Commemorative biographical record of Middlesex County, Connecticut : containing biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens, and of many of the early settled families, Part 90

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 90

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Children as follows came to the union of Dr. Miner C. Hazen and his wife, Lemira R. : (I) Charles Sumner, born in Middletown, Conn., May 30, 1856, died in 1866. (2) George Hannum, born in Middletown, Janu- ary 17, 1858, received his early education in the district schools of Haddam and Middle- town, Conn., where he was graduated from the high school. He graduated from the New York University in the class of 1881. and since that time has been associated with the Century Company, of New York. On July 9, 1885, he was married to Ella Gardner, daughter of William and Mary ( Wright) Gardner, of New York, and they have had four children, Charles Sumner ( deceased), William Gardner, Dorothy and Anna. (3) Edward Warriner, born February 13, 1860, at Middletown, Conn., attended the district schools of Haddam, the Brainerd Academy, and the Wesleyan Academy, at Wilbrahamn. Mass. He is at present western manager for the Curtis Publishing Company, with offices in Chicago. Mr. Hazen was married September 22, 1886, to Helen A., daughter of Capt. Da- vid C. and Julia ( Dickinson ) Russell, of Had- dam. Conn. (4) Mary Eliza, born May 7. 1862, in Haddam, was educated in the dis- trict schools at Haddam, the Brainerd Acade- my, and the Morgan school, at Clinton, Conn. On December 27, 1890, she married Frank H.

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Arnold, son of Henry B. and Mary (Noble) Arnold, of Haddam, and resides in Waterbury, Conn., where Mr. Arnold holds a responsible position with the Benedict & Burnham Com- pany. (5) Annah' Judson, born September 30, 1865, in Haddam, Conn., died May 28, 1868. (6) Henry Comstock, born September 24, 1867, in Haddam, was educated in the dis- trict schools of Haddam, Brainerd Academy, the high school of Middletown, Conn., and the academy at Wilbraham, Mass. He studied medicine with his father, attended the Burling- ton (Vt.) Medical College, and was three years in the College of Physicians and Sur- geons, in New York City, from whence he graduated in 1891. He was attached to the medical staff of the Charity Hospital of New York for eighteen months, and served on the staff of the Hospital of the New York Lying- in Society. He is a prominent young physi- cian and surgeon, has a large practice, and is connected with several of the city hospitals. He was married (first) September 10, 1896, to Anne L., daughter of Prof. J. Lewis Smith, M. D., of New York City. She died May 6, 1898. Dr. Hazen was married (second) Janu- ary 10, 1900, to Ethel Smith, a sister of his deceased wife. (7) Lucy Abigail, born Sep- tember 5, 1869, in Haddam, was educated in the Haddam public schools, the Brainerd Acad- emy, and the Normal School at New Britain, Conn., where she prepared herself for kinder- garten work, and is now a successful teacher in the Hartford public schools. (8) Josiah Judson, born December II, 1871, in Haddam, attended the district schools at Haddam, the Brainerd Academy, and the Connecticut Liter- ary Institute, at Suffield, Conn .; he studied four years in Phillips Academy, at Andover, Mass., and was graduated from Yale Univer- sity in 1898. He is connected in business with the B. F. Cummins Company, of Chicago.

On April 28, 1902, Dr. and Mrs. Hazen, surrounded by their surviving children and grandchildren, celebrated the golden anni- versary of their wedding. Mr. and Mrs. M. W. Ball, of Springfield, the latter Mrs. Ha- zen's sister, who "stood up" with the Doctor and his wife on the occasion of their mar- riage, also came to add their congratulations. Telegram's and letters of congratulation, many of the latter containing photographs, poured in during the day, many boxes of choice flow- ers were also received, and a large number

of friends called to express their good wishes. In the evening there was a delegation of chil- dren from the County Home, who brought a box of fifty roses, pink and white. Later came a body of people from the village, who pre- sented a purse of gold, and the Shailerville Fife and Drum Corps united with the Haddam drummers in a serenade. The grandchildren presented a loving cup, the children a substan- tial sum in gold. Dr. Hazen responded to the remarks made by the Rev. Mr. Lewis, and, after reading a poem from Whittier which expressed his feelings, requested the entire company to join in singing the Portugese hymn. The occasion was one which will long be remembered by those who had the pleasure of participation.

THE DURHAM MEMORIAL PUBLIC LIBRARY was dedicated August 14, 1902, and presented to the town. It was a gift from the townspeople, costing, complete, about $7,000.

Through the public spirit and united effort of the freemen, the clergy, the school teachers, the noble women, the school children and friends, a fund was established in an annual appropriation by the town for the purchase of books : and the erection of the building was secured by popular subscription. The heart of a woman patron was touched by the needs of a home for the increasing number of vol- unies, the result being the gift of a beautiful site, dedicated for two centuries to Christianity and education, the pastoral home of the early church, a gift of a worthy descendant of a most noble and worthy ancestor.

Among those to memory dear who labored long and earnestly in the accomplishment of this work was Miss Mary J. Camp. Faithful as a teacher, she gave a quickening of thought and an inspiration of heart and soul to many a youth of her native town. The crowning acts of her life were in the care and improve- ment of the cemeteries, the identifying and marking of the graves of Revolutionary sol- diers, and the educational influence exerted for the public library.

Words fail to do justice to the ladies who for more than two years labored to create the fund for this building. Entertainments, per- sonal solicitation and the aggressiveness of an active campaign kept alive the interest which culminated in success. The school chil-

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dren performed well their part in this achieve- ment. The proceeds from the sale of the last church edifice on the meeting-house green made this building possible. Tracing down through the two hundred years of Durham his- tory to this last Ecclesiastical Society and to this building, we connect the stalwart men of the past, whose memories we revere and whose example we emulate.

This Memorial Library is the first brick building erected in Durham, the third of its kind in the State, contributed entirely from its own people-a noble tribute to the sagacity, liberality and public spirit of its most active business men.

PHILIP BAKER has long held a con- spicuous position in Cromwell, Middlesex county. Born in Hessen, Germany, he is a son of Henry Baker, a prominent farmer in Hes- sen, where he and his wife died. Henry Baker married Caroline Genshemer, and they had the following children: Philip; Henry, who died at the age of twenty-two years; Jacob, who is now living in Brooklyn ; and Peter, who is liv- ing in Germany.

Philip Baker was born March 13, 1828, and was a scholar in the public schools of his native village. His father died when he was six years old, and his mother when he was ten. Starting out at that tender age to make his way in the world, he began by learning the trade of a barber, and had to pay for the priv- ilege. Later on in his apprenticeship he re- ceived his board and twenty cents a week. For seven years he was a barber in Heidelberg. In December, 1851, Mr. Baker sailed from Lon- don, England, bound for New York, which point he reached after a voyage of eighteen days, December 24, 1851, with a small amount of money in his pocket. Finding work at once, at the corner of Green and Broom streets, he held the position for six months, when he went to Cornwall, now a part of Newburgh, and there he worked for a time in the brickyard. In the fall he returned to New York, and worked in a shop on Hutchins street, which he bought after a time, continuing in its manage- ment for seven years. At the expiration of this time he sold and came to Cromwell, where he was employed in the finishing department of the factory of J. & E. Stevens, remaining with this firm for seventeen years, at the end

of which time he located on his present farm, which he bought of Conrad Moore. It con- tains twenty-two acres, devoted to market gar- dening.

Mr. Baker was married in New York, Sep- tember 24, 1854, to Caroline Mankey, who was born May 31, 1839, in Hanover, Germany, and was brought by her parents to this country when a girl of eleven years. Henry Mankey, her father, was a farmer. To Mr. and Mrs. Baker have come the following children: (1) Henry, born July 20, 1855, died in infancy. (2) Emma, born January 16, 1857, married Charles Beals, a merchant of Newark, N. J., and is the mother of one child, Mary. (3) (4) John H. was born February 14, 1859. Mary, born March 10, 1861, married Oscar Schultz, a Middletown meat dealer, and is the mother of six children, Carrie, Oscar, Emma, John, Alfred and Paul. (5) Dora, born May 16, 1864, married A. Drayer, a farmer of Westfield, and is the mother of three children, Edward, Elena and Hattie. (6) William, born April 5, 1866, is now living in New Mex- ico, where he is engaged in bridge construc- tion. (7) Jacob, born September 25, 1868, is at home. (8) Elizabeth, born November 15, 1870, is deceased. (9) Frederick, born March 2, 1873, is deceased. (10) Edward L., born August 22, 1875 is deceased. (II) Charles, born December 27, 1877, is living at home, and is employed by the Berlin Iron Bridge Company, of Berlin, Conn. ( 12) Alfred was born September 12, 1881. (13) Caroline J., born in 1883, is at home.

Mr. Baker is a Democrat, and has served two terms on the board of selectmen in Crom- well. With his wife he belongs to the Bap- tist Church. They are good people, and have the confidence and respect of the community to a marked degree.

NEWTON PHILO BEVIN, son of Philo Bevin [see Bevin family], was born May 16, 1849, on Bevin Hill, in the town of Chat- ham, village of East Hampton, in Middlesex county. He received excellent schooling, be- ginning at the school of his native village and subsequently attending French's well-known school at New Haven. He spent three years at Phillips Academy, Andover, Mass., and one term at a classical school maintained by Guy B. Day, at Bridgeport, Conn. On leaving

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school he entered the bell shops of the Bevin Brothers Manufacturing Company, at East Hampton, and continued ten years, in this way mastering all the details of the business.

In 1878 Mr. Bevin went to New York and entered the retail dry-goods house of A. T. Stewart & Co., as collector, remaining two years. He was next, for a period of eight years, with Hard & Rand, coffee importers of New York. In 1888 he went to Colorado, and spent ten years in that State, being interested in mining and real-estate operations. He re- turned to New York in 1898, but was called to his native home, two years later, to settle up the affairs of his deceased brother, S. Mills Bevin. In this undertaking he was brought into close business relations with his brother's widow, and the acquaintance thus formed led to mutual affection, and resulted in their mar- riage, on June 20, 1901. Soon thereafter they took up their residence at Jamaica, N. Y., where they now reside. Mr. Bevin accepts the religious faith of the Congregational Church, and has always been a Republican in political principle.

WILLIAM CLARK is spending the last years of a long and industrious life in honora- ble retirement in the East Long Hill District, of Middletown, Middlesex county in an invit- ing and pleasant home.

The ancestry of the Clark family runs back to John Clark, who was born in Ipswich, Eng- land, in 1612, and came to Massachusetts in 1634. He was among the very earliest set- tlers of New Haven, where he assisted in the formation of the government. In 1648 he is recorded as clerk of the militia. He married a daughter of George Lamberton, of the "Phantom Ship." Their son, John, born in New Haven in 1637, was known as "Plain John," to distinguish him from other John Clarks who had various titles; he had none, and his democratic nature is evidenced in his assumption of "Plain John." John Clark mar- ried Abigail Cheney, and their children were Anna, John, Ambrose, Cheney and Eunice.

Ambrose Clark, known as "Lord Am," born in 1696, was an extensive land owner in Middletown, owning one tract eighty rods wide and four miles long. His house in Long Hill was noted for its size. He married Eliz- abeth Ward, who was born in 1694, daughter

of James and Elizabeth ( Rockwell) Ward. He died in 1764. His children were: Annie, Elizabeth, John, Ambrose, Eunice, Sarah, Samuel, Lamberton, Mary and William.

Lamberton Clark was born in 1731 and married Rebecca Jones, of Saybrook, Conn. They had the following children: John, Mary and Thomas. Mrs. Rebecca Clark died in 1758, and Mr. Clark married, for his second wife, Sarah Foster. Their children were: Lamberton, Samuel, Ambrose, Stephen, George, Daniel, Enoch, William, Michael and Seth.

Ambrose Clark, son of Lamberton, was born in 1763, and resided in Middletown, and later in Glastonbury. He married Alice Ran- som, daughter of Peleg Ransom, and their children were: Sally, Peleg, Daniel, William, Polly (who married Parley Bidwell), Am- brose and Sally.

William Clark, son of Ambrose and father of William Clark, whose name introduces this article, was born at Glastonbury, Conn., in February, 1792. In early life he worked in the Portland quarries. For a short time after his marriage he was a farmer, but most of his time during his active life was spent in the quarries, where he worked altogether some twenty-five years. In Newfield he purchased a farm which is now occupied by the Caleb Johnson brick vard, and there he died in Oc- tober, 1855. William Clark married Lucy Bowers, who was born in Portland in Feb- ruary, 1798, and died in 1847. Their children were: Lucy Ann married Samuel Reeves, of Portland, where she died. Sarah M. married Samuel Fenn, and died in Middletown. Will- iam is mentioned below.

Elizabeth married Robert Dunlap, and later became the wife of Dexter B. Breckinridge; she is now living with her brother William. Laura married Henry Thompson, and is now living in East Haddam, Connecticut.

William Clark, whose name appears at the opening of this article, was born July 25, 1825, in what is now Portland, and when eight years old moved with his parents to the farm noted above. At the age of sixteen he left school and began learning the stonecutter's trade un- der the instruction of Thomas Simpson, with whom he remained two years, after which he spent three years in the Portland quarries. At Meriden he was employed in Miller's Brass

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Works for a season, and for some months he was in the Shailer & Hall quarry at Portland. Following this he worked for his brother-in- law, Samuel Fenn, in the trucking business, and then spent two years at home, helping his father in the care of the farm. During this time his father died. At Middletown he was employed in various lines until 1861, when he enlisted in Company A, Second Connecticut Volunteer Infantry, under Capt. Dickinson, the first company to leave Middletown. Mr. Clark was on detail duty near the scene of the first battle of Bull Run. His first enlistment was under the three months' call, and in Sep- tember, 1861, he re-enlisted, from Middle- town, in Company D, Twenty-fourth Connecti- cut Volunteer Infantry, under Capt. Parker. The regiment was sent to Port Hudson, and was there at the time of its surrender, July 8, 1863, after which the command was sent to Ship Island, where many died from diarrhoea, Mr. Clark was mustered out at Middletown, September 30, 1863, with health much broken . down.

For some years Mr. Clark was employed in and around Middletown, and for seventeen years he was employed in the W. B. Douglass factory. He has always been a hard worker, and in his habits economical. In 1870 he bought the land on which he has since made his home. Since 1898 he has lived retired. Mr. Clark has trained under the banner of the Republican party since its organization; he voted for Gen. Fremont. He is a member of the Mansfield Post, No. 53, G. A. R. Mr. Clark has never married.

JAMES HEZEKIAH PELTON. For many years the name of Pelton has been widely and favorably known in Middlesex county, and especially in the town of Portland, where the ancestors of our subject figured in its affairs, and their descendants have since been identi- fied with the town's history.

James H. Pelton is connected with two of the oldest families in Middlesex, the Penfields and the Hamlins, the Pelton line being through John, Samuel, John, Joseph, Abner, Abner, Jr., Hezekiah G., reaching James H., in the eighth generation. The Hamlin line is through Giles ( who in 1650 came to Middle- town), William, Charles, Charles (2), Esther

Hamlin, Hezekiah G. Pelton, reaching our subject in the seventh generation.

(I) John Pelton came from England to Boston about 1633, removing to Dorchester about 1643.

(II) Samuel Pelton, son of John, the im- migrant, born in 1647, married Mary Smith.

(III) John Pelton, son of Samuel, born in Dorchester in 1682, was the first of the family to settle in Middletown. He married Jemima Johnson. His death occurred in 1735, and he was buried in the old cemetery at Essex, Con- necticut.

(IV) Joseph Pelton, son of John, was born at Lyme, Conn., in 1744, lived on Penfield Hill, and died in 1804. His wife, Anna Penfield, a native of Chatham, died in 1797. Their chil- dren were: Elizabeth; Sarah married Jona- athan Brown; Jonathan ; Joseph; Joseph (2), known as Capt. Joseph, died in Great Barring- ton; Abner; Anna married Charles Davis, of Portland; Jonathan died in Euclid, Ohio; Elizabeth (2) married Moses Stocking, and died in Sheffield, Mass .; Azubah married Amos Nathaniel Roberts, and died in Water- loo, N. Y .; Asahel married Nabby Ranny, of Portland; Reuel, married Lucy Barnes, of Cromwell, and died at Sherman, Chautauqua Co., N. Y. ; and Hatsel. married Hannah Stiles, and later removed by ox teams to Woodstock, Connecticut.

(V) Abner Pelton was born at Chatham, in 1755, lived on Penfield Hill, served in the Revolutionary war and died in 1846. He mar- ried first Sarah Bidwell, and second Mrs. Dorothy Bagley. Of his children we have the following record: Matilda, who married Jon- athan Bush ; Amos, killed by a fall from a tree ; Abner, Jr., who died in 1841 ; Sarah, who mar- ried Jabez Norton; Jeremiah; Vienna, mar- ried to Duell Goff ; and Philinda.

(VI) Abner Pelton, Jr., was born in Chatham, and lived in Penfield Hill District. where he engaged in an agricultural life, and died in 1841. In 1801 he first married Esther Hamlin, daughter of Charles Hamlin, of Middletown. In 1833 he married Mrs. Sophironia (Strong) Whitmore, daughter of Samuel Strong, of Middletown, and she sur- vived until 1870. Abner Pelton, Jr., was the father of the following children: (1) Eben- ezer Brown, born in 1802, left Portland and re-

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moved to Massachusetts, where he was a mem- ber of the Legislature from Hampden county. He married (first) Prudence Gertrude Pen- field, of Portland, (second) Sophia Northam, of Gilead, Conn., became the father of thir- teen children, and died in Lowville, N. Y. (2) Charles Hamlin followed the printing trade for sixty years, at one time under Horace Greeley, but he returned to Middletown and was the oldest printer in Connecticut at time of death. He married (first) Matilda Graves of Hebron, Conn., and (second) Emily Hall, of Meriden. (3) Hezekiah is mentioned fur- ther below. (4) Sarah Bidwell, married Henry Conklin of Portland. (5) Vienna, born in 1813, married Benjamin Abbey. (6) Amos, born in 1815, went West, and married in Ohio, later becoming a farmer in Illinois.

(VII) Hezekiah Goodrich Pelton was born May 8, 1806, in Portland, and resided in the Penfield Hill district where he had been reared a farmer. He lived at one time on the site of what is the town farm of Portland, but about 1840 bought the farm where he lived and died, his son, James H., now occupying and owning the same. From the organization of the party Mr. Pelton was a Republican, and served as selectman for the town of Portland, always doing his best for the interest of the community. His death occurred October 20, 1886, general regret being felt over the pass- ing away of one who possessed the esteem of all. Although he was a farmer, he was a man of wide reading, fond of poetry, and was always well posted in the issues of the day. He was one of the devoted adherents of the Episcopal Church. On June 3, 1833, Mr. Pel- ton married Elizabeth Ann Penfield, who was born May 1, 1808, a daughter of Zebulon and Prudence (Dixon) Penfield. Their children were: (I) Philip Sage, born in 1834, resides at St. Louis, Mo. He married Leona A. Gal- lagher. (2) George Henry, born in 1837, is a sailor and resides in Meriden ; he has passed many years in California and in Australia. (3) Jane Robertson, born in 1839, died in 1884. (4) Edward Franklin, born in 1842, served in the war of the Rebellion, as a mem- ber of Company D, Twentieth Connecticut Volunteer Infantry, and was killed at Peach Tree Creek in August, 1864. (5) James H. (6) Elizabeth Lavinia, born in 1849, resides with her brother on the home farm.

James H. Pelton was born January 12, 1846, in the town of Portland, and his chief occupation has been in agriculture, the well-tilled fields of the farm on which he lives, a short distance from the center of the village, giving evidence of what intelligent effort in agricultural pursuits will accomplish. His education was obtained in the schools of Dis- trict No. 6, Portland, and he recalls his first teacher, Hon. Levi Warner. At the age of fifteen he left school, being at that time well advanced in his classes, and remained at home, as he was the only boy of the family not al- ready engaged in other business.

Early interested in politics, he was made assessor in 1871, giving the office up volun- tarily; in 1881 he became a member of the board of selectmen, and served six years, then being made first selectman. Mr. Pelton has served in many other offices in the gift of the people, and for a number of years has been a justice of the peace, his successive election to these offices, without solicitation on his part, showing the confidence and esteem in which he is held by the people of Portland. Under his administration the roads of the town have been placed in excellent condition. and show the efficiency of his efforts. Fra- ternally, Mr. Pelton is connected with War- ren Lodge, F. & A. M., and Freestone Chap- ter, R. A. M., and is also a member of the Sons of the American Revolution, through his great-grandfather Abner Pelton. Reared in the Episcopal Church he has long been one of the vestry of Trinity Church, of Portland, and is one of the members prominently identi- fied with all its interests.

JONATHAN W. CLARKE (deceased), who was one of the wealthiest and most in- fluential citizens of Haddam, was a great- grandson of Jonathan Clarke, a native of Hig- ganum, Conn., and a descendant of the Clarkes who were among the original settlers of Had- dam, in 1662. The grandfather was a seafar- ing man, and lost his life on a voyage. He married Mary Brainerd, who for her second husband married a Mr. Lewis.

Jonathan Clarke, father of Jonathan W., was born May 9, 1776, in Higganum, and died February 24, 1839. He was a shoemaker by trade, and later engaged in farming, finally lo- cating in Turkey Hill; he died in the town of

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Haddam! At one time he was quite an exten- sive farmer, and was also interested in lumber- ing. Politically Mr. Clarke was a Democrat. He married Lydia Dennison, of Essex, Conn., who was born October 17, 1774, and died Oc- tober 26, 1843, and their children were: Sabra D. married Samuel Tyler, of the Turkey Hill District; Lydia Williams married William Wells, of East Hampton, now deceased; Jon- athan Williams is our subject proper.

Jonathan W. Clarke was born October 5, 1812, in a house near his late home, purchased by his father in connection with a four-acre tract of land. He attended the district schools, and subsequently the high school, in Haddam, and at the age of fourteen was deemed old enough to be thrown upon his own resources. He began work at Long Hill, entering the ivory factory, where he remained until he was twenty-three, being employed through many years for Dickinson & Dea and John Shailer, and ten years for Samuel Arnold, in the quar- ries, leaving that work to engage in farming. Before his death he became one of the largest landowners in the county. His yields from his agricultural work were large; he sold 800 bushels of potatoes alone a year, and also grew! tobacco successfully, besides engaging at times in other lines-the wood business, cattle raising, etc., and being successful in almost all. He had at one time as many as twenty-five head of stock. He and Herman Clark were the first to try the raising of to- bacco in his neighborhood.

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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 90

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