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 2 > Part 11
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
JOHN H. BURTON (deceased) was for many years one of the most highly esteemed and valued citizens of Hamden. He was of foreign birth, but his duties of citizenship were performed with a loyalty equal to that of any native son of America, and when the nation was imperiled by rebellion, he went to the defense of the Union and protected the cause of his adopted country on many a southern battle field.
Mr. Burton was born in Perth, Scotland, Oct. 14, 1833, and was educated in the common schools of his native land. During his youth he learned landscape gardening with his father, and continued to follow that occupation until his emigration to the United States in 1854. Locating in Philadel- phia, he followed his trade there for two years, and then went to Boston, where he was similarly em- ployed until coming to New Haven, Conn., in 1857. After working at his trade for a short time here, he entered the employ of the Winchester Shirt Co., for whom he was working when the Civil war broke out.
Mr. Burton enlisted as a private in Company F, 4th Conn. V. I., which was afterward re-organized as the Ist Connecticut Heavy Artillery, and assigned to the Army of the Potomac. They participated in the siege of Bermuda Hundreds, under Butler, the siege of Yorktown, siege of Richmond. and the en- gagements at Chickahominy Swamp, Malvern Hill and Fairfax Court House. For bravery on the battle field, Mr. Burton was promoted from time to time, and on Aug. 27, 1863, was commissioned captain, in which capacity he served until Dec. 23, 1864, when he resigned and returned to New Haven. In De- cember, 1863, while going the rounds of the forts, as field officer at Washington, D. C., his horse fell, breaking the leg of our subject. After his return from the war, Mr. Burton spent four years in New Haven, and then located upon the farm in Hamden, |
where he passed the remainder of his life and where his widow still resides. He was quite extensively engaged in market gardening and met with excel- lent success in the enterprise.
On Oct. 17, 1863, Mr. Burton' was united in marriage with Miss Candace C. Norton, of Spring- field, Mass., and to them were born five children, namely : William T., who now carries on the home farm; James H., who is engaged in the lumber busi- ness in New York; John H. J .; George G .; and Lilias L. Mr. Burton was accidentally drowned Jan. 22, 1895. Politically he was a very strong Re- publican, and fraternally was an honored member of Admiral Foote Post, G. A. R., of New Haven, while religiously he was an active and prominent member of the Congregational church and was serving as church trustee and Sunday-school superintendent at the time of his death. His influence was great and always for good; and his sympathies, his benev- olence and his kindly greeting will long be remem- bered. His duties were performed with the greatest care, and throughout his life his personal honor and integrity were without blemish.
WILLIAM BENHAM is one of the oldest and most highly respected citizens of North Haven, where he has spent a long and worthy life, upon which he can look back with pleasure and thankful- ness, so honest and upright has it been throughout.
This branch of the family is supposed to have been descended from John Benham, who came to the new world in the ship "Mary and John," and was at Dorchester, Mass., in 1630. In May, 1631, he was made a freeman. In 1640 he removed to New Haven, and his name appears in a list of New Haven planters in 1643. He was engaged in the manufacture of brick. Joseph Benham, of New Haven, was married at Boston, Jan. 15, 1657, to Winnifred Ring, and they had twelve children. He was one of the first settlers of Wallingford in 1670.
Joseph Benham, grandfather of the subject of this sketch, was a deacon of the Congregational Church at Hamden Plains, where he lived and died. He reached the great age of eighty-six years, passing away Jan. 25, 1836. His wife, Elizabeth, died in 1831, aged eighty years. They had seven children : George, Amos, Ransom, Betsey, Adah, Jared and Isaac.
Isaac Benham was born Aug. 2, 1791, in Ham- den, and died there, Jan. 23, 1879. He was a shoe- maker and farmer. On March 8, 1815, he married Anna Tuttle, who was born Jan. 20, 1795, in Mid- dlebury, Litchfield Co., Conn., and died Aug. 2, 1876, in Hamden. They had four children: Will- iam, Isaac, Jared and Betsey Ann.
William Benham was born on a farm March 24, 1817, in the town of Hamden, and there re- mained until he was eight years old, enjoying but few educational advantages. A comparison is very interesting between the modern school room and his last "hall of learning," which was in a barroom,
---
435
COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
located just north of the Methodist Church. Until he was seventeen years old Mr. Benham learned more about the science of farming, and the handling of plow and hoe, than he did of books, and it was necessary for him, as for many another respected citizen of our country, to wield those useful im- plements of agriculture. Wages were small in those days and hours of labor long, fifty cents be- ing considered fair compensation for farm laborers who worked from sunrise to sunset, and on these terms our subject was hired by Merritt Allen, a farmer near Westville, whose land comprised the present site of the New Haven town farm. Most industrious, and determined to win independence and a competency, Mr. Benham labored for two summers for Mr. Allen, and during the winters learned the shoemaker's trade in Hamden, where he worked for S. W. Baldwin, of New Haven. He would make shoes in lots of fifty pairs, and carry them to New Haven, whence they were shipped to supply the southern trade. Although the pay was small, he worked at the bench until his health gave out, and then hired out to Jeremiah Woodard, of East Haven, to drive a milk wagon through New Haven. With this out-door employment Mr. Ben- ham regained his health, although his work was laborious, and for two and one half years he con- tinued with this employer ; he delivered to 160 cus- tomers, among the best families in the city, some- times making three trips daily, with milk and veg- etables. In connection with his other business Mr. Woodard entrusted our subject with the making out and collecting of bills. Mr. Benham's wages were fifteen dollars per month and board for fif- teen hours of work daily. Having saved enough money he bought his present farm, from Deacon Elias Bassett, in 1840, and had enough left over to put the place in good shape. Farming has been his principal occupation ever since, although he has had seasons of work in the Candee & Lester rubber factory, for Henry Hotchkiss, in Centerville, and in the auger shops, for eight years driving one of the teams for the latter factory.
Mr. Benham was married March 27, 1843, to Nancy Ives, a native of North Haven, who was born Aug. 22, 1817, a daughter of Talcott Ives, and died July 11, 1884. Two children were born of this union : Betsey Adelaide, who married W. W. Price, a book binder and directory printer and pub- lisher, of New Haven ; and Nancy Anna, who mar- ried Milo Wooding, now of North Haven. Mr. Benham is a Republican in his political convictions, and has declined many tenders of office. Formerly he was connected with the M. E. Church. but is now a member of the Congregational Church at Whitneyville. No one has been more energetic or industrious through life than has our subject. who is a well preserved specimen of the honest, hard- working American citizen. By right of his own efforts, he possesses a competency which insures
him a life of comfort during the rest of his days, and offers an example to others who expect to en- joy a future of ease without endeavoring honestly to earn it.
LEWIS E. OSBORN, whose long and use- ful career has been passed in New Haven, with the exception of two years in Milwaukee, Wis., was born in the city with which his life has been associated, May 22, 1836, a son of Walter Os- born. In 1851 he returned from Milwaukee to New Haven, to serve an apprenticeship with his uncle, Minot A. Osborn, at that time the editor of the Register, with whom he learned the print- ing business, at which, however, his health was impaired, and he was obliged to turn to other em- pioyment. In 1880 he became assistant to the treasurer of Yale University, a position he held until 1890, when he resigned, and is now living retired.
Mr. Osborn was married Sept. 20, 1858, to R. Sophia Merwin, of New Haven, a daughter of Samuel E. Merwin, and a sister of Gen. S. E. Merwin. To Mr. and Mrs. Osborn have come two children : Henry M., the bursar of Yale, married Lizzie Ramsdell, now deceased; and Ruby M., who is the wife of Lieut. Clarence B. Dann, a prominent carriage manufacturer of the city. Like his father Mr. Osborn holds to the principles of Democracy, though he is in no sense a partisan voter only. He is broad and patriotic in his ideas, and seeks the best good to the community and the country. For forty years he has been associated with Hiram Lodge, No. 1, A. F. & A. M., of New Haven, and in religious connection belongs to the Church of the Redeemer.
Walter Osborn, in whose death, July 3, 1880, New Haven lost one of its old-time business men, long respected and esteemed, was descended from a family identified with New Haven from its very beginning. Mr. Osborn was born Dec. 21, 1805, in New Haven, a son of Eli and Elizabeth (Augur ) Osborn. Eli Osborn was a merchant tailor on State Street, and a man of high character. Minot A. Osborn, another son of Eli, and a brother of Walter Osborn, was editor and publisher of the Register, and a sketch of his life and character may be found on another page. In his early man- hood Walter Osborn was associated with Albert Walker in the cabinet-making and furniture busi- ness. With him in 1833 he erected a building which was afterward occupied by William H. Bradley as a carriage factory, and which is still standing, on Chapel street. In 1849 Mr. Osborn moved to Milwaukee, Wis., but returned in 1853 to his old home, where, in company with his brother-in-law, Mr. Stanley, he formed one of the principal coal firms of New Haven. For a time he was inspector of customs, under his brother, Minot A. Osborn, who was for eight years col- lector of customs in New Haven.
436
COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
Walter Osborn was chosen collector of the town and city taxes in 1860, a position lie filled until 1875. At that time the growth of the busi- ness of the office and the advanced age which he had attained, compelled his retirement from active life. While lie was collector the office was never under better management, and many of his wise business methods are still in vogue. In his later years Mr. Osborn was called to take the difficult position of a receiver of the Townsend Savings Bank, which he filled with admirable skill and courtesy. When he died he was a director of the National New Haven Bank. He was a veteran in the famous military organization known as the New Haven Grays. Mr. Osborn commanded the confidence of his townsmen to a remarkable de- gree, and when a candidate for tax collector. re- ceived many votes from those of the opposite faith. His political affiliations were with the Democratic party, but during the Civil War he was an ardent Union man, and did all in his power to support the Government.
Mr. Osborn was married Sept. 17, 1833, to Miss Mary Jane Reemer, of Derby, Conn., by whom he had the following children: E. Walter (mentioned below), Lewis E., George W. (an at- torney at New Haven), Minot R. (who died in New Haven when eighteen years old), Mary Jane (who is the wife of Wilbur F. Day, president of the New Haven National Bank) and William F. (who is connected with the American Sugar Re- fining Co., of New York City).
E. Walter Osborn, the eldest son. gave a promising young life to his country during the Civil War. The following reference was made to him in Atwater's "History of New Haven:"
Still another family in the same Congregation was smit- ten in the spring of 1865, when Major E. Walter Osborn, of the 15th Regiment, having been mortally wounded in North Carolina, and taken prisoner, died in captivity. He was born in New Haven, and was thirty years old at the time of his death. He was for several years a captain of the Grays, and at all times was an active and enthusiastic member of that popular organization, which he commanded at the first battle of Bull Run, when the Grays were in the Second Regiment. When the 15th Regiment was formed, he was made major, in which position he had nearly com- pleted his three years of enlistment. He was on detached service when his regiment moved to battle, and on his own application secured permission to rejoin his comrades, and share their fortunes. His equable and generous tempera- ment, his unselfishness, and his kindly manner, joined with high manly attributes, attracted love and confidence. His death was sincerely mourned by the brave men, who had known him in camp and battle.
-
.
CHARLES E. HOADLEY was born in New Haven May 4, 1858, and remained in his native city until he was seventeen years of age. attending the public schools, and acquiring a fund of solid information with which he has made a very credit- able success.
When Mr. Hoadley began life for himself he was. in the service of the Adams Express Co. some four or five years, and then was in the lumber busi-
ness at Bennington, Vt., some eight years or more. Mr. Hoadley spent a dozen years in Florida, where lie was engaged in various capacities by his uncle, H. B. Plant. The real-estate business as he handled it presented great opportunities, and he was very deeply interested in Florida lands, and at the present time has extensive land interests in that State. Mr. Hoadley came to Waterbury June 1, 1899, and be- canie associated with the New England Mutual Life Insurance Co., for which he is now district man- ager, and in the development of his business career as an insurance man has met with phenomenal suc- cess. For the month of May, 1900, he was the sec- ond most successful man in New England in the service of the company. In the month of Septem- ber, same year, he was a leader, having written and paid for twenty-one policies amounting to $81,000. In 1901 lie wrote about two hundred policies, considerably over $500,000, about twice the business done by any other United States agent of the New England Mutual, and the largest amount written and paid for by any life insurance agent in Connecticut for the year.
Mr. Hoadley and Miss Emma J. Anderson, of Cleveland, Ohio, were married Sept. 15, 1882. Mrs. Hoadley is a daughter of George Anderson, a na- tive of Scotland, and she is true to the best traits of her Scottish ancestors. They have a beautiful home in the northern part of the city, and are uni- versally respected. Three children have come to bless their union: Bessie A .; Edwin A .; and . Giles R. Mr. Hoadley is a Republican, and the family are associated with the Congregational Church.
Horace P. Hoadley, the father of Charles E., was born in Martinsburg, N. Y., July 17, 1833, and died in New Haven, Conn., Oct. 20, 1893. On April 10, 1855, he was married, in Cape May, to. Amelia O. Hubbard, who was born Sept. 8, 1836, in Berlin, Conn., daughter of Edwin and Hannah ( North) Hubbard. Her death occurred in New Haven Oct. 2, 1861. Mr. Hoadley was again mar- ried. Aug. 27, 1873, in Rutherford, N. J., to Mrs. Jeanie (Ivison) Campfield, widow of Rev. Nathan Perkins Campfield, of Newark, N. J., and daughter of Henry and Sarah Bogart ( Brinkerhoff ) Ivison, of New York City. Mr. Hoadley was brought by his parents to New Haven before he was three years of age, and with the exception of one year in Meriden, and a year spent in Texas before the Civil war, passed the remainder of his life there. He was one of the original pupils in the Lan- casterian School, and later became a pupil of Gen. Russell's Military School, where he attained the rank of captain or training master on the school field. He became a master of military science, and at the breaking out of the Civil war hastened to offer his services to the government. He was ap- pointed a major in the army, and rendered con- spicuous services by organizing and training the Ist Connecticut Cavalry, which was equipped and pre-
-
قيم ٩٠
437
COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
pared for active duty in a very brief time. He was connected with the (now) United Church, and for years was a teacher in and superintendent of its Sabbath-school. Mr. Hoadley was closely identi- fied with the Young Men's Christian Association. and was deeply interested in the welfare of the young men. While in Texas he was in the carriage business, and was connected with the Adams Ex- press Co. He was also an insurance man, and largely interested in the real-estate business, long acting as secretary of the Plant Investment Co. Two children were born to his first marriage: (1) Charles E., whose name introduces these lines ; and (2) Horace G., born Sept. 23, 1861, who mar- ried Helen L. Anderson. Henrietta A. was the only child of the second marriage.
Philemon Hoadley, the grandfather of Charles E., was born in Southampton, Mass., March 31, 1797, and died in New Haven Jan. 28, 1862. His first wife, Rosetta (Goodrich) was the daughter of James and Lois (Wilcox) Goodrich, and was born Nov. 12, 1804. in Glendale, N. Y. Her death took place at Martinsburg, N. Y., Aug. 17, 1826. Mr. Hoadley subsequently married Mrs. Betsy (Bradley) Plant, widow of Anderson Plant, of Branford, and daughter of Levi and Lydia ( Beach) Bradley. She was born Aug. 28, 1799, in Branford, and died Jan. 20, 1886, in New Haven. The chil- dren of the first marriage were: (I) Henry, born in October, 1823. and (2) James, born in June, 1825. There were also two children by the second marriage: (1) George A., born in October, 1831, who died in April, 1836; and (2) Horace P., who is mentioned in the foregoing. Philemon Hoadley lived in Martinsburg, N. Y., until about 1838. He was instrumental in raising funds for the Connecti- cut State Reform School in Meriden, and was a member of its first board of trustees. In recogni- tion of his marked business abilities and deep in- terest in the school he was made its first superin- tendent, in 1853.
Philemon Hoadley, the great-grandfather of Charles E., was born June II, 1755, in Branford, Conn., and died in West Turin, N. Y., Jan. 18. 1811. On May 1, 1776, in Branford he married Mary Rogers, who was born in Branford Feb. 22. 1753, daughter of Jonathan and Mary ( Foote) Rog- ers. She died Dec. 11, 1843, in West Turin, N. Y. Mr. Hoadley moved to Westfield, Mass., and his first child was baptized there in 1777. After a period of some years he returned to West Turin, where he died. The names and years of birth of his children are as follows: Sophia, 1776; Irene, 1779; Lyman, 1781; Mary. 1784; Roxana, 1787; Chester, 1790; Lester, 1794; and Philemon, 1797 (whose history is already given).
Jacob Hoadley, the great-great-grandfather of Charles E., was born in Branford, Conn., March 8, 1731, and died in Turin, N. Y., in November, 1816. His marriage to Jemima Buell occurred July I, 1752, in Branford. She was born in October,
1726, in Killingworth, Conn., daughter of Capt. Samuel and Lydia ( Wilcox) Buell. Jacob Hoadley went to Westfield, Mass., and from there to West Turin, N. Y., where he died. He was born and bred a farmer, and followed that occupation all his life. He was the father of ten children: Jared, Philemon, Lucy, Jacob, Jemima, Lydia, Hannah, Mary, Abigail and Jacob.
Samuel Hoadley, the great-great-great-grand- father of Charles E., was born in Branford Feb. 20, 1696, and died in that town Feb. 22, 1756. He mar- ried Lydia Frisbie, who was born June 1, 1698, daughter of Caleb and Hannah Frisbie, and died Feb. 6, 1756. They were farming people. To them were born eight children: Abigail. Gideon, Sam- uel, Ebenezer, Jacob, Lydia, Jerusha and James.
The father of Samuel Hoadley also bore the name of Samuel. He married Abigail Farrington, daughter of John and Mary ( Bullard ) Farrington. She was born in Dedham, Mass., April 30, 1668, and died Feb. 26, 1745, long after the death of her husband, on Feb. 8, 1714; he was killed under a hay mow. He is first mentioned in the records of the town of Branford April 4, 1683, and on March 4, 1687, he and others were granted a tract of land one mile square in the western and north- western portions of the town of Branford. He and his wife had children as follows: Abigail, William, Hannah, Samuel, Gideon, Lydia, Benjamin, Daniel and Timothy.
William Hoadley, the emigrant, and also known in the old records as Capt. Hoadley, was the father of Samuel (1). He was born in England about 1630, and his death occurred in 1709 in Branford. The name of his first wife is not known. For his second wife he married Mary ( Bullard), widow of John Farrington. Capt. Hoadley married Ruth (Powers) Frisbie, widow of John Frisbie, for his third wife. Seven children were born to him: Will- iam, Samuel, John, Mary, Elizabeth, Hannah and Abraham.
FRANKLIN FARREL. For sixty years Al- mon and Franklin Farrel, father and son, respect- ively, have been most closely and prominently iden- tified with the industries of Ansonia and the Naug- atuck Valley, and from the incorporation of the foundry and machine company bearing their name at Ansonia-a period of fifty years-have each in turn served as its president.
Almon Farrel was born Oct. 12, 1800, in Oak- ville, the son of Zebah and Mehitabel ( Benham) Farrel, of Waterbury, Conn. He learned of his father the trade of a millwright, and for many years was the leading millwright, machinist, engineer, builder and contractor in his line in the Naugatuck Valley. There was probably no man in the State at the time of Mr. Farrel's death who had superin- tended the construction of so many first class mills and manufacturing establishments. He was noted for the strength and permanency of his work. What-
438
COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
ever he put his hands to was successfully carried through, not always inexpensively, but with good judgment and thorough workmanship. Monuments of his skill may be seen in Waterbury, Seymour, Ansonia, Birmingham, Plymouth Hollow, Wolcott- ville, Bristol, Westville, Poquonock, Newtown and other places, and at the time of his death he had a large contract in Chicago, Ill. He was a self- taught man, one whose success was owing to his own native genius, and whose services in building up the manufacturing interests in his native town and the Naugatuck Valley were almost indispensa- ble. He died on May 31, 1857, in the prime of life and in the midst of his usefulness.
On May 1, 1826, Almon Farrel was married to Miss Emma, daughter of Mark Warner, and the marriage was blessed with seven children.
-------
Franklin Farrel, son of Almon Farrel, was born Feb. 17, 1828, in Waterbury, Conn. He received only a common school education, and like many boys who have made their mark in the world ne "roughed it" in early life. He was for a time at West Point. At the age of fourteen he commenced to learn the trade of a millwright under the practical direction of his father, and in December, 1844, he went to Derby, Conn., and assisted his father in en- gineering for the water works and other projects within the limits of Ansonia. In 1849 young Farrel became associated in the foundry and machine busi- ness in the firm of Farrel & Johnson, into which his father had put $8,000, and S. and S. M. Colburn, with Dr. Josiah MI. Colburn, $7,000. Later, with this small capital, the concern was reorganized under the name of the Farrel Foundry & Machine Com- pany, and Almon Farrel became its president, an office he held until his death in 1857. Franklin Farrel succeeded his father to the presidency, and has ever since remained the executive officer of the company. From the very start, and all through these many years, the works of this company have played an important part in the growth and pros- perity of Ansonia. The growth of the business has been steady and rapid until, under the able manage- ment of its president, it has become one of the larg- est of its kind in the United States, the stock having been raised from a nominal cash capital of $100,000 to a real capital of $500,000. This speaks louder than words of Mr. Farrel's capabilities as a shrewd and far-sighted business man and financier. The business is the second largest in Ansonia, the works covering several acres of ground and giving steady employment to 600 men. They manufacture a heavy casting for machinery of nearly every description, and turn out on an extensive scale, iron, brass and copper mill machinery, chilled rolls, etc., for all purposes, consuming annually about 20,000 tons of metal in the manufacture of their goods. Mr. Far- rel has devoted himself with great assiduity to var- ied lines of business, his labors having been uni- formly crowned with success, and he is, and has
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.