, namely : Ephraim married Lydia Beebe. Elizabeth married Pelatiah Bliss, Jr., about 1768. Eli- jah married Patience Geer, and second a lady named Fox. Phebe married Jared Baker. Hannah married Asa Rogers, and removed to Hartford. Elias never married. Mercy maried Robert Stanton. Mary married a Comstock. Lydia married Jabez Holmes. Olive married a Kimball. Sarah married Elisha Holmes. Alice probably died unmar- ried. The exact dates of birth of these chil- dren are not known, but all were born between 1736 and 1762.

(IV) Ephraim Harris, son of Ephraim was born in Salem, Conn., in 1736, and mar- ried Lydia Beebe, of Montville. He went with his father to Nova Scotia, where he re- mained about eight years, and became a land- holder there, but in 1762 he returned to Col- chester, Conn. (Salem parish), where he set- tled, married and died. He was a farmer, and was made a freeman April 9, 1764. He had ten children, namely: Anna, born in 1767, married Elias Thompson, and settled in Salem, Conn. Elizabeth, born in 1769, mar- ried Isaac Goodspeed, and settled in Ridge- field, Otsego Co., N. Y. Dyer, born June 9, 1771, married Temperance Watrous in 1796. Nancy, born in 1773, married Daniel Holley. and settled in Ridgefield. N. Y. Caleb, born in 1775, died young. Samuel, born in 1778, died aged nineteen. Sarah, born in 1781, died unmarried about 1863. aged eighty-two. Syl- vanus, born in 1783, married Cynthia Miner October 6, 1815. Benjamin, born March 30, 1786, married Betsey Otis, of Montville, in 1814. Lydia, born March 15, 1788, died at an advanced age, unmarried.

(V) Dyer Harris, son of Ephraim and Lydia ( Beebe ) Harris, and the grandfather of our subject, was born in Moutville, Conn .. June 9. 1771, and in 1796 married Temperance daughter of Elijah Watrous. He resided in Saybrook until iSo1. then in Killingworth un- til 1810; in Guilford two years; and then in Windsor. Conn., where he died Janu- ary 10, 1823. He was a successful farmer, and was respected by all who knew him. His wife was born at Saybrook October

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7, 1780, and died in Guildford, Ohio, No- vember 5, 1848. This worthy couple had born to them children as follows: Samuel, born August 23, 1797, married Mabel Gibbs, of Suffield, Conn .; Nancy, born March 20, 1799, married William Terry, and for her second husband Julius A. Dowd; Betsey, born March 23, 1801, died December 28, 1822, in Windsor, Conn .; Mary, born July 16, 1803, married Jan- uary 15, 1829, David D. Dowd; Elijah W., born March 22, 1805, married Angeline Dowd June 5, 1828; Ephraim, born April 8, 1807, married Eliza A. Denslow January 22, 1831 ; John, born December 31, 1808, died Novem- ber 3, 1822, at Windsor; Elias T., born Oc- tober 3, 1811, married Ximena M. Grimes August 10, 1840; Henry H. was born Novem- ber 25, 1814; Ann E., born July 15, 1816, married Horace H. Dowd, and died in Guild- ford, Ohio, January II, 1871 ; Albert Dyer, born June 16, 1820, married Maria Bell June II, 1845.

(VI) HENRY H. HARRIS, son of Dyer and Temperance ( Watrous) Harris was born November 25, 1814, at Windsor, Conn., and there grew to manhood, afterward removing to Deep River, where he met and married Catherine A. Smith, a daughter of Willis B. and Catherine (Towner) Smith. Mr. Harris was an ivory worker by trade, was engaged in that line during his entire life. His hon- ored wife, who was born in 1816 at Deep River, survived him, dying in 1895 at the age of seventy-nine. Both Mr. and Mrs. Henry H. Harris were consistent members of the Baptist Church of Deep River. They had a family of ten children, who grew up to do them credit: (1) Sarah W., born April 8, 1838, in Chester, Conn., married January I, 1862, Henry J. Pelton, of Clinton, Conn., who died April 21, 1878. He was born July 7, 1837, enlisted in the United States navy in 1862, and served during the war on several vessels, taking part in many of the naval engagements of the Rebellion. He was with Farragut at New Orleans. Later he was on the steamer "Columbia," on duty in the rivers and off the coast of North and South Carolina, and was captured in an engagement, and confined in Libby prison for six months. After his release he was stationed in East Bos- ton, and had charge of the construction of the Monitor "Nausett," which upon completion

was taken in tow to Philadelphia. This was about at the time of the close of the war, when Mr. Pelton was honorably discharged. He then entered the merchant service, and was chief engineer for eleven years of the steamer "Cleopatra," running between New York, Ha- vana and Mexico. Mr. Pelton never fully re- covered from the effects of his arduous and continuous naval service, and his confinement in prison, and, dying at the early age of forty- one years, left to his family as a legacy, the re- cord of an honorable name, and courage and devotion to duty, both in time of war and peace. He was a member of Mather Post, G. A. R., of Deep River. To Mr. and Mrs. Pel- ton came three children-(a) Carrie L., born September 25, 1862, was married October 19, 1881, to Frank L. Watrous, of Clinton, Conn., and had one son, Leon H., born Septem- ber 9, 1882, who lives with his grandmother, Mrs. Pelton. His father resides in Clinton, Conn. Mrs. Watrous died May 25, 1898. (b) Eugene H., born August 9, 1865, was married October 14, 1897, to Mattie M. Ventres, daughter of Alexander H .. and Sarah M. ( Brainerd) Ventres, of Moodus, East Had- dam, Conn. Mrs. Eugene H. Pelton died in May, 1901. He has been in the employ of the Pratt, Read & Co., at Deep River, for over eighteen years, and is in the "Ivory Layer" or finishing department of that company. He lives with his mother in Deep River. (c) Frank Lewis, born June 8, 1867, is engaged in the comb department of the West Factory of the Pratt, Read & Co., where he has been em- ployed for five years. (2) Elizabeth Nancy, now residing in Deep River was born in Ches- ter, Conn., October 7, 1839. On January I, 1868, she married Marshall Comstock, who died October 30, 1888. Mr. Comstock was prominently identified with the towns of Es- sex and Chester. He was a member of the Comstock & Dickinson Ivory Company, of Centerbrook, for a number of years, and when that company discontinued business came to Deep River, as the superintendent of the West Factory of the Pratt, Read & Co., which posi- tion he held at the time of his death. He was a selectman for years, and was much inter- ested in the welfare of the town. He was a Republican, politically, a man of excellent judg- ment, and was greatly respected by all who knew him. He was born at Centerbrook,

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Conn., in September, 1833. (3) Catherine Ann, born July 6, 1842, at Chester, Conn., died September 22, 1866. (4) Thurber L., whose sketch closes this review of the Harris family, is the next in order of birth. (5) Samuel T., born March 27, 1847, died May 29, 1875. (6) Ellen M., born September 16, 1848, was married June 5, 1872, to Wildey P. Hoadley, of Deep River. (7) Charles A., born June 10, 1850, died August 5, 1873. (8) Evaline, born Mlay 13, 1852, was married November 24, ISSO, to E. Curtis Southworth of Deep River. (9) Wilbur R., born May 3, 1854, was married December 20, 1876, to Hattie E. Gladding, who was born July 8, 1857, daugh- ter of John and Nancy ( Buckingham) Glad- ding. To Mr. and Mrs. Wilbur R. Harris have been born five children-Anna May, born December 13, 1878, who married August 30, 1899, Clayton Deuse, of Chester, Conn., and has had two children, James Henry (deceased) and Lyman Odell (born January 6, 1902) ; Archie B., born May 21, 1886; Hazel Gladding, born September 25, 1888; Ora Katherine, born October 15, 1890; and Donald Wilbur, born March 23, 1899. (10) Frank A., born Octo- ber 8, 1856, was married November 15, 1883, to Fannie G. Saffery, daughter of John and Elizabeth (Huxstep) Saffery, of Chester; Conn., and resides in Deep River, where he is engaged as a skilled workman in the piano key department of the Pratt, Read & Co.

Mrs. Henry H. Harris was one of a large family, the other members being Henry, of Minnesota (deceased) ; Willis B., Jr., of Min- nesota, (deceased) ; Oliver, of Maryland, (de- ceased ) ; Harrison, of Philadelphia, ( de- ceased) ; Wilson, of Bridgeport; William, of Dakota; Ezra, of Dakota; Horace, of Moose- head, Minn. ; and Evaline, (deceased).

Thurber L. Harris resides in the old home- stead in Deep River in which both his father and mother died, and where his sister, Mrs. Comstock, keeps house for him. He was thrown upon his own resources very early in life, beginning work in the Pratt, Read & Co. factory where his father was employed, when but ten years of age. After nine years' faitli- ful service with that company he removed to Essex, and was in the employ of the Comstock, Cheney Co., one year, and the Dickinson Ivory Company three years. He then returned to Deep River, and after being with the Pratt,

Read & Co. two years, was made the secretary and treasurer of the Dickinson Ivory Com- pany, in Essex, and retained that position for three years, when he associated himself again with the Pratt, Read & Co., who have the largest ivory factory in this section of the coun- try. He has been superintendent of the West factory for ten successive years. From the bottom of the ladder, he has steadily worked his way to the top, by patient industry, untir- ing zeal, and faithful performance of duty. His brother, Wilbur R., is his right hand man, a most excellent workman, and the effi- cient foreman of the West factory. Of neces- sity, Mr. Harris has had but little opportun- ity to devote himself to study, but has made the most of whatever chance he has had in that direction, and the results speak well for his native ability. He takes a deep interest in providing advantages for others, as his work for four years upon the school board testifies. For four years he was third selectman, and for one year first selectman, representing the Democratic party in each instance, he being a faithful member of that organization. Since 1875 Mr. Harris has been a member of Trinity Lodge, No. 43, F. & A. M., of Deep River, and he has been treasurer thereof for eight years. In this organization, as well as among his acquaintances, he enjoys a well-earned popularity, and is justly regarded as one of the substantial men of the community.

ROBERT H. COMSTOCK. The name which our subject bears with dignity and honor is one of the old and respected ones in Essex, Middlesex county, where for years it has been so inseparably connected with the manufactur- ing interests of the vicinity.

Mr. Comstock was born June 27. 1853. in that part of the town of Essex since known as Ivoryton, a son of Samuel Merritt and Har- riet ( Hovey) Comstock. He had superior ed- ucational advantages, having enjoyed training at the Russell Military School, of New Haven, and later a thorough course at Williston Sem- inary, East Hampton, Mass., where he grad- vated in 1871. Upon his return to Essex he resolved to understand the practical side of the business, and accordingly he entered the Ivory- ton factory as a workman, so continuing for a year or two, when he entered the office. Since 1901 he has been president of the

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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 60

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