Commemorative biographical record of Middlesex County, Connecticut : containing biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens, and of many of the early settled families, Part 89

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 89

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Henry E. Nettleton, the father of Henry I., was born March 25, 1807, in the southern part of Durham. He received his education in the district schools, and lived on the home farm until he was twenty-one years old, after which he hired out as a farm hand to Capt. Richard Robinson, a farmer in Durham, re- ceiving very good wages for those times, for he was a hard-working man, and thoroughly understood farming. One day he thrashed by hand eighteen bushels of rye. He remained with Capt. Robinson a year, then hired out to a Capt. Allen, becoming foreman in the latter's marble quarry at Marbledale, Conn. Capt. Al- len also owned a quarry at Dover, Dutchess Co., N. Y., which Mr. Nettleton operated for a year and one-half. He was there joined by his brother Isaiah, who was also employed in the quarry, and they both sent money home to their father from their wages. Henry E. worked for Capt. Allen for about ten years. About the time of his father's death he re- turned home to look after the farm. Later he

purchased the interest of the other heirs in the place, and took charge of the same, caring also for his mother. He resided on the home farm until a few years after his marriage, when he purchased the property now occupied by our subject, then known as the "Crane Farm," go- ing into debt for it. The home farm he rented. To his new possessions he added in acreage, built many buildings, and carried on, in addi- tion to general farming, the business of fatten- ing cattle. He also burned a great deal of charcoal. Mr. Nettleton so improved his land that at one time his farm was considered one of the best in Durham. Later he moved to the home farm near by. He and his son Henry then ran the two farms together, Henry and his eldest sister, Rose C., now the wife of C. O. Stone, of Middletown, occupying the Crane farm. The father later removed to Clinton, Conn., where he lived retired until his death, January 10, 1886. He is buried in Durham. Henry E. Nettleton was a hard-working man, of robust constitution, and possessed of more than ordinary physical strength. He was a Democrat in politics, and held the office of se- lectman for many terms, the affairs of the town, under his management, being conducted on an economical basis. Careful and thrifty, as a farmer and business man he was eminently successful. He was plain and outspoken, and somewhat stern in manner. He was an attend- ant of the Methodist Church, of which his wife was a member, and contributed to its support, also giving liberally to the building of the Epis- copal Church in Durham.

On June 6, 1839, Mr. Nettleton married Cornelia M. Camp, who was born March 27, 1806, in Durham, daughter of Fairchild and Melicent (Coe) Camp. She was a school teacher for many years before her marriage, and was a bright intelligent woman. Fairchild Camp, her father, was a blacksmith and farmer in Durham. Mrs. Cornelia M. (Camp) Net- tleton died September 29, 1856. She was the mother of the following named children: (1) Rose C., born August 15, 1840, married C. O. Stone, of Middletown. (2) Frances M., born July 29, 1844, married Denison D. Hurd, of Clinton, where he died October 21, 1900; he left no children. Mrs. Hurd now lives in the home of F. E. Fowler. (3) Henry Isaiah, born December 12, 1846, is mentioned below. (4) Sabina, born October 15, 1849, married

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Frank E. Fowler, of Meriden, Conn. For his second wife Henry E. Nettleton, the father, married, November 22, 1858, Mrs. Betsy B. (Bull) Hunt, of Kent, Conn., widow of Starr Hunt. She died November 30, 1881.

Henry Isaiah Nettleton was born in the house where he now resides. His schooling was acquired in the district school and in the famous private school of Daniel H. Chase, of Middletown. He remained on the home farm, and, as before .stated, he conducted the place in company with his father, after whose retire- ment he bought the interest of his father and sisters in the farm, and has added to the same until he now owns over 200 acres, located in the towns of Durham, Guilford and Madison. Here he carries on dairying, general farming and fruit growing. Mr. Nettleton first en- gaged in fruit growing in 1876, setting out at that time about 500 trees, and, in spite of the predictions of failure by his neighbors, he has increased the number, now growing peaches from over 1000 trees, in addition to other fruit and berries. He was the pioneer fruit grower of Durham. His farm is well kept, and neat, and in every respect he has shown himself a successful and model agriculturist.

In early life Mr. Nettleton was a Demo- crat ; he is now a Prohibitionist, but votes for the best man in local affairs. In 1896 he sup- ported Mckinley. He is not an office seeker, but was tax collector of Durham for many years. Mr. Nettleton has been a member of the Connecticut State Pomological Society for many years past; is a prominent member of Durham Grange, and has officiated as master of the same; was a charter member of Cogin- chaug Council, No. 61, O. U. A. M. of Dur- ham; and is also a member of the order of the United Workmen, and of the Knights of the Golden Cross. Himself and wife are mem- bers of the Methodist Church of Durham, of which he is a trustee and steward.

Mr. Nettleton married, June 5, 1872, Ro- setta E. Miller, who was born in Middlefield November 25, 1852, daughter of Valentine B. and Nancy C. (Miller ) Miller, and grand- daughter of Elisha Miller, who was born March 17, 1788, on the farm in Middlefield now occupied by Frank A. Coe. When a young man Elisha Miller went to Michigan, where he remained about a year, and then re- turned to Middlefield. He married February

17, 1817, Rhoda Parsons, who was born March 13, 1794, in Durham, daughter of Aaron and Lucy (Hawley) Parsons. After his marriage Elisha Miller purchased the "Par- sons" farm located in the East District of Mid- dlefield, and now owned by his son, Valentine B. There he carried on general farming until his death, April 23, 1873. His wife died April 27, 1861. They had four children : (I) Amanda P., born December 2, 1818, died Sep- tember 1, 1833. (2) Parsons F., born Octo- ber 10, 1822, married Ann Hall, and died March 1, 1847 ; he was a peddler of Yankee no- tions. (3) Ann Elizabeth, born May 6, 1825, married Isaac Miller, and now resides, a wid- ow, in Baileyville, town of Middlefield. (4) Valentine B., the father of Mrs. Nettleton, born October 2, 1829, has been a lifelong farmer in the town of Middlefield. He now owns and occupies the home farm, having pur- chased the interest of the other heirs. He mar- ried, November 18, 1851, Nancy C. Miller, who was born in Middlefield April 21, 1833, daughter of Elihu and Abigail ( Thorpe) Mil- ler. Two children were born to them-Ro- setta E. wife of our subject, and Martina A., who married Orleans N. Miller, and lives in Middlefield. Valentine B. Miller is a Demo- crat in politics, and a member of Middlefield Grange. Himself and wife are active mem- bers of the M. E. Church of Middlefield, of which he is trustee and steward.

The abundant success of Henry I. Nettle- ton is attributed in no small degree, to the faithful co-operation of his worthy helpmeet, whose industry has been that of a model house- wife, and fully equaled by her thrift and provi- dence. They have a most pleasant home, and hold the high respect and esteem of their many friends and acquaintances. The influence of their lives has been far-reaching, and ever di- rected to the achievement of that which is best in human attainments.

D. SAMUEL DIBBELL, who now car- ries on agricultural pursuits upon the old fam- ily homestead in Clinton, Middlesex county, is a worthy and prominent member of one of the old and well-known families of that part of Connecticut.

Mr. Dibbell enjoyed superior educational advantages, pursuing his primary course in the public schools, and later attending an excellent

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private school for boys, in Philadelphia. His first employment was with Leander L. Hull, in his general store in Clinton, where he per- formed a clerk's duties for several years. In March, 1859, he went to Baltimore, Md., and engaged in business in that city until the trou- bled times of 1861 made it prudent for North- ern sympathizers to leave, for there feeling was stronger than in many localities farther south. A hurried departure in private convey- ance was necessary, as the railroads, steamboat lines and all other means of public transporta- tion had been cut off by the Secessionists, Mr. Dibbell, with many others, seeking his former home. Shortly after his arrival he enlisted, for nine months, in the Union army, becoming a member of Company A, Twenty-seventh Connecticut Volunteers, and after serving about eleven months he was mustered out and found a position in the provost marshal's office, in New Haven, leaving this to become a clerk in the New Haven Savings Bank, where he continued for one and one-half years.

After the close of the war Mr. Dibbell re- turned to Baltimore, where he had been fortu- nate in 'business, picked up the broken strands, and again became a resident of that city, re- maining there until 1877, when he removed to New York. Two years later Mr. Dibbell re- turned to Clinton, since which time he has been engaged in farming upon a part of the old homestead, which land had first been brought under cultivation by his great-grandfather. Politically he is a stanch Republican, although he does not incline toward the life of a poli- tician.

On December 13, 1865, Mr. Dibbell mar- ried Mandane Frederika, daughter of John Rossiter Crane and Frances Adelia (Wheeler) Crane, and to this union have come children as follows: David Clinton, born in Baltimore, Md., on January 13, 1868, is a business man of New York; he was married on January 4, 1900, to Lillian Walker, of Brooklyn. Flor- ence Edna, who was also 'born in Baltimore, October 5, 1871, graduated at the Morgan school in 1890, and is at present one of the teachers in that institution.

For many years Mr. Dibbell has been the efficient choirmaster of the Clinton Congrega- tional Church as well as a member of the board of trustees, and he takes a deep and active in- terest in church matters, all of the family be-

ing valued members. Mr. Dibbell is connected with Chapman Post, No. 72, G. A. R., af Westbrook, Connecticut.

MINER COMSTOCK HAZEN, M. D., a gentleman of high repute in his profession, is a son of Henry and Lucy (Comstock) Hazen.

Edward Hazen, the emigrant, came from Northamptonshire, England, about 1648, and is of record in Rowley, Mass, where his first wife, Elizabeth, died September 18, 1649. He was married (second) in March, 1650, to Han- nah Grant. He was buried in Rowley, Mass., July 22, 1683. He was a man of substance and influence, and filled public positions, being overseer or selectman in 1650, 1651, 1654, 1660, 1661, 1663 and 1668; and judge of de- linquents in 1666. His estate was inventoried at £404, 7s, 8d. The children of Edward Ha- zen and Hannah Grant were: (I) Elizabeth, born March 8, 1651, married April 1, 1670, Nathaniel Harris. (2) Hannah, born in April, 1653, married William Gilson, and died be- fore 1683. (3) John, born September 22, 1655, died probably without issue. (4) Thom- as, born February 29, 1657-58, married Mary Howlet, January 1, 1683-84, and died in Nor- wich, Conn., April 12, 1735. (5) Edward, born September 10, 1660, married November 6, 1684, Jane Pickhard, and died in 1748. (6) Isabell, born July 21, 1662, married January 16, 1680, John Wood, of Boxford, Mass. (7) Priscilla, born November 25, 1664, married July 21, 1681, Jeremiah Pearson, of Rowley, Mass. (8) Edney, born June 20, 1667, mar- ried August 2, 1686, Timothy Perkins, of Topsfield, Mass. (9) Richard, born August 6, 1669, married (first) December 5, 1694, Mary Peabody; he married (second) Mrs. Grace Kimball. He died in Haverhill, Mass., September 25, 1733. (10) Hiphzebeth, born December 22, 1671, married in 1689, and died in Rowley, November 29, 1689. (II) Sarah, born August 22, 1673, married June 27, 1690, Daniel Wicom, Jr., of Rowley, Massachusetts.

Thomas Hazen, son of Edward, the emi- grant settler, born February 29, 1657-58, owned a farm in Rowley at the time of his father's death ( 1683). He removed to Box- ford before March 22, 1689-90. He was dis- nmissed from the church at Topsfield to be- come one of the constituents of the church in Boxford in 1702, and in 1710 removed to Nor- wich, Conn., called West Farms (now Frank-

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lin) and he and his three sons were among the petitioners for its incorporation. The late Ashbel Woodward, president of the Connecti- cut State Medical Society, who made a close study of the early arrival of the Hazen and other families, says that Edward and another brother also came to Franklin with Thomas. Thomas Hazen married, January I, 1683-84, Mary, daughter of Thomas Howlet. Their children were as follows: (1) Hannah, born October 10, 1684, in Rowley, married John Morse, of Newbury, Mass. (2) Alice was born in Boxford June 16, 1686. (3) John, born in 1688, married Mercy Bradstreet, granddaughter of Gov. Bradstreet. He mar- ried for his second wife, in Norwich, Conn., May 31, 1726, Elizabeth Dart. (4) Ednah, married October 21, 1724, Joshua Smith, of Norwich, Conn. (5) Thomas, baptized at Topsfield, Mass., March 4, 1690 married Sep- tember 30, 1714, Sarah Ayer, of Norwich. For his second wife he married Mrs. Elizabeth Bacon. He died at Norwich, Conn., in 1777. (6) Jacob, baptized at Topsfield, April 24, 1692, was married October 27, 1719, and died at Norwich, Conn., December 22, 1755. His wife's name was Abigail. (7) Mary and (8) Lydia, twins, were baptized at Topsfield April 9, 1694. Lydia married, March 17, 1714, Ben- jamin Abell, of Norwich, Conn. (9) Hepzi- bah, baptized at Topsfield, May 16, 1697, mar- ried October 1, 1716, David Ladd, of Nor- wich, Conn. (10) Ruth, died at Norwich, Conn., February 18, 1739-40. (II) Jeremiah was baptized at Topsfield May 3, 1702.

Jacob Hazen, sixth child and third son of Thomas and Mary (Howlet) Hazen, was bap- tized at Topsfield April 24, 1692, and died at Norwich, Conn., December 22, 1755, aged sixty-three. To him and his wife, Abigail, were born five children: (1) Howlet, born September 13, 1720, died February 12, 1721- 22. (2) Abigail, born July 27, 1722, married March 12, 1740-41, Natlian Stedman. (3)

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Howlet (2), born March 19, 1723-24, married September 8, 1748, Zeruialı Lord, of Norwich, Jon. He migrated to Wyoming, Pa., where he died about three months before the great Indian battle there, in which two of his sons were engaged, and were of the fifty who es- aped. They returned to Connecticut. (4) Temperance, born August 26, 1727, married jedediah Perkins. (5) Jacob, born Novelli- er 30, 1729, married February 12, 1752,

Mary Brett, of Bridgewater. Mass. The date of his death is not known.

Jacob Hazen, son of Jacob and Abigail, maried Mary Brett, and had eleven children : (1) Jacob, born June 20, 1753, married De- cember 30, 1778, Abigail Burnham, of Nor- wich (now Franklin), Conn. (2) William born July 19, 1755, married Hannah Packard, and moved to New York State; they had a large family. (3) Phylena was born May 14, 1758. (4) Lydia, April 24, 1760. (5) Fred- erick, September 25, 1762. (6) Clarinda, July 10, 1765. (7) Lavinia, April 29, 1768. (8) Jabin, December 14, 1770 (died young). (9) John, 1773 (died young). (10) Mary (died young). (II) Jabin (2) (died young).

Frederick Hazen, grandfather of Dr. Mi- ner C. Hazen, was born September 25, 1762, and in 1788 married Sarah Stedman, in Nor- wich, Conn. In 1789 he moved to Tunbridge, Vt., returned in 1792, and moved to Agawam, Mass., in 1799. He died in. 1825. He served in the Revolutionary war in 1780-82, enlist- ing at Norwich, Conn. Grandfather Frederick Hazen was a carpenter and builder, and was a man highly respected by all who knew him. Thirteen children were born to this patriot soldier and his wife, Sarah Stedman : (I) Abi- gail, born December 12, 1788, died in infancy. (2) Rev. Reuben Stedman, born in Tunbridge, Vt., August 26, 1790, married Mary Ann, daughter of Rev. Luke Wood, about 1820. For his second wife he married Eunice King, daughter of Rev. Asa King, in 1831. In 1856 he married ( third) Sarah Burgess. He died in Westminster, Conn., in 1864. In 1821 he was settled over the Agawam and Feeding Hills congregations, and was afterward pastor of churches in Barkhamsted and Westminster, Conn. (3) Sarah, born in 1792, married Amos Fanning in 1812, and died in 1816. (4) Sophia died young. (5) Clarissa died young. (6) Fanny and (7) Frederick, twins, were born in 1797. Fanny married Amos Fanning in 1816. Frederick married Julia Leonard. (8) Henry, the father of our subject, was born in 1799. (9) Abigail, born in 1803, mar- ried Jolin Little, of Columbia, Conn., in 1846, and died in 1800. (10) Miner, born in 1806, married Marilla Johnson in 1835, and died in Philadelphia in 1867. (11) Charles, born in 1808, was married, and died in 1830 in Albany, N. Y. ( 12) William, born in 1810. died in 1830, unmarried. (13) Rev. James Alexan-

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der, born in 1813, married in 1840 Helen Rock- ville, of Windsor, Conn., and (second) in 1844 Fanny L. Grant, of Stafford, Conn. He graduated from Yale College in 1834, studied theology at East Windsor, Conn., and was pastor at Wilbraham and South Williamstown, Mass., and Hanover, Conn. He died in 186 -.

Henry Hazen, the father of Dr. Miner C., and son of Frederick, was born in 1799. He attended the district schools and learned the trade of wagonmaking, which he followed for a brief time, and then, owing to frail health, he engaged in farming in Agawam, Mass., and later in Suffield, Conn. Again set- tling in Agawam. he became one of the lead- ing farmers of the town, having one of the best cultivated farms in the vicinity. He held no office, but was much interested in the town and all progressive measures advanced for the welfare of the community. In 1858 Mr. Hazen disposed of his property, and removed to Han- cock county, Ill., taking with him all his family except his daughter Cynthia and son Miner C. He purchased lands in the county he had chosen for his new home, and carried on farm- ing until 1868, when he returned to the East and settled in Haddam, Conn., buying a farm there, whereon he died in 1879, aged seventy- nine. In 1824 Mr. Hazen married Lucy Com- stock, born in Ivoryton, Conn., who survived him, and also died, in Haddam, in 1891, at the age of eighty-seven. They were members of the Baptist church and were warmly inter- ested in church affairs, contributing freely to the support of the same. Mr. Hazen was a quiet, unassuming man, honorable and true in all his dealings, and made and retained friends, being held in high esteem wherever he lived, both in the East and in the West. All his life he held slavery in abhorrence, and was a strong Abolitionist. He was naturally an earn- est Union man, and sent three of his sons into the great Civil war, one of them, his youngest child and son, Charles Washington, dying in the service.

: Henry and Lucy (Comstock) Huzen had eight children: (1) Howard, born in 1825, was a soldier in the Civil war. He married in Kentucky, and has one daughter, Mary. He now resides in Centerville, Iowa. (2) Eliza, born in 1827, married Henry White, of West Springfield, and both are deceased. They had six children, two of whom have died. John, one of the children, was educated in

Germany and this country in music, and is an organist of much note. He has lived in New York for years and has been organist of Rev. Dr. Hall's church, the St. Francis Xavier, and also of St. Patrick's Cathedral. (3) Dr. Mi- ner C. is our subject. (4) Nelson, born in 1831, married and has five children; he re- sides in Oklahoma. (5) Cynthia, born in 1834, married Chauncey M. Kilbourne, of Newing- ton, Conn., and both are deceased. They had one daughter, Ella, also deceased. (6) Or- ville B., born in 1838, married and resides in Norfolk, Neb. He has several children. One son, Miner Colfax, is one of the rising young lawyers of his community, having studied law with United States Senator Allen, of Nebras- ka. Orville B. Hazen, the father, was in the Civil war, serving in an Illinois regiment. (7). Olivia G., born in 1841, married and has two children, and resides in Los Angeles, Cal. She is an artist, and is an accomplished woman in many ways. (8) Charles Washington, born in 1845, died in 1865. He was a soldier in the War of the Rebellion, serving in an Illinois regiment, and participated with his command in many engagements. He secured a furlough in 1865, and died on his way home. He was a splendid type of the young men who left i, their homes in 1861-65 to fight for the per- petuity of the Union.

Dr. Miner C. Hazen was born February II, 1829, in Agawam, M'ass., and received his early education in the district schools, and the Connecticut Literary Institute, at Suffield, Conn. Removing to Bristol, Conn., he re- mained there three years, teaching in the pub- lic schools, and establishing and continuing for a year a private school of his own. Having decided upon the medical profession as his life work, he also studied medicine there with Dr. Austen, a well known physician of Bris- tol. He then took a course of lectures in the Berkshire Medical College, of Pittsfield, Mass. Returning to Agawam, he supplemented his previous study with a year or more with Dr. Vaille, of Springfield, Mass., then a leading and learned physician and surgeon of the city, and attended lectures at the Medical Depart- ment of the University of Michigan, whence he graduated in 1855. Dr. Hazen's class- mate and chum was the afterward celebrated physician and surgeon, Dr. William! Warren Greene, of Portland, Maine, a brother of Jacob L. Greene, the president of the Connecticut

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Mutual Life Insurance Company of Hart- ford.

Immediately after receiving his degree Dr. Hazen established himself in the practice of his profession in Middletown, Conn., and soon became favorably known as a physician, form- ing permanent and lasting friendships with many of the leading families. After five years of practice in Middletown he removed to Had- dam, Conn., where for forty-two years he has been engaged in the duties of his profession, and is still ( 1902), in his seventv-fourth year, continuing his work, to which he is apparently as much attached as he was in his younger days. Dr. Hazen is a member of the Connecti- cut State Medical Society, the Middlesex County Medical Association, and the American Medical Association. In 1892 he was selected to prepare the Centennial history of the Mid- dlesex County Medical Association, which was published in the same year with the centennial proceedings of the Connecticut Medical So- ciety. Dr. Hazen is held in high esteem, by his medical brethren, as well for his profession- al knowledge as for his many excellent quali- ties of mind and heart. He is a member of Granite Lodge, A F. & A. M., of Haddam. The Doctor was a member of the Baptist Church in Middletown. also of the Baptist Church in Haddam. Later he joined the Con- gregational Church there, in the work of which he has been active also, and has served as dea- con of the church. He is a stanch Republican, and was county commissioner for six years, having been appointed to that office by Govs. Hubbard and Bigelow. In connection with the practice of his profession, Dr. Hazen has been interested in agricultural matters, trying to make two spears of grass grow on his Con- necticut farm where but one grew before. He has been a great admirer, and to a considerable extent breeder, of Jersey cattle, having raised some of the finest specimens produced in the State, thus materially adding to the value of this important branch of agriculture.

Dr. Hazen was married April 28, 1852, to Lemira R., daughter of Orrin and Annah (Gaylord) Judson, of Bristol, Conn. Richard Judson, her grandfather, born February II, 1772, was a farmer of Newtown, Conn. He was married January 1, 1794, to Thamar C. Sherwood, born December 16, 1775. Their children were: Daniel, Sallie, Orrin (the father of Mrs. Hazen), Charles, Rebecca, Rus-

sell, Roswell and Samuel, all deceased except Rebecca, who has now ( 1902) reached the advanced age of ninety-six years. Orrin Jud- son was a farmer living in Bristol, Conn., was an upright, honorable man, and served as jus- tice of the peace. He was a member of the Baptist Church. Prior to the Civil war he was a Democrat, but became a Republican then, and was a warm supporter of the Gov- ernment during those trying days. He died in Bristol at the age of eighty. Mr. Judson was married, in 1825, to Annah Gaylord, daughter of Elam and Rachel (Gridley) Gay- lord, of Bristol, Conn. The children born to this union were: Ann C., Lemira R. ( Mrs. Hazen), and Silliman O. The last named married Eunice Prince, of Plymouth, Conn., and had three children, all now deceased, as is also the father. Ann C. married Meshach W. Ball, of Agawam, Mass., and they had four children, Lewis J. ( who is one of the leading grocers of Springfield, Mass.), Bessie A., Nor- man (deceased) and Mary J.

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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 89

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