Commemorative biographical record of Middlesex County, Connecticut : containing biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens, and of many of the early settled families, Part 91

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 91

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On August 25, 1834, Mr. Clarke married Catherine Smith, a daughter of Henry and Sylvia (Stephens) Smith, born September 9, 1814. Mrs. Clarke had one sister, Lydia, the wife of Harry Dickinson, now deceased. To Mr. and Mrs. Clarke came the following chil- dren : Philetta M., born March 2, 1836, mar- ried Charles Wilcox, of the Burr District, and died February 11, 1860. Henry S., born Au- gust 1, 1842, died July 3, 1896; he married Louisa Brainerd, and lived in Beaver Meadow, town of Haddam. Dennison Williams, born November 25, 1847, married Isabel Converse, and Judson Wells, born April 8, 1852, died May 10, 1873.

In politics Mr. Clarke was an old-time Democrat, with fixed ideas concerning the principles of his party. For many years he was prominently identified with the public af- fairs of his town, his first service as select- 32

man covering a period of twenty years through the period of the Civil war, when he was obliged to manage everything himself ; his second term lasted fifteen years. His term of office as justice of the peace expired when he reached his seventieth birthday; for thirty years previously he had faithfully performed its duties. During 1872-73 he represented the town in the State Legislature, and was one of the committee on Court Houses. Mr. Clarke was also ex-director of the Higganum Bank, of the Deep River Bank, and of other organ- izations, but lived retired for some years pre- vious to his decease, August 27, 1900. Mrs. Clarke survived him until February 10, 1902. Mr. Clarke did all in his power to increase the business and educational interests of his county and State, and was looked upon as being in every sense a representative citizen.

DENNISON WILLIAMS CLARKE, son of the late Jonathan W. Clarke, of Haddam, and a successful and enterprising business man of Middletown, much respected for his many manly qualities, was born in Haddam Novem- ber 25, 1847. He received his education in the district schools of his native town and at the Brainerd Academy. His business career began with the formation of a partnership with his brother, Judson, they carrying on the shoe business in South Farms. His brother dying, Mr. Clarke continued the business alone for about four years. From there he re- moved to Meriden, where he was in the same line one year, and then transferred his shoe business to Middletown, opening a fine store on Main street. He successfully maintained and increased the business until April. 1897, when he closed it out to devote himself to look- ing after his aged parents, who continued to re- side on the old homestead at Turkey Hill. Mr. Clarke continued to reside in Middle- town, but he went regularly each week to see after the affairs of the estate, which comprised 1,200 or more acres, and which upon the death of his parents became his inheritance. He still retains his home in Mid- dletown, but he spends much of his time at the homestead, particularly during the summer. Mr. Clarke has, after having made a special study of the Angora goat and its commercial valne, purchased a number of these animals, and has at present a flock of twenty-seven fine goats, nearly all being registered stock. He is

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the only man now engaged in this line in Mid- dlesex County.

Politically, like his honored father, Mr. Clarke is a Democrat. He has not held public office, but in other lines he has been a busy man, devoting time and money to promoting the activity of church and societies. He has held all the offices in the First Congregational Church of Middletown except that of deacon, and is a valued member of the same; he has also been interested in the Y. M. C. A. and has held offices and served on the various com- mittees of the same. Fraternally he is a mem- ber of Apollo Lodge, No. 33, Knights of Pythias, of Middletown, Conn., and of the Brotherhood of Andrew and Philip Church So- ciety. In all life's relations Mr. Clarke has been a good citizen, interested in his city and its affairs. He has led an industrious life, has prospered, and now stands among the most respected residents of his city and county.

Mrs. Dennison W. Clarke was born in Chicopee, Mass., and was educated there and in a private school in Agawam, Mass. Her father, Samuel Converse, married Elizabeth Bullard, daughter of Benjamin Bullard. Sam- uel Converse was in the eighth generation from Samuel Converse, the emigrant ancestor, who came from England and settled at Thomp- son, Conn., where he was the third signer of the covenant establishing the Congregational Church at that place. The Bullard family was an old and honored one in Massachusetts, settling first at Haverhill, that State. From there grandfather Benjamin Bullard removed to New Hampshire, and thence to Chicopee, Mass, where he was a deacon in the Baptist Church, and a man of very high character, greatly respected by all who knew him.

ELLSWORTH W. NORTON. In the Norton family there is a tradition of three brothers, who came over from England and settled in different sections of Connecticut. One located in Killingworth, and from him are descended the family of whom Ellsworth W. is a member.

Thomas Norton, the great-grandfather of Ellsworth W., was a resident of Killingworth, where his son Russell was born.

Russell Norton, son of Thomas, spent his entire life in Killingworth, engaged in farm- ing and became the owner of a large estate.

He was twice married and he died at the age of sixty. His children by his first marriage wlere: Willard, George, Alfred, Jeremiah and Janette; and by the second marriage was born Diana, who married Edward Stevens, of North Madison.

Jeremiah Norton, son of Russell and fa- ther of our subject, was born in North Kill- ingworth where his life was passed, and where he died in 1852. He married Bethsheba Wil- cox, who was born in Killingworth, a daugh- ter of Henry and Hannah (Turner) Wilcox, and who died at the early age of thirty. The second marriage of Mr. Norton was to Sa- phronia Wilcox, a cousin of his former wife. The children of the first union were: Ells- worth W .; and Cordelia J., widow of William A. Redfield, a native of Killingworth, has three children, and lives in Humboldt, Kan. By the second marriage were born: Cynthia, who married and lives in Bridgeport, Conn .; William E .; and Egbert I., of Ivoryton, for many years connected with The Comstock, Cheney & Co.

Ellsworth W. Norton was born in Killing- worth September 23, 1841, but at the age of ten years went to Guilford and remained in that neighborhood for the succeeding six years, later becoming something of a rover. His education was obtained at Killingworth and Guilford. At the age of sixteen he shipped aboard a coasting schooner, and for four years lived a life on the water, beginning as a hand before the mast and rising to the important position of second mate in the mer- chant service. Later he was employed by the government for two and one-half years as a member of the construction corps. Becoming tired of a roving life, Mr. Norton returned to his old home in Killingworth, which he has always regarded as the garden spot of Con- necticut, and there bought a shop and em- barked in a small way in the business of wood- turning and sawing. In 1884 he moved to Essex, where he has remained in the same business ever since, employing a number of men, and where he also engages in some car- penter work, his own home being one of the most substantial in the town of Centerbrook. In politics Mr. Norton is a stanch Republican, but his tastes have never been in the direction of office, his business claiming his attention.

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Ellsworth W. Norton was united in mar- riage with Elizabeth E. Turner, of Killing- worth, a daughter of Dr. Rufus and Sarah (Wooster) Turner, and two daughters have been born of this union, Jennie I., born Feb- ruary 23, 1871 ; and Belle Louise, born July II, 1873. The entire family are members of the Congregational Church.

Dr. Rufus Turner was a distinguished man, and had an interesting career. In 1813-14 he attended the first course of medi- cal lectures given in Yale College, other mem- bers of that class being Dr. A. L. Bissell, Dr. W. L. Lay and Jared P. Kirtland, with whom he kept up an intimacy which lasted through life. That course of lectures was remarkable on acount of the learned instructors, they be- ing such men as Prof. Silliman, Dr. Knight, Dr. Smith, and others of no less renown. Dr. Turner settled in Killingworth where he en- gaged in the practice of his profession for a season covering thirty-seven years, during which time almost every family in the neigh- borhood had occasion to make demands upon is skill. Careful, faithful and generous, Dr. Turner's memory is enshrined in the hearts of he people of this part of the State. His de- sire was to educate his family well, and he vas always identified with any measure look- ng toward educational advancement in the community. He was one of the earliest ar- lent advocates of temperance, and was a true philanthropist. His tales of his early rides on forseback to visit patients scattered through Killingworth, Haddam, Chester, Winthrop nd North Madison, ploughing through snow (rifts, with boots filled with water and cloth- ng soaked with rain, were very interesting, nd only an iron constitution could have held ut so long. Though a man of perfect physical ealth, in youth weighing 200 pounds, the vear and tear of such a hard life finally told pon him, and his death occurred November I, 1851. The honorary degree of M. D. was eceived from the medical society and Yale College, in 1830, and lie was made a fellow* nd member of the standing committee to ominate professors for Yale College for a umber of years. Among thie town offices lie eld with honor, was treasurer for the school oard, having at different times served in all le local offices.

JOHN LOGAN, an industrious and steady-going citizen of Middletown, Middle- sex county, has since 1862 been continuously in the employ of the Russell Manufacturing Company at Middletown, and is regarded as one of the most reliable and trustworthy men connected with that institution. He came to the United States when nineteen years old, and with the help of a good wife has secured a comfortable home and reared a good fam- ily. He is a man of energy and thrifty habits, and his reputation is that of an upright and straightforward character.

Mr. Logan is a full-blooded Scotchman, born in Glasgow, Scotland, January 8, 1840, son of William and Margaret ( Pettigrew) Logan. His father, who was a block printer, died November 17, 1846. Margaret Petti- grew was born November 22, 1818, in Scot- land. They had the following children : (1) John is mentioned below. (2) Margaret M., born July 25, 1841, is now; Mrs. Daniel G. Chattaway, and lives in South Farms. She has been twice married. (3) Jeannette, born November 23, 1843, married Alexander Ritchie, and died in Rockville, Conn. (4) Alexander, born Jan. 18, 1846, died February 7, 1847. The father died in Scotland, and the mother, after remaining a widow some time married Samuel Longworth, and came with him to the United States. They sailed from Greenock, on the vessel "Glasgow," and after a three weeks' voyage landed at New York, in the latter part of September, 1859, coming directly to Middletown. By the second union there were two children: (1) James born July 2, 1853, is a farmer, and is men- tioned elsewhere. (2) Elizabeth, born Jan- uary 29, 1855, died young. Mrs. Longworth always lived in Johnson's Lane after coming to Middletown, and she died there March 4, 1897. She was buried in Farm Hill ceme- tery.

John Logan, the only living male repre- sentative of his father's family, had but little schooling, being the eldest child of his wid- owed mother, who had a family to support. He learned tlie carpenter's trade while he was still a young boy, serving at same something over four years, in Paisley, Scotland. Al- most as soon as he had finished his appren- ticeship he came to this country, 1859, and

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found work as a carpenter at Middletown, Conn., with Jehosaphat Spencer, building a flume for his sawmill. Mr. Logan continued working at his trade, and for about three years was in the employ of J. W. Hubbard, at housebuilding. Since 1862 he has been with the Russell Manufacturing Company. He voted for Abraham Lincoln on the occa- sion of his candidacy for the Presidency in 1864. Fraternally he belongs to Central Lodge, No. 12, I. O. O. F., at Middletown.

John Logan and Miss Elizabeth Bacon were married March 24, 1867. Mrs. Logan was born January 26, 1841, eldest child of Capt. Charles and Eunice (Bridgham) Ba- con; a sketch of her father appears elsewhere. Their three children are as follows: (1) Ida Eloise, born May 27, 1868, was married July 24, 1887, to John Hopkins, and lives in South Farms. They became the parents of three children-George Logan, born January 19, 1889, who died January 31, 1891; Grace M., born September 19, 1891; and Paul Milton, born May 27, 1896. (2) John W. was born February 14, 1870. (3) Robert S., born May 5, 1873, is mentioned presently. Mrs. Logan belongs to the Methodist church. The family home, on Wall street, was built about 1872, and there they live, enjoying the re- sults of honest and industrious lives.

ROBERT S. LOGAN, youngest son of John Logan, was born May 5, 1873, in the homestead on Wall street, South Farms and obtained his education in the public schools of Middletown. Being a bright and earnest lad, filled with the hunger after education that is a characteristic of the Scottish blood, he acquired a good store of valuable information. In 1891 he began his life career as a clerk for Charles Brainard, the shoe merchant of Mid- dletown, and has proved in every way a capa- ble and progressive young man. He was married, January 25, 1899, to Miss Kather- ine Schwarz, of Middletown, who was born in Germany, in April, 1881, daughter of Ja- cob Schwarz, and came to this country with her parents in the spring of 1882. They have two sons: Sterling Meredith, born March 15, 1900, and Wilton Chesleigh, born July 19, 1901. Mr. Logan is one of the popular and ef- ficient young men now engaged in mercantile pursuits in Middletown, and there is none his

age more highly esteemed by those who appre- ciate steady purpose, upright character and steady habits in a young man. Having a good education, he is well prepared for a business career, and his friends not unwisely anticipate for him a successful future.

GEORGE M. PRATT. In these days, when so many are declaiming about the loss of opportunity to the average man, asserting that many of the old-time avenues to recogni- tion and promotion are closed, or at least barred with locks which respond only to golden keys, it is gratifying to meet with examples like the one afforded by the life of George M. Pratt, of Middletown, Middlesex county, one of the city's most prominent business men and highly respected citizens.

George M. Pratt was born on February 8, 1829, at Ludlow, Mass., son of John and Adeline ( Aldrich) Pratt. The Pratt family is one of the very oldest in the history of New England, and the branch to which our subject belongs descended in a direct line from' one Matthew Pratt, as follows : Matthew Pratt settled at Weymouth, Mass. He had a son Samuel, who married Hannah Rogers and died in 1678. His son, also named Samuel, was born November 15, 1670, and died August II, 1728; he married a lady whose first name was Patience, and their son, Capt. Benjamin, was born in 1705, and died June 29, 1785. He married Mary Turner. The son of this union, Solomon, who died November 6, 1776, married Hannah White, and had a son Jonathan, born May 18, 1773, who died April 16, 1846. The latter married Abagail Phillip, born on May 5, 1776, who died October 16, 1861. Their son, John, father of our subject, was born Septem- ber 3, 1802, and died September 8, 1850. He married Adeline Aldrich, who was born Octo- ber 1, 1806, and died October 16, 1848. It is known that at least ten parties bearing the name of Pratt came to New England between 1621 and 1650, but none of them are connected with our subejct.

John Pratt, father of George M., was a blacksmith, and worked at his trade until his death, which occurred at Springfield, Mass. His family consisted of two sons, George M. and John Franklin, the latter of whom was employed in numerous factories in Connecti- cut, afterward moving to Bellefonte, Pa. He made a specialty of the manufacture of edge

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tools. At his death, which occurred at Belle- fonte, he left one daughter.

When George M. Pratt was an infant his parents removed from Ludlow, Mass., to Col- linsville, Conn., where the father was em- ployed in a factory, and when George was nine years old he went to live with his grand- father Pratt, at Pelham, Mass., in which town also resided his maternal grandfather, Asa Aldrich. Until he was thirteen he attended the district schools, receiving a somewhat lim- ited education, although to talk with him to- day no one would discover the fact, as he has so added to his store of knowledge by judicious reading that he is a very well in- formed gentleman, and a delightful talker. Being very genial, and fond of a good joke, even if told against himself, he relates many amusing incidents of his school and boyhood days, when he tramped one and one-half miles through the snow to school and contended with other boys, older than himself, who seemed to dispute the right of way. An amusing story of those early days is his account of his first business transaction, when he gathered huckleberries himself, and also handled the product of others, on commission. Clad in his homespun clothes, barefooted and sun- burned, the little fellow went bravely to the front door of an imposing looking house, with his basket on his arm, and was astonished to be told to go to the proper part of the edifice if he wished to make any sales; needless to say the bright boy never again went to the front door on such an errand.

When our subject was thirteen years of age, John Pratt, being at Whitneyville, Conn., secured for his son a position in a grocery store. By the time the boy reached the town, however, it was already taken, and with the pluck which has always characterized his ac- tions George found employment with a Mr. Heaton, of Hamden, New Haven county, a farmer, receiving from him seven dollars a month. After working for a summer he re- turned to Whitneyville and entered the Whit- neyville Armory, where guns and rifles were made for the United States Government. His next removal was to Rock Fall, Conn. At that time a pistol factory was being erected by six mechanics, who had banded together to fill a contract for 32,000 pistols for the United States Government, the largest number of shares being held by Henry Aston. The first

work George M. Pratt did for this concern was shoveling dirt for the dam built to control the water power. As soon as the factory was finished he obtained employment in the black- smith shop, where he soon so thoroughly mas- tered the details of the business that he took a contract for making parts of the pistols. When Mr. Aston was succeeded by I. N. Johnson our subject secured the contract for making all the brass work on 13,000 pistols, all the mountings in those days being made of brass. These pistols are very quaint, to judge from one of them now in Mr. Pratt's posses- sion, and the work was finely executed. In those days the various parts of an article were made on contract, and the contractor received no money until the entire undertaking was finished, so that those who labored were obliged to live on credit for a year or more. For fourteen years George Pratt engaged at contract work with this con- cern, finally leaving and connecting himself with Sharp's rifle factory in Hartford, taking the contract for making the ele- vated sights for 25,000 guns for the English Government during the Crimean war. Hav- ing so complete a knowledge of the work, it would have been possible for Mr. Pratt to make at least sixty dollars a day, but the firm went into liquidation, and Mr. Pratt entered Colt's factory at Hartford, with this concern taking a contract for making hammers for guns and pistols. After a year, however, he returned to Rock Fall, Conn., and with I. N. Johnson embarked in the business of making tools, and the firm was very successful until they took a contract to build 1,000 sewing machines for a New York concern. Just as they had secured their materials and were fair- ly started, litigation was entered into by sev- eral big sewing machine companies, including Wheeler & Wilson, the Howe Company, Grov- er & Baker, and the Singer Company, all of whom claimed their patents had been infringed upon. The result was that the work was stopped when the machines were in such shape that nothing could be realized upon them, and the undertaking was a total loss. As poor as when he shoveled dirt upon the dam, ex- cept for his knowledge of his life work, George M. Pratt, without stopping to repine, engaged with the Savage Arms Company as superin- tendent of their factory, later becoming a con- tractor with them. In the meanwhile the

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piant was removed to Middletown, and lo- cated on the northwest corner of Hamilton and Church streets. One of the contracts of this concern was for 25,000 gun locks for the United States Government, and Mr. Pratt made all the gun lock guards and guard bows. This order was followed by another for 25,000 more, and Mr. Pratt had the same con- tract, and also acted as superintendent. These gun locks were used on guns during the Civil war. Another large contract was the build- ing of 10,000 sewing machines for Finkle & Lyon, of New York, and when this firm failed the Savage Arms Company, according to the agreement, finished the machines and disposed of them). In time this concern grew into the Victor Sewing Machine Company, of which Mr. Pratt was superintendent until they went out of business. While with this concern Mr. Pratt conducted an extensive business in re- tailing sewing machines, the largest one ever carried on in Middletown, the goods handled embracing all the leading makes. In this line Mr. Pratt was associated with Elijah Ackley.

The next connection My. Pratt formed was with the Spencer gun shop, at Windsor, Conn., in which he served as superintendent, but his health failing, he went to Florida, later re- turning to Middletown much improved. As soon as he reached the city where he had been so extensively engaged in business he had several offers to superintend shops that were making sewing machines, but he was not anx- ious, as he humorously expresses it, to attend any more funerals of factories, so he declined those from Wallingford, Conn., the American Sewing Machine Company, of Philadelphia, the Love Sewing Machine Company, of Rochester, Pa., and others, subsequent events proving that his judgment had been correct. In June, 1886, Mr. Pratt purchased the coal business of Arba Hyde, then at the foot of Court street, Middletown, and in 1898 built an entirely new plant, increased the water front, added to his storage capacity, and now has one of the largest coal establishments in Middletown, and by his energy, good manage- ment, fair dealings and unsurpassed facilities, has built up a large and constantly increasing trade.

On January 20, 1850, Mr. Pratt married Elizabeth Tidgewell, a native of Sheffield, Eng- land, born in November, 1831, daughter of James and Anna Tidgewell, also natives of

Sheffield, England. Mr. Tidgewell was a manufacturer of squares and bevels, and after coming to the United States (when Mrs. Pratt was six years old) located in Middletown, Conn., almost immediately entering the employ of Austin Baldwin, the pioneer plane manu- facturer of that city. Mrs. Pratt died March I, 1900. She was a charming Christian wo- man, and attended the Universalist Church with her husband, although at one time she was a member of the Episcopal Church. Mr. and Mrs. Pratt had the following named children : John W., a skilled tool worker, residing at Brooklyn, N. Y. (he is a mute and married to a mute) ; G. Frank, associated with his father, for whom he is bookkeeper ; and Charles Fos- ter, of Middletown, who married Hattie E. Towner, and has three children, Grace Ack- ley, George A. and Corinne T. All are a credit to their parents and their rearing.

In politics Mr. Pratt is a stanch Republi- can in national affairs, but in local matters votes for the best man, and has served in the city council. Fraternally he is a member of St. John's Lodge, F. & A. MI, Washington Chap- ter and Cyrene Commandery, at Middletown; the Royal Arcanum, and the Knights of Hon- or; and is very popular in all these organ- izations.

Although many years have passed over Mr. Pratt's head, they seem to have but mel- lowed him and brought out his many excellent qualities. Popular among his friends, esteemed by his business associates, beloved in his fami- ly, he is a man to be held up as an example of what may be accomplished by energy, thrift, pluck and intelligence.

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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 91

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