USA > Connecticut > New Haven County > Commemorative biographical record of New Haven county, Connecticut, containing biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens and of many of the early settled families, V. I, Pt 1 > Part 49
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90 | Part 91
On Jan. 1, 1866, Col. Morgan was married to Miss Charlotte E. Hutchinson, a native of Lebanon, and a daughter of Austin Hutchinson, who had a family of five children, only three now living. Her mother belonged to a family by the name of Fish. The two survivors of the family besides Mrs. Mor- gan are: Leroy T., in 'San Francisco; and Nellie, the wife of George T. Cook, who lives in Wiscon- sin. Col. and Mrs. Morgan have had three chil- dren: (1) Edwin Hutchinson, born Nov. 19, 1871, who was educated in the city schools of Hartford and in the New Haven high school, now holds a position in the Claims Department of the Consoli- dated Railroad. (2) George Austin, born Nov. 22, 1873, who received his education in the schools of Hartford and the New Haven high school, is a stenographer in the civil engineering department of the Consolidated Railroad; he married Agnes Rose, by whom he has two children, Doris and Donald. (3) William Edmund, born Oct. 2, 1876, received an education similar to that of his two brothers, and in addition a fine musical education on account of his very superior voice, and is now a successful vocal instructor in New Haven.
Col. Morgan is a Republican, and was first elected councilman in 1886, serving in that capacity for the two years following, and for four years he was alderman. His member hip on the board of education lasted for four years : on the board of fire commissioners three and one-half years. Col. Mor- gan displayed striking executive and business abil- ity, and he was president of the board two terms. Since 1899 he has refused all official stations, though offered those of much higher rank.
In the Masonic fraternity Col. Morgan has been very active, and is one of the leading members in the State. His affiliations are with St. John's Lodge, No. 4, A. F. & A. M., of Hartford : Trum- bull Council; New Haven Commandery, No. 2, K. T. ; and Pyramid Temple, Mystic Shrine. at Bridge- port. His associations with the G. A. R. are very tenderly cherished, and he was at first a member of Robert O. Tyler Post, at Hartford, but is now in Admiral Foote Post, at New Haven. In this organ- ization he has filled many important and responsible positions, and has been assistant quartermaster gen- eral of the Department of Connecticut since 1887. As secretary of the State Soldiers' Hospital Board he fills a most responsible position to the general satisfaction of all concerned. Col. Morgan belongs to the Union Veterans Union, an association ccm1-
14
210
COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
posed of battle-field soldiers, and in this organiza- tion has been commander of the Department of Connecticut and Rhode Island. Col. Morgan has served as State president of the Patriotic Order Sons. of America, and belongs to Washington Camp, No. 8. He is also a member of the I. O. R. M.
.
WALTER HUBBARD, president of the Brad- ley & Hubbard Mfg. Co., Meriden, whose recent gift to the city of Meriden of the park bearing his name, has awakened a desire in many people of the State and country who have visited Meriden and Hubbard Park, to know something more of the city's benefactor beyond the fact that he is a gentleman of culture and means, for nearly a half century has ·been one of its leading business men and manu- facturers. A modest gentleman, Mr. Hubbard has shunned notoriety, and not having heretofore ap- peared in any of the local publications and never held nor sought political office, the public have had little or no opportunity to learn of his career. It is with a knowledge of these facts and through the desire of his many acquaintances, that the follow- ing brief record of him and of Hubbard Park is presented :
Born April 23, 1828, in Middletown, Conn., Mr. Hubbard is a descendant of George Hubbard who came from England in 1633 and was one of the original settlers of Middletown in 1650. His pro- geny have lived in this region for some 250 years and the Hubbards furnished a remarkable record in the war of the Revolution. Upward of 500 Hub- bards served in that struggle from Massachusetts and Connecticut. Capt. Jeremiah Hubbard, grand- tather of Walter Hubbard, was one of the number.
Like the majority of the youth of his day, Wal- ter Hubbard was reared on a farm and was educated in the schools of his vicinity. He also attended the Chase Preparatory School at Middletown. At the age of eighteen years he secured a position as clerk in a store in Meriden, where by his thrift, en- ergy and his strict attention to the interests of his employer, he was enabled to accumulate enough capital to embark in business for himself. This he did in 1852, opening a store in Meriden and con- tinuing therein until 1860. In the same year (1852) he was married to Abby Ann, daughter of Levi Bradley, of Cheshire, Conn .; she died a few months after their marriage, and Mr. Hubbard never mar- ried again.
In 1854, in company with his brother-in-law, N. L. Bradley, Mr. Hubbard founded the Bradley & Hubbard Mig. Co., of Meriden (see Bradley), and devoted himself entirely to its interests. For some twenty-five years he has been president of this company, which has become the largest manufactur- ing institution of its line of goods in the world. Mr. Hubbard is actively connected with many im- portant concerns in Meriden, being president of the Meriden Gas Light Co., also of the Meriden
Electric Light Co., and the Meriden Trust & Safe Deposit Co. Besides these he is also interested in banks and other local companies.
Mr. Hubbard built the Winthrop Hotel, of Mer- iden, which is one of the finest in New England. In this he was actuated to confer a benefit upon the city and not as an investment for himself personally. His gifts to the various charities of the city have been frequent. In 1883-4 Mr. Hubbard went around the world and he has frequently visited Europe and the principal portions of this country.
In person Mr. Hubbard is of medium height and of good proportion and weight. His personality is frank and straightforward, and he gives the ob- server the impression of a man who must be well liked by his associates. . His pleasant and cordial manners win him friends wherever he goes. Time has dealt gently with him. His robust health, his alert and active mind, and his quick and almost youthful movements occasion much surprise to those who learn that he has reached more than three score and ten. He is a member of the Union League Club, of New York City, the New Eng- land Society, of New York, and the American Geographical Society and a number of State and city organizations.
The following beautiful description of Hub- bard Park is taken from a souvenir published in 1901 by the Horton Printing Co .:
A thousand acres of forest and stream, cliff and cas- cade, hill and dale, lake and island, meadow and mere- where the air is sweet and pure, and the birds sing, and the sun smiles on the softly-tinted, warm, gray trap, and the foliage of trees deciduous and evergreen; a thousand acres where the wine of life is freely poured-where the brain is rested, the body strengthened, the soul brought into near communion with Nature; made into a perfect pleasure- ground by the hand of man. This is Hubbard Park. It will continue to br the pride of Meriden after the city has far outgrown its present bounds.
The park is distant from Meriden only a mile and a half to the westward. It can be quickly reached by electric cars of both the Meriden and Meriden & Southington lines, which make frequent trips, passing the main entrance.
Within bounds are the famous Hanging Hills, with their majestic peaks over a thousand feet in height. These · have the wild primeval beauty Thoreau loved. From Maine to Florida, within fifty miles of the coast, there is no other land so high.
The park is not only the largest, but is pronounced by celebrated landscape architects the most diversified, inter- esting and striking of any in New England.
Mere words would never convey an idea of *
the manifold beauties of this wonder-realm of Nature. The park must be visited. You must gaze upon the placid waters of the hill-protected Mirror Lake. You must drive or walk along the old Notch road (reminiscent of the days of the toll-gate), and the other beautiful drive-ways. You must feel the spell of Lake Merimere, with its wooded island, also of Lake Hallmere. You must witness that impressive panorama from Castle Craig Tower, and the peaceful valley that stretches below Fair View. You must marvel at the "crags, knolls and peaks confusedly hurled." You must view the wild scenery, and have your souls uplifted by the prospect from West Peak. You must rest in the pavilion, listen to the plash of the fountains, and see the grounds, where every arrangement has been made for the delight of happy childhood; you must become children yourselves for a few blissful hours in Hubbard Park. You will then real-
COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
2.1 I
ize the full force of the line which Wordsworth applied to the perfect blending of Nature's moods, and know that amid the woods and waters, the ferns and flowers, and the , eternal hills of Hubbard Park are to be found,
,
"The consecration, and the poet's dream."
Mr. Hubbard's gifts to Meriden do not stop with Hubbard Park. He contributes liberally to the churches and all local benevolent undertakings and public utilities, such as the Meriden Hospital and public school library, and the town abounds in evidences of his generous public spirit.
EDWIN BROWNSON EVERITT, one of the leading business men of Meriden, a man popular with all classes, was born in Watertown, Litchfield Co., Conn., Oct. 6, 1835, son of Abraham and Sarah C. (Stone) Everitt. The family is of English origin, but has been represented in New England for more than two centuries. The grandfather of our subject, Abner Everitt, was a soldier in the Revolution, and a pensioner under the Act of Congress of 1817.
Abraham Everitt was born on a farm in War- ren,:Litchfield Co., Conn. Though he attended the district schools for several terms, he was essentially a self-made and self-educated man. When a boy he learned the trade of cabinet-maker in Litchfield, but later removed to Watertown and formed a part- nership with a Mr. Davis, under the firm name of Everitt & Davis, manufacturing several articles which met with ready sale. Later a stock company was formed, known as the Watertown Manufactur- ing Co., of which Mr. Everitt was president, and which continued business for several years, but finally the company met with financial reverses, and the stock was purchased by Mr. Everitt and Mr. Davis, who carried on the concern. Increasing years and ill health compelled Mr. Everitt to retire in 1862, and he passed his last days with his son Edwin, in Meriden. He is buried in the beautiful West Cemetery in Meriden. For many years he was a Mason in high standing, originally a member of Federal Lodge, Watertown, and for many years its master. Upon coming to Meriden he connected himself with Meridian Lodge, No. 77. A man of genial manner, broad views and keen foresight, he made many friends, and his death was deeply mourned. In politics he was a Republican, and he . represented the town of Watertown in the House of Representatives at Hartford. During slavery times he was a very prominent Abolitionist, ardently sup- ported Abraham Lincoln, and throughout his life was a strong temperance man. His life from the time he was a child bore testimony to his ideas, and he was a man of deeds as well as words. Mr. Ever- itt was married in Litchfield to Sarah C. Stone, a native of Litchfield county and a daughter of Josiah Stone. Mrs. Everitt was a most estimable lady. She and her husband were members of the Congre- gational Church. To them were born eight children, four of whom died when young, the others being: Edwin B .; Frances, who married Nathan Taylor,
and with her husband died in Meriden ; Sarah, Mrs. Augustus Lane, of New Britain, Conn .; and Cath- arine, wife of Edson A. Judd, a retired dry-goods merchant of Waterbury, Connecticut.
Edwin Brownson Everitt attended the public schools of Watertown and completed his education at the Watertown Academy. At the age of twenty he went to Hartford and became a clerk in the jewelry house of Church. & Batterson, remaining however, but a short time. Returning home, he taught school in his native town and also in North- field for a few years, and then removed to Water- bury, Conn., where he formed a partnership with a Mr. Burgess, under the firm name of Everitt & Burgess, to conduct a photography business. After a few years Mr. Everitt removed to Meriden, in the early 'sixties, and opened a studio, which he con- ducted very successfully. On account of ill health he was obliged to abandon that calling, and accept a position as agent with the Continental Life Insur- ance Co., of Hartford. So successful was he in this line that he was soon made the company's general agent for Eastern Connecticut and Rhode Island. Some years later he accepted a clerical position with the Meriden Britannia Co., which he has since re- tained. During the lifetime of Horace Wilcox he served that gentleman in a private capacity, and after his death assisted in the management of the large estate. For more than twenty years he was stockholder in, and president of, the North Ameri- can Mercantile Agency Co., with offices in The Evening Post building, New York, the company be- ing the first to occupy quarters in that structure. Later the offices were removed to the St. Paul build- ing. After a number of years Mr. Everitt sold his interest, and at the time of the formation of the C. F. Monroe Co., of Meriden, he became its secretary, and still retains that office.
Mr. Everitt was married in Otis, Mass., to Miss Mary A. Thompson, of that place, who is descended on her mother's side from Peregrine White, the first white child born among the Puritan settlers of Massachusetts. No children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Everitt. She is a lady of culture and re- finement. Mr. Everitt is a man of genial disposi- tion, a good citizen, very popular, and keeps himself well posted in current events. Politically he is a Republican, and has been chairman of the Republi- can town committee of Meriden. He and his wife are consistent members of the First Congregational Church, in the work of which they take an active part, and he is deacon in that organization. For a period of about twenty-five years he was organist or choir master in various churches, having officia- ted for seventeen years in the Main Street Baptist Church of Meriden. He played the organ and di- rected the music at the laying of the corner stones of the following structures : St. Andrews' P. E. Church, First M. E. Church, First Congregational Church and Y. M. C. A. building. Mr. Everitt is a man of strict integrity and high business principles,
1)
212
COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
a favorite among his associates and beloved at his own fireside. He was a charter member of the Home Club, one of the leading social organizations of the city. His social affiliations are numerotis. Prior to coming to Meriden he was a member of Federal Lodge, A. F. & A. M., of Waterbury. He is a thirty-second-degree Mason, affiliating with Merid- ian Lodge, No. 77, A. F. & A. M., and is past com- mander of St. Elmo Commandery, No. 9, K. T., in which organization he has held the office of Prelate since the resignation of Rev. J. F. Pettee. For sev- eral years he has been the committee on necrology of the Grand Commandery. At the celebration of the fiftieth anniversary of Meridian Lodge he was the poet of the occasion, and the lengthy production which he read was very happily received. Short extracts from this valuable souvenir are herewith appended :
MERIDIAN NO. 77.
Master divine! Our fathers' God! We come with glad acclaim,
To render homage unto Thee, and bless thy Holy name.
We thank Thee for " Meridian," named for the noontide sun:
For all her glorious wealth of work; her service nobly done. We thank Thee for our fathers' faith, shining with steady ray,
And, guided by Thine open word which on their altar lay, How many joys, how much of grief, what varied hopes and fears
Cluster around " Meridian," and crown her fifty years!
The number of Meridian, how worthy of her fame!
Of all the rest the one the best adapted to her name.
The sacred seven, the perfect seven, these two to her are given
The number worthy of herself,-Meridian, "Seventy-seven."
MASONIC HOMES.
When disappointment ends the work of unsuccessful years, The agony of hope deferred finds no relief in tears;
When pitiless adversity obscures and clouds the life,
And hope surrenders to despair, tired of the fruitless strife,
When all the world is unconcerned , averted every face, When even friends have vanished, as if to shun disgrace,
'Tis sweet to know of one retreat, shining with glory bright, Where clouds and darkness disappear in heaven's own radi- ant light.
Such are the blest Masonic Homes, in this and other lands! The ministry to needy ones of willing hearts and hands,
The night of need turned into day, thick darkness tuined to light,
The clouds that God's fair Temple hid, now with His glory bright.
How blest the hand that brings relief, that binds up broken hearts,
Kindles anew the light of hope, and life and joy imparts! Just such a blessed heavenly work as the bright angels love,- A work that lifts the sad earth up nearer to heaven above.
AT LAST.
At last, when work is ended and every duty done, With faith in coming glory we meet life's setting sun; Awaiting resurrection, we bid the world adieu,
And fall asleep rejoicing, the better life in view.
The heavens that bend above the earth, by night and day proclaim
The glorious Architect Supreme, and praise His holy name, With them, and all created things, we gladly sing His praise,
Who hath preserved and blest our craft, and guarded all our days.
We bow before the heavenly throne, to worship Him with awe, The Sovereign Master of us all, Whose slightest wish is Law.
We ask His blessing on the Craft: "Give us to know Thy Love,
And grant that each at last may reach The Supreme Lodge above."
LEAVENWORTH. For more than two cen- turies the family bearing this name has played an honorable part in the history of the State. The ancient town of Woodbury, in Litchfield county, was the home of its varions generations until three chil- dren of the late Russell Leavenworth moved, be- fore 1850, from Woodbury, where they were reared, to New Haven, rising to honorable positions in the City of Elms. Oscar B. Leavenworth was engaged in the drug business for many years, and Dr. Daniel C. Leavenworth was a physician of more than local repute. Their widows are still living. in New Haven. Boardman H. was in the drug buisi- ness with his brother Oscar, on Church street, for several years. These gentlemen were descendants in the seventh generation fron Thomas Leaven- worth, who was born in England, and came to New Haven about 1664, soon after locating at Woodbury. There he rose to prominence, became an extensive land owner, and died in 1683, his. widow surviving until 1715. From this emigrant ancestor Oscar B., Boardman H. and Dr. Daniel C. Leavenworth traced their line of descent through Thomas (2), John, David, Gideon and Russell Leavenworth.
(II) Thomas Leavenworth (2) was born in 1673, and was married at Stratford about 1698 to Mary Jenkins. He was a physician, and lived in what is now the town of Huntington, where he died in 1754, his widow surviving until 1768. Dr. Leavenworth was a graduate of Yale College, and was a man of influence in the community. He met with large success in all his business ventures, and left a fine estate. Both he and his wife were orig- inal members of the Congregational Church at Huntington.
(III) John Leavenworth, son of Dr. Thomas, was born in 1708, and was twice married, first to. Deborah Hurd, who became his wife about 1737; and subsequently to Mary Bronson, who became his wife Jan. 29, 1747. Mr. Leavenworth died in 1784.
(IV) Capt. David Leavenworth, son of John, was born in Woodbury about 1738, and was married in 1759 to Olive Hunt. In 1776 he married, for his second wife, Mary Downs. Capt. Leavenworth commanded the Fourth Company of the Thirteenth Regiment of the Colony of Connecticut during the-
:
213
COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
Revolution, and proved himself a brave and skill- ful officer.
(V) Gideon Leavenworth, son of Capt. David. was born Oct. 26, 1759, in Roxbury, Conn., and was married in 1775 to Louisa Hunt. He was a lifelong farmer, and died in Roxbury Oct. 15, 1827, of paralysis. In the Revolutionary war he served as a commissary under Gen. LaFayette, and he was a member of the General Assembly from Roxbury in 1806. His widow died the year following his death.
(VI) Russell Leavenworth, son of Gideon, and father of the late Oscar B. and Dr. Daniel C. Leav- enworth, was born at Roxbury Oct. 16, 1781, and was married March 27, 1816, to Eveline Stone, who was born in 1796. Their home was at Woodbury, and in their later years at Northampton, Conn., where Mr. Leavenworth died March 12, 1866. The widow survived four years, and died in New Haven May 14. 1870. Their remains rest in the Grove Street cemetery, where their son Frederick also lies. Mr. and Mrs. Leavenworth had children, all born in Woodbury, as follows: (1) Oscar B. is mentioned below. (2) Rebecca, born Dec. 9, 1820, was mar- ried Feb. 1, 1843, to Jerome B. Jackson, who died in Woodbury about 1860, leaving a daughter, Ella Elizabeth, born in 1851. The latter married Ben- jamin Day, a farmer of Springfield, Mass., and had one child, Amy Leavenworth. They moved to Kansas City, Mo., where Mr. Day died in Octo- ber, 1899. His widow and daughter (who is un- married) still remain there, having property. They spent the summer in New Haven with Mrs. Day's mother, Mrs. Jackson, who for years has resided with Dr. Leavenworth's widow at their fine resi- dence on Howe street. (3) Frederick, who came to New Haven as a clerk with his brother Oscar, was drowned in Mill river July 6, 1836, at the age of thirteen, while bathing. (4) Boardman H., born Jan. 26, 1826, learned and carried on the tailor's trade for years in Bristol and Plainville, Conn. In 1854 he made a change, going into the drug busi- ness, he and his brother Oscar having a drug store on Church street, New Haven. He was mar- ried three times, first to Antoinette Merriman, of Waterbury, by whom he had one child, Nellie, who became the wife of Charles Rattery, of Chicago, and moved thence to St. Louis, Victoria. B. C., and Cal- ifornia; Mr. and Mrs. Rattery have two children. For his second wife Boardman H. married a lady of Plainville, Conn. : they had no children. His third wife was Miss Caroline J. Todd, a member of a fine old family, who was formerly a school teacher, and to this union came two children, Frank and Etta. About 1865 the family moved from New Haven to Chicago, and they were burned out in the great fire, losing everything. Boardman H. Leavenworth died in 1877, and is buried in Chicago, where his family still prefer to reside. near Mlrs. Leavenworth's brother. (5) Daniel C. is mentioned below. (6) Clinton N., born Nov. 6. 1830. was with his brothers for a time. He enlisted in the navy at Brooklyn, N. Y., was there for a period, and received an honor-
able discharge. After visiting his aunt, Mrs. Lucy Plumb (a sister of his mother), in New York, he returned to the navy yard and bid his comrades good-bye, taking his traveling bag and saying he was going to purchase a new suit to go home. But so far as his family could learn, he was never again seen by any one who knew him.
OSCAR BEEBE LEAVENWORTH, son of Russell Leavenworth, was born Nov. 27, 1818, in Wood- bury, Conn. He was twice married, first to Sarah Maria Osborn, of Oxford, who died in 1848, and the only child of this marriage, Sarah Eliza, died in infancy the same year. For his second wife he wedded Elizabeth A. Dowd, of Northford, Conn., and to this union came: Ida Elizabeth, born April 18, 1852; Josephine, born July 5, 1857; Jessie I., born July 6, 1860; Minnie, born May 30, 1863 : and Frederick Osca., born Dec. 14, 1865. Of these, Josephine married Edward B. Munson, a box man- ufacturer of New Haven, and is the mother of five children-Grace, Maude, Harvey, Ethel May and Thornton Sperry. Jessie I., a graduate of Mrs. Cady's school married Albert H. Moulton, of Kit- tery, Maine, a graduate of Yale, 1881, who practiced law for several years in New Haven : they are the parents of three children, Josephine E., Nelson Leavenworth and Albert. Ida E. died Jan. 19, 1897; Minnie died Aug. 12, 1864; Frederick O. married Mrs. Jennie Hayden in October, 1893, and has one son, Benjamin Frederick, born July 30, 1894. The family are Congregational in church association. Mr. Leavenworth studied medicine under Dr. Phelps, of Woodbury, three years, and then came to New Haven, in 1839. to take a place as a clerk with Allen Smith, the druggist, remain- ing until 1849, when he opened a drug store on his own account. For a number of years he continued in that business, until the store was destroyed by fire and he bought a drug store in Brooklyn, which he conducted about two years. Then he returned to New Haven and resumed the drug business. About three years later he sold out, and after a time opened a very extensive store on Broadway, which he was conducting at the time of his death, having become one of the best-known men of the city. Buying and selling houses and lots quite exten- sively, he also built several residences, and was very successful in all his real-estate ventures. He died from a stroke of apoplexy June 28. 1871, and was laid to rest in the Grove street cemetery, where his wife Sarah Maria and their infant daughter are also buried. Mr. Leavenworth was a well-known mem- ber of the Masonic fraternity, and was also for a time an Odd Fellow.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.