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 31
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During his boyhood Gilbert B. Hotchkiss at- tended the district schools of Prospect, and a public school of Naugatuck. At the age of fourteen years he went to Union Mills, Ind., where he engaged in farming until 1856, when he disposed of his inter- ests there and returned to Waterbury, Conn. He located on the Stephen Hotchkiss farm, where for the past forty-five years, he has successfully engaged in dairy farming and stock raising. He has made many improvements upon the place, and now has a valuable and desirable farm. He is quite a prom- inent and influential man in his community, and is highly respected by all who know him. Politically he is identified with the Republican party, and fra- ternally is a charter member of Mad River Grange, and a member of the Odd Fellows Lodge of Water- bury. A sincere and consistent Christian, he takes a deep interest in church affairs, and has served as deacon of the Prospect Congregational Church since 1865, and with the exception of two. years, as super- intendent of the Sunday-school since 1864. He is also a member of the American Tract Society, and his life has ever been in harmony with his profes- sion.
On Jan. 7, 1856, Mr. Hotchkiss was united in marriage with Miss Emma Chatfield, a native of Waterbury, a daughter of Joseph Edward and Phebe Irene (Hotchkiss ) Chatfield, a granddaughter of Joseph and Polly (Payne) Hotchkiss; and a great-
great-granddaughter of Gideon Hotchkiss, who was also the great-grandfather of our subject. They have two children : (1) Hattie Rosanna, born Jan. 10, 1864, is the wife of Willian S. Strong, born April 27, 1865, and has one daughter, Emma Rhoda, born Nov. 29, 1893. (2) Jennie Irene, born Aug. 19, 1866, was married Oct. 25, 1894, to George Ephi- riam Nettleton, of Hartford, Coun., born Jan. 22, 1871, and they have three children, Grace Elizabeth, Irene Gilbert and Gilbert Henry.
The CHATFIELD Family, to which Mrs. Hotch- kiss belongs, was founded in this country by three brothers, Francis, George and Thomas Chatfield, who came from England in 1639 in Rev. Henry Whitfield's company, and located in Guilford, Conn., where Francis died in 1647. Thomas removed to New Haven, and later to East Hampton, Long Is- land, where he was quite a prominent man; he served as magistrate under the Connecticut juris- diction. George Chatfield, from whom Mrs. Hotch- kiss is descended, was a resident of Guilford from 1639 to 1663, and then moved to Killingworth, Conn., where he spent the remainder of his life, dy- ing there June 9, 1671. His remains were interred there. For his first wife he married Saralı Bishop, who died Sept. 30, 1657, leaving no children, and for his second wife he married Isabel Nettleton, daughter of Sammuel Nettleton. They had three children : John, born April 8, 1661 ; George, Aug. 18, 1668; and Mercy, April 26, 1671.
John Chatfield, son of George, was but two years old when the family moved to Killingworth, where he grew to manhood. In 1684 he removed to Derby. Conn., where he received a tract of land, and where he spent the remainder of his life. On Feb. 5, 1684, he married Anna Harger, daughter of Jabez Har- ger, of Derby, and to them were born the following children : Sarah, who was born Dec. 5, 1686, and was married, July 15, 1706, to John Davis. Jr .: Mary, born April 29, 1689; Abigail, who was born Sept. 16, 1693, and married Gideon Johnson ; Han- nah, who was married to John Coc; Lieut. John, born Feb. 21, 1697; Samuel, who is mentioned be- low ; Ebenezer, who was born July 4, 1703, and was married in 1728, to Abigail Prindle ; and Solonion, who was born Aug. 13, 1708, and married to Han- nah Pierson.
Samuel Chatfield, son of John, was born in Derby, Aug. 28, 1699, and from there removed to Oxford, Conn., and later to Waterbury. He was a member of the church at the latter place. During the Revolutionary war he served as a soldier of the Con- tinental army from July 9, 1780, until the 8th of the following December. He died in 1797. He was three times married, his first wife being Ann ( surname not given) ; his second, Joanna Gunn, died Aug. 20, 1783 : he married, third, widow Lydia Peck, on Jan. I, 1784. He had seven children : Mary, born Jan. 8. 1750, died Sept. 8, 1751 : Abraham was born Dec. 29, 1761 ; Joanna born May 21, 1766, married Abel Gunn; Sarah, born April 21, 1768, married Andrew
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Osborn; Joseph, born June 18, 1770, was the grand- father of Mrs. Hotchkiss; Josiah, born Dec. IO, 1775, married Olive Tucker ; and Rachel, born Dec. 8, 1778, married Stephen Tucker.
Joseph Chatfield, Mrs. Hotchkiss' grandfather, passed his entire life as a farmer and shoemaker in Waterbury. He married Polly Payne, daughter of David and Submit ( Hotchkiss) Payne, and to then were born the following children: Josepli Edward, father of Mrs. Hotchkiss, was the eldest; Annie married David Wooster ; Fanny, born May 27, 1803, married Edward Russell; Rebecca was married in 1828 to R. M. Wheeler and settled in Michigan ; Mitty, born July 13, 1806, married Albert Wooster ; Burrett was born Feb. 27, 1808; Mary died unmar- ried; Dennis was born July 3, 1812; Henry was born Sept. 10, 1816; Samuel was next in order of birth ; and Jane, baptized Oct. 14, 1821, was adopted by Lyman Bradley, and married Dr. Blakeslee.
Joseph Edward Chatfield, the father of Mrs. Hotchkiss, was also a lifelong resident of Water- bury, where he followed his trade of carpenter and joiner, and where he died Oct. 20, 1830, in middle life. On Nov. 24, 1823. he married Nancy Scoville, daughter of William Scoville. She died Dec. 26, 1828, leaving two children, Jane and George, who were baptized July 6. 1828. On Dec. 1, 1829, he married Phebe I. Hotchkiss, who was born Nov. 3, 1800, and died April 23. 1860. daughter of Stephen and Tamer (Richardson) Hotchkiss. The wife of our subject was the only child born of this union. In 1838 her mother again married. her second husband being Humphrey Nichols (whose first wife was her sister. Esther), and by this mar- riage she had a son, Franklin, who was born in August, 1842, and died in 1848. Her parents, Stephen and Tamer (Richardson) Hotchkiss, were the parents of the following children: (1) Joseph : (2) Clarissa ; (3) Esther, who became the first wife of Humphrey Nichols, and died leaving eleven children, Stephen, Isaac, Harriet, Emeline, William, Ann, Nancy, Ely, Noyes, Esther and David; (4) Chloe, who married William Baldwin, and had five children, Joseph Ives, Tamar Elizabeth, William, George Noah and Rebecca ; (5) Lois, who died un- married; (6) Irene, who died in infancy; and (7) Phebe Irene, who first married Joseph Edward Chat- field, and second Humphrey Nichols.
MRS. JANE F. (SMITH) MUNSON, of North Branford, is a representative of an old and honored family of New Haven county. At one tinie the Smiths owned a large portion of the north- western part of North Branford and eastern North Haven: in fact, the village of Clintonville was called Smithtown, on account of the large number of that name residing there. They have always been numbered among the useful and valued citizens of the community, and have given their support to every enterprise for the public good.
Thomas Smith the paternal grandfather of
Mrs. Munson, was born Oct. 10, 1761, and died Feb. 20, 1815. His first wife was Sarah Frost, who bore him two sons and one daughter, Thomas, John and Sarah. On April 22, 1801, he married Rosanna Hull, who died Feb. 3, 1846. To them were born five children, namely: Ebenezer, born March 17, 1802, who wedded Mary Ann Rogers; Rosanna, baptized June 21, 1812; Martha, who married George L. Thorpe; Hiram, who was bap- tized May 6, 1810; and James.
Deacon Thomas Smith, Mrs. Munson's father. was born in North Haven, Sept. 20, 1798, and died; Dec. 10, 1874. He was married Jan. 24, 1819. to Hannah Tuttle, daughter of Jude Tuttle. She was born Jan. 4, 1802, and died Dec. 6, 1876. To this worthy couple came the following children : Julius, born Dec. 6. 1819, wedded Mary Frost ; he was engaged in the butcher business in Fair Haven and Hartford, and died in 1894. George R., born Jan. 18, 1821, married Emeline Munson, and fol- lowed farming near the old homestead, where he died Sept. 13, 1885. Sarah Louisa. born April 20, 1824, died at the age of fifteen months. Thomas A., born Jan. 9. 1827, is a resident of North Branford. James Franklin, born Dec. 31, 1830, married Fran- ces E. Brockett, and also followed farming near the old homestead, where he died April 10, 1899. Jane Frances, Mrs. Munson, is a . twin sister of James F. John W., born Jan. 14, 1835, first mar- ried Anna ' Fowler and second Ida Bradley; he is engaged in farming in Seymour, Conn. Julia A .. born Aug. 20, 1844. married Henry Harrison, of Northford, and died in New Haven. April 12, 1901, leaving two daughters, Hattie and Edith.
On Dec. 31, 1877, Miss Jane F. Smith was united in marriage with William S. Munson, who was born Oct. 8, 1826, and died Jan. 1, 1892. He was an extensive farmer of Wallingford, but since his death Mrs. Munson has sold the old homestead. reserving the right to a part of the house as her residence. She also owns a cozy cottage at "The| Beach," where she spends the summer months. She is held in high regard by all with whom she? comes in contact, and is loved and respected in the community where she has so long made her home.
In maternal lines Mrs. Munson is also con- nected with a branch of the Smith family. Thomas Smith, the first of whom there is authentic record, married, in 1662, Elizabeth Paterson, only child of Edward Paterson, and their children were: John. born March, 1664; Anna, April 6, 1665; John (2), June 14, 1669: and Thomas, Jan. 31, 1673.
Thomas Smith, son of Thomas, married Sarah Howe. They had Thomas, Joseph, Samuel, Dow and Benjamin.
Thomas Smith, son of Thomas and Sarah, mar- ried Abigail Goodsell, and became the father of Thomas, born July 27. 1719; David, born Nov. 15. 1721 ; and Stephen, born Nov. 28, 1724.
Thomas Smith, of the fourth generation to bear
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that name, married Eunice Russel, March II, 1741. Their children were: Thomas, born Dec. 10, 1742; Enos, Nov. 2, 1744; Abigail, Feb. 3, 1747, who married Stephen Pardee in 1768; Jacob, July 7, 1749; Eli, Nov. 8, 1751; Elizabeth, May 21, 1754, who married Jesse Upson in 1775.
Thomas Smith, son of Thomas, was married Nov. 20, 1766, to Anna Smith. Their children were as follows: Betsy, who married Oliver Todd in 1786; Louisa (grandmother of Mrs. Munson), who married Jude Tuttle; Lament; and an infant that died unnamed.
Concerning Thomas Smith, mentioned above as of the fourth generation to bear the name, the "East Haven Record" gives the following :
"In the war of Independence, which began 19th of April, 1775, the following persons were lost: In 1776 Elijah Smith was killed in battle on Long Island; Thomas Smith conducted a fire ship to the enemy, but was badly burnt, and, the attend- ing boat having left him too soon, he had to swim ashore, where he was found three days after in a helpless state; he was brought over to Rye, and there he died."
FREDERICK F. SCHAFFER, secretary of the Goodyear's India Rubber Glove Manufacturing Co., and superintendent of the works at Naugatuck, is one of the most popular and influential citizens of that town. He was born June 12, 1853, in the Kingdom of Prussia, son of William E. and Dorothy Schaffer. Our subject's father, who was a tailor, emigrated to America with his wife and in- fant son when young Frederick was scarcely a year old, settling in Milltown, N. J., where he carried on his trade. Two other children were born to Will- iam E. Schaffer and his wife, Josephine and Ernest, the latter of whom is dead, as are also the parents.
Frederick F. Schaffer attended school in Mill- town and New Brunswick until he was thirteen years old, when he entered the employ of the New Brunswick Rubber Co., with which concern he re- mained some six years. He then began work in the New Jersey Rubber Shoe Co. The burning of the plant in 1876 necessitated his seeking other employ- ment, and going to Naugatuck he found a situation with the Goodyear Co. He soon showed that he was endowed with intelligence, capability and fidel- ity, and his promotion in the company's service was merely a question of time. He rose, gradually, until he now fills the responsible position above named. Over and again has he demonstrated his innate executive capacity, and the three thousand employes subordinate to his commands love him no less than they respect and admire him. His course has ex- hibited the possession of that rare combination of seemingly diverse qualities-forcefulness with sym- pathy, firmness with gentleness.
In politics Mr. Schaffer is a Republican, yet such is his personal popularity and such the esteem and confidence entertained for him by his fellow towns-
men that even in a Democratic stronghold he might be elected to any office within the people's gift. Office-holding, however, is naturally distasteful to him, and, while he has consented to fill various local positions, involving considerable responsibility, he has persistently refused what might be termed high- er political honors. He has consented to serve as selectman, member of the school committee and warden; in 1891 he was elected first selectman of the town, in spite of former adverse political ma- jorities. Socially he is a Freemason and an Odd Fellow, and holds a high. place in the affection and respect of his brethren of both fraternities.
It is such men as our subject that add luster to the town or municipality in which they live. Never self-asserting, he never forfeits self-respect : while benevolent and kindly, he never loses sight of exact justice ; and while always ready to cloak the failings of others with the mantle of charity and silence, he seeks to make his own life free from blame as the natural imperfections of human nature will permit.
In December, 1877, Mr. Schaffer married Miss Minnie Perkins, a daughter of Wales Perkins, of Naugatuck. They had three children: Frederick W., born Dec. 18, 1878; Winnibel May, born Oct. 20, 1879; and Josephine Hazel, born July 13, 1882. Mrs. Schaffer died March 7, 1888, and on Oct. 8, 1889, Mr. Schaffer led to the altar Miss Melicent A. Nichols, who was born in Roxbury, Conn., daugh- ter of Richard and Almira. (Wheeler) Nichols. Their union has been blessed with one daughter, Dorothy Almira, born April 10, 1891. All the children survive, and the domestic life of the fam- ily is singularly happy and interesting, Mr. Schaffer being a generous husband and a kind and indulgent father. Mr. and Mrs. Schaffer are communicants of the Episcopal Church, Mr. Schaffer being a mem- ber of the Naugatuck Church, of which he is a vestryman.
BENJAMIN C. WOODIN, an honored vet- eran of the Civil war and a well-known market gardener and fruit raiser of Hamden, Conn., was born on the farm where he now resides, Jan. 29, 1828, a son of Charles and Betsey (Cooper) Woodin, and grandson of Abraham Woodin. The father was also born upon that farm, and there he died at the ripe old age of eighty-two years. He was an earnest member of the, Methodist Episco- pal Church, and was highly esteemed throughout the community. In his family were four children, namely: Eunice R., widow of John L. Sperry ; Rhoda M., wife of Jared Benham, of Hamden ; Benjamin C., our subject; and William H., a farm- er of Hamden.
Benjamin C. Woodin remained upon the home farm with his parents until nineteen years of age, when he commenced working in the rubber mills of Hamden, where he was employed for four years. The following three years he worked in auger mills at Chester, Conn., and then returned to Hamden,
Jy Schaffen
:
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COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
where he held a position in the Churchill anger factory for two years. At the end of that time he went to New York State, where the following two. years were passed, and on his return to Hamden resumed work in the same factory, where he was employed until after the Civil war broke out.
Prompted by a spirit of patriotism, Mr. Woodin enlisted Sept. 16, 1861, as a private in Company F, 7th Conn. V. I., which was assigned to the 10th Army Corps. The regiment was mustered into the United States service at New Haven, and was stationed at Washington, D. C., for several weeks. On Sept. 1, 1862, he was promoted to corporal. With his regiment he participated in several en- gagements, among them being the following: Fort Pulaski, Ga., April 10-1I, 1862; Pocotaligo, S. C., Oct. 22, 1862; Morris Island, S. C., July 10, 1863 ; Fort Wagner, S. C., July 11, 1803; Chester Sta- tion, Va., May 10, 1864; Bermuda Hundred, Va., May 10-17, 1864; Bermuda Hundred, Va., June 2, 1864; Bermuda Hundred, Va., June 17, 1864; Deep Bottom, Va., Aug. 14-15, 1864; and Deep Run, Va., Ang. 16-18, 1864. At the battle of Deep Run Mr. Woodin was wounded in the wrist by a minie ball, both bones being broken. The first amputation was made on the field. He was sent to the hospital at Hampton Roads, where he remained six weeks, and was then taken on transports with 800 other wounded soldiers to Willets Point, New York. Through neglect of the physicians on this trip, gangrene set in, necessitating a second am- putation. A few weeks after coming home he went to the hospital in New Haven, as amputation was again necessary, and this time the operation was performed above the elbow. Since returning from the war Mr. Woodin has lived on the old home- stead where he was born, and is now successfully engaged in market gardening and fruit growing.
In 1850 Mr. Woodin was united in marriage with Miss Anna Beckwith, by whom he had two children : Betsey, now the wife of Frank Gorham ; and Hattie, who died at the age of five years. He was again married, in 1869, his second union being with Miss Julia A. Shipman. He has ever taken an active and prominent part in public affairs, has filled the office of assessor two terms, and was a member of the Legislature from Hamden in 1887. The Re- publican party finds in him a stanch supporter of its principles, and he is as true to his duties of citizenship in times of peace as in time of war. He is now an honored member of Admiral Foote Post, G. A. R., of New Haven.
MONSON. For 260 and more years members of the family bearing this name have resided in New Haven, and have been prominently identified with its history. Especially conspicuous has been the line of the late Dr. Alfred S. Monson through several generations from just before, through and following the war of the Revolution, among them the honored Dr. Eneas, Dr. Eneas (2) and Dr.
Alfred S. Monson. Several of the sons of the lat- ter are yet in active life in the city, among them Charles C. and Capt. Frank A. Monson, substan- tial citizens of that community. These two gentle- men and the other children of Dr. Alfred S. Mon- son arc descendants in the eighth generation from Thomas Monson, of Stratford and New Haven, their lineage appearing in order in the following generations :
(I) Thomas Monson, born about 1612, first ap- pears in New England at Hartford, in 1637, in which year he was in the Pequot war with rank of captain. In about 1640 he cast his lot with the Quinnipiac settlers and was at New Haven. Mr. Monson was a carpenter by trade, held public office, was a Congregationalist in religion, and was an important and prominent man in the settlement. His death occurred May 7, 1685, and that of his wife Joanna, Dec. 13, 1678.
(II) Samuel Monson, son of Thomas the set- tler, baptized Aug. 7, 1643 married, Oct. 26, 1665, Martha, daughter of William and Alice ( Pritch- ard) Bradley. Mr. Monson was a shoemaker and tanner by trade, and resided respectively in New Haven, Wallingford and New Haven. He was a Congregationalist in his religious belief. His death occurred in 1693.
(III) Theophilus Monson, son of Samuel, born Sept. 1, 1675, married Esther, daughter of John Mix. Mr. Monson was a locksmith by trade. Like his ancestors he was a Congregationalist in his religious belief. He held public trusts in New Haven, and there resided on the southeast corner of College and Wall streets. He died Nov. 28, 1747, his wife Sept. 16, 1746.
(IV) Benjamin Monson, son of Theophilus, born March 28, 1711, married in June, 1732, Abi- gail, daughter of Deacon John and Abigail (All- ing) Punderson. Mr. Monson was a schoolmaster, and resided for a period in York street, New Ha- ven, and in the town of Branford, Connecticut.
(V) Eneas Monson, son of Benjamin, born Jan. 13, 1734, married (first), March 15, 1761, Susannah, daughter of Stephen and Susannah Howell. She died April 21, 1803, and he married (second), Nov. 24, 1804, Widow Sarah Perit. His children were born to the first marriage. Mr. Monson was graduated from Yale College in 1753. He became a minister, though not a pastor, and later a physician. He was Chaplain to Lord Gard- ner in the French war of 1755. In 1756 he began the practice of medicine in Bedford, N. Y., and he became an eminent physician, was distinguished in science and was celebrated as a wit. He, too, was a Congregationalist, and in politics a Whig. He was prominent in public affairs, holding many important trusts. During the war of the Revolu- tion he was chosen seven times to represent New Haven in the Legislature. His death occurred June 16, 1826, at New Haven.
(VI) Eneas Monson, M. D. (2), son of Eneas,
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born Sept. 11, 1763, married, May 6, 1794, Mary Shepherd, born April 28, 1772, daughter of Levi Shepherd, of Northampton, Mass. Eneas Monson was graduated from Yale, and soon thereafter (in 1780) was commissioned surgeon's mate in Col. Swift's Seventh Connecticut Continental Line During the winter of 1780-81 his regiment was "hutted" with the Connecticut division on the Hud- son, opposite West Point. In June following he was detached to assist Surgeon Thatcher, of the Massachusetts Line, in Col. Scammell's Light In- fantry Corps, which after engaging in one or two sharp skirmishes in Westchester county, marched in August with the army to Yorktown, Va. There it took a leading part in the siege, and was placed with the other select troops under LaFayette, whose position was on the right of the besieging line. Dr. Monson returned North and rejoined his regiment, which in 1781-82 was the Fourth Connecticut, un- der Col. Butler, and served until the disbandment, in June, 1783. Returning after the war to New Haven, Dr. Monson became prominent in the affairs of the town and city. Later he turned his attention to other and more lucrative pursuits, be- coming a merchant and banker. Mrs. Monson died Feb. 6, 1848, and Dr. Monson Aug. 22, 1852.
(VII) Alfred S. Monson, M. D., son of Dr. Eneas, born Sept. 23, 1795, married. May 22, 1822, Mary Ann, daughter of Nathaniel Patten, of Hart- ford. Mr. Monson was graduated from Yale College in 1815, and took the degree of M. D. at the Univer- sity of Pennsylvania in 1819. He located in the practice of medicine in New Haven, but retired from the profession many years before his death. His transactions in real estate were many, and he was a good financier, leaving a large estate. At one time he was offered the professorship of bot- any in Yale College, but declined it owing to the state of his health, and he was also offered a pro- fessorship in Yale Medical School. Himself and wife were members of the Congregational Church. He died at his home in New Haven, No. 145 Elm street, May 22, 1870, and his wife passed away in April, 1887. Six children were born to them, of whom we have the following record :
(1) Alfred Patten Monson, M. D., was born June 20, 1823. In 1847 he was graduated from Yale Medical College, but his health was such that he did not practice much. He resided in New Haven, in Florida and in Colorado, and died in 1894. He married Harriet Mygatt.
(2) Sarah Patten Monson, born Nov. 17, 1825, married, Jan. 6, 1845, Thomas N. Dale, a silk man- ufacturer of New York. Both died in 1880.
(3) David Daggett Monson, born Jan. 13, 1837, married, at Somerville, N. J., Mary J. Wilson, and both are now deceased.
(4) Charles Clayton Monson, born Oct. 3, 1838, was married at Chicago, June 27, 1872, to Stella E. Shepherd, and they reside in Hillhouse
avenue, New Haven. Their children are Stella E., Edith D., Charles S. and Ethel.
(5) FRANK AUGUSTUS MONSON, born Dec. 9, 1842, was married May 15, 1873, to Charlotte M. Bishop, of New Haven, who was born Sept. 6, 1852. They have one daughter, Nellie Florence Monson. At the breaking out of the Civil war young Monson was a student at a boarding school. His patriotism was aroused, and on July 19, 1861, he became a private in the Ist New York Lincoln Cavalry, sharing the fortunes of the army of the Potomac for over three years, and receiving an hon- orable discharge July 12, 1864. On May 3, 1862, he received promotion, becoming a second lieuten- ant in the 5th New York Col. Cav .; on Oct. 24, same year, was made first lieutenant ; and on Sept. 14, 1863, was made captain, which rank he held to the close of his service, being finally discharged on account of disability caused by wounds. Capt. Monson returned to civil life with an honorable war record. He took part in cighty-one engage- ments, great and small, being in nearly every bat- tle fought by the Army of the Potomac during his connection therewith, with Grant through the Wil- derness, at Spottsylvania and White House Land- ing, where he was sent to the rear on account of reopening wounds. He was wounded at Chancel- lorsville, May 3, 1863, and suffered intensely from his injuries. Among other important engagements in which Capt. Monson saw active service may be mentioned Fredericksburg, Fair Oaks and McClel- lan's Peninsular campaign. Capt. Monson has had an honorable and successful career in New Haven, engaged principally in looking after his real estate interests. He has built a number of houses. For years Capt. Monson was secretary of the New Ha- ven Fire Underwriters Association. He has effi-
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