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 3, Part 15

Author: Beers (J.H.) & Co., Chicago, pub
Publication date: 1902
Publisher: Chicago, J.H. Beers & co.
Number of Pages: 988

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 3 > Part 15

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Smith A. Abbott was a boy of six years when his parents took up their residence in Southford. His school days over, he assisted his father for a time. and then entered the employ of the Wheeler & Wilson Manufacturing Co., before that concern removed its works to Bridgeport. He next formed a partnership with Louis Downs, under the firm name of Downs & Abbott, and engaged in the manu- facture of buttons and buckles. After a few years this co-partnership was dissolved, and Mr. Abbott, going to Beacon Falls, secured work as a machinist. Returning to Southford, he filled the same position in his father's employ, and about two years after the latter's death took charge of his business, in- cluding the management of the paper-mill, which was then turning out straw paper. In 1866 he dis- posed of the plant and removed to Derby. in which city he has since resided. To employ his own words, he "took life easy" for a time, but in 1870 bought the hardware and tinware business of Gould Curtis, forming a co-partnership with David Curtis, the brother of Gould. Their relation as partners extended over a period of seventeen years, when Mr. Curtis disposed of his interest in the busi- ness and Mr. Abbott admitted his son, Frank D., as a partner, the style of the firm being changed to Abbott & Co.

Mr. Abbott was married in 1853 to Julia B. Downs, who died April 21, 1884. Four children were born to them-Mary C., Frank D., Fannie L.

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and Jessie M. The son, as has been said, is his fa- ther's partner ; lie married Lilly Ogden, of Ansonia, Sept. 16, 1884. Mary, the eldest daughter, now de- ceased, married Alfred Anderson, of Derby. Fan- nie married George S. Curtis, of the same city, and is deceased. Jessie M. became Mrs. Burton Wood- bridge, of the same place. After the death of his first wife Mr. Abbott married Miss Sarah L. Downs, her first cousin ; to this union were born no children. He is a Republican in politics, and both himself and his family are members of the Metho- dist Church.

CHARLES FROST (deceased) was a leading citizen of Mill Plain, Waterbury, and a worthy rep- resentative of an old Connecticut family.

Samuel Frost, the first of the name in America, was born in England about 1704, and on coming to this country located in the town of Wallingford, New Haven Co., Conn. He served as a soldier in the French and Indian war. He lived to the ad- vanced age of ninety-six years, dying at the home of his son David, on Wolcott Mountain, Nov. 14, 1800. He was an active member of the Episcopal Church, and at his funeral four ministers of different de- nominations-Congregational, Baptist, Methodist and Episcopal-participated in the services. On March 21, 1733, in Wallingford, he married Naomi Fenn, who was born May 10, 1714, a daughter of Edward and Mary (Thorp) Fenn. They had three children : Moses, born Jan. 6, 1734; Naomi, born March 31, 1735, wife of David Coggswell; and David, born Sept. 15, 1743.

David Frost, son of Samuel, was a farmer and land owner on Wolcott Mountain, where he spent his entire life. In religious faith he was a Baptist. He was married Nov. 5, 1762, to Mary Beach, who was born in Wallingford Dec. 20, 1740, a daughter of Joseph and Experience Beach. Mr. Frost died Dec. 15, 1812, his wife on Feb. 5, 1819. In their family were the following children: Jesse, born Oct. 18, 1763, is mentioned below: Enoch, born Jan. 8, 1765, married Anna Culver ; David, born March 1, 1767, married Mary Ann Hitchcock; Na- omi was born born July 1, 1770; Mary, born March 24, 1775, died Sept. 14. 1778: Mary (2). born March II, 1780, married Ezekiel Smith: Elizabeth married Nathan Barnes.

Jesse Frost, son of David, was drafted at the age of sixteen years for service in the Revolutionary war, and was in the service two years and nine months, being under the immediate command of Gen. Washington for nine months as one of the teamsters carrying the baggage of the general and his staff. After the war he was converted, and be- came an active and prominent member of the Bap- tist Church of Waterbury. Feeling himself called upon to preach, he studied for the ministry, and was ordained in 1815. He served as joint pastor of the Baptist Church at Waterbury with Rev. Samuel Porter for many years, and died at that place Oct.

12, 1827. For a time he preached in Southington, Conn., but he never located there. He was married in 1783 to Abigail Culver, daughter of Lieut. Stephen Culver. She died March 7, 1842. They had ten children, namely: James was born March 21, 1784; Esther, born Aug. 29, 1786, married John Smith ; Leva, born April 14, 1789. married Benja- min Farrell; Alpheus, born Oct. 3, 1791, was the father of our subject; Jesse Beecher was born March 3, 1794; Electa, born Nov. 16, 1796, died Oet. 16, 1803; Van Julius was born March 3, 1798; Sylvester, born Nov. 19, 1801, died in September, 1803; Electa, born Jan. 9, 1805, married Edmond Tompkins; Abigail, born March 9, 1808, married John Mitchell.

Alpheus Frost, father of our subject, was a far- mer and land owner at Mill Plain, and was one of the highly respected and esteemed citizens of that locality. On June 17, 1816, he married Jerusha Williams, daughter of Timothy Williams, and to them were born seven children, whose names and dates of birth were as follows: Mark Augustus, April 16, 1818; Lydia Maria (wife of Hiram Will- iams), Feb. 1, 1820; Melissa (wife of T. H. Pat- ton), Jan. 6, 1822; Electa Ann, Feb. 28, 1824; Charles, June 16, 1826; George, June 10, 1829; and Styles, Nov. 7, 1831. The father died in 1834, and was buried in the East Farms cemetery. Four years later his widow married Martin Cook, of Southington, Connecticut.

Charles Frost, our subject, attended the district schools near his boyhood home. He was only eight or nine years of age when his father died, and he started out to make his own way in the world at that early age, working as a farm hand. Sub- sequently he learned the machinist's trade, which he followed for a number of years, and later en- gaged in the novelty business as a member of the firm of Frost & Gaylord until their property was de- stroyed by fire, after which he settled down to farm- ing at Mill Plain, where he spent the remainder of his life engaged in general farming and the dairy business.

On July 13, 1851, Mr. Frost was united in mar- riage with Miss Mary Ulissa Sperry, a native of Cheshire, and a daughter of Luther and Mary Ve- rona (Holt) Sperry. Her paternal grandparents were Benjamin and Merah (Hall) Sperry, of Cheshire, and her maternal grandparents were Philemon and Abby ( Barnes) Holt. To Mr. and Mrs. Frost were born three children. one of whom died in infancy, and the youngest, Ella A., at the age of twelve years. The only survivor is Mary U. They had an adopted daughter, Helen L., now the wife of Warren B. Hitchcock.

Mr. Frost died in Mill Plain May 9, 1897. and was laid to rest in Pine Grove cemetery, Waterbury. He was an earnest member of the Episcopal Church, and highly respected and esteemed by all who knew him. Politically he was identified with the Republican party. Fraternally he was a prom-

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inent member of Mad River Grange, of which he was treasurer for ten years, and of which his widow is also a member. Mrs. Frost is a most estimable lady.

HENRY HOBART FOWLER, a prominent retired farmer of Branford, is a native of that town, born Sept. 24, 1826, and is descended from a very old New England family.

(I) William Fowler, a native of Birmingham. England, lived in New Haven and Milford, from which latter town he moved to Guilford, and died there Jan. 25, 1660. He and his wife Sarah had four children, William, Sarah, Ambrose and John.

(II) Deacon John Fowler, son of William, mar- ried Mary Hubbard, born in 1635. He died Sept. 14, 1676, she on April 13, 1713. Their children were: Abigail, May, Abraham, John, Mehitable and Elizabeth.

(III) Abraham Fowler, son of Deacon John, was born Aug. 29, 1652, and married Aug. 29, 1677, 1

Elizabeth Bartlett, born in March, 1653. He died Sept. 30, 1719, she on Oct. 4, 1742. Their children : Abigail, Mary, Abraham, Ebenezer, Daniel, Josiah, Caleb and Elizabeth.

(IV) Ebenezer Fowler, son of Abraham, was born in Guilford in 1684, and followed farming. be- ing a large land owner in North Guilford. On May I, 1718, he married Elizabeth Starr, who was born in Guilford, Nov. 26. 1695. He died Nov. 28, 1768, she on March 26. 1765. Their children: Ebenezer. Nathaniel, Hulda, Caleb, Caleb (2). Elizabeth, Lucy and William.

(V) Ebenezer Fowler, son of Ebenezer, was born in January, 1719, in Guilford, and died Feb. 9, 1800. He was a minute man in the Revolution, and in response to the alarm call went to Boston. On Oct. 19. 1743, he married Desire Bristol, who was born Feb. 6. 1719, and died Oct. 13. 1800. Their children were: Beulah. Ebenezer, William, Nathan. Thomas. Ruth, Caleb. Isaac, James and Oliver.

(VI) Ebenezer Fowler, son of Ebenezer, and grandfather of Henry Hobart, was born in North Guilford April 17. 1747. and followed farming. He was a lieutenant in the Revolutionary war, and en- joved a pension. On Nov. 18, 1778, he married (first) Lois Rossiter, born July 13. 1759. who died June 17, 1791. They had children as follows : Ben- jamin R., Fanny (Mrs. Benton), Ruth ( Mrs. Eras- tus Dudley), James H. and Ebenezer. On Feb. 18. 1795, he married (second) Mercy Adkins, born in 1764, who died in 1825. She bore him two sons, Ammi and Isaac. Ebenezer Fowler died Jan. I. 1833.

(VII) Benjamin Rossiter Fowler, son of Eben- ezer and Lois (Rossiter) Fowler. and father of Henry Hobart Fowler, was born in North Guilford Sept. 14. 1779. In early manhood he was for six years ( 1812-1818) keeper of the County House and Jail, New Haven, which was located where the city hall now stands. In 1818 he removed to Branford,.

where he engaged in agricultural pursuits during the rest of his days, dying Dec. 23, 1839. He tran- sacted much public business, holding the office of justice of the peace, and various minor positions, and served as pension agent, securing pensions for Revolutionary soldiers. At one time he was deputy sheriff. His political allegiance was given to the Federalist party. Benjamin R. Fowler was twice married. first time, Nov. 28, 1805, to Rachel Fow- ler, daughter of Stephen and Temperance (Stevens) Fowler. To this union were born two children that grew to maturity, George R. and Randolph. Mr. Fowler married (second) June 6. 1816. Peggy daughter of Mason and Hannah ( Harrison ) Ho- bart, of Branford, and two children. James H. and Henry H., came of this marriage. The mother of these was born Dec. 12, 1781, and died March 24, 1881.

(VIII) James H. Fowler, retired carriage mak- er, was born in Branford, Conn., May 3, 1820 and attended the common schools and academy of the place. At the age of sixteen he commenced an ap- prenticeship at the carriage making business in New Haven, serving five years, and then for ten years conducted a wagon shop of his own in Branford. Later, also for ten years, he ran a sloop between Branford and Long Island, since when he has been living retired. He has been twice married. nrst time, in 1842, to Sophia, daughter of William and Esther Church, of Middletown, Conn., and four children were born to them: Louisa ( Mrs. N. Newell), William H., Herbert and Charles. He married (second) Emily, daughter of George W. and Marie (Cook) Johnson, of Wallingford. Conn. His children are all now deceased except William H., who lives in Denver Colo. William H. mar- ried Ellen Smith, and has five children: Mary S .. Clara, William H., Jr .. Fred and Charles. James H. Fowler and his wife are members of the Bap- tist Church. In politics he is a Republican.

(VIII) Henry H. Fowler, the subject proper of this memoir, received a liberal education at the com- mon schools of Branford. He made farming his life work up to 1895, when he retired from that occupation. An active Republican politically, he has held various municipal offices, all of which he has filled, or is filling, with his well-known ability and judgment. He has in his possession a family heir- loom in the shape of a writing desk or escritoire, which is said to have been made some time in the fourteenth century, and which has been handed down from generation to generation.

Mason Hobart, maternal grandfather of our subject, was born Nov. I, 1752, at Stonington, Conn., a son of Abijah (of New London) and Mary (Bartholomew) Hobart, the former of whom was born in Stonington, Conn., in 1703, and died in 1791 ; the latter, who was born in Branford, died at the age of eighty-eight years. Mason Hobart, a Revolutionary pensioner. was a merchant, shipbuild- er and owner of vessels, and possessed a large tract

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of land in Branford. He served in the Revolution, and received a pension for his services. On Nov. 28, 1776, he married Hannah Harrison, who was born in 1757, a daughter of Isaac and Rebecca Har- rison, of Branford. Mason Hobart died March 27, 1841, and his wife passed away in 1794.

ALFRED HUGHES. New Haven county has been the home and scene of labor of many men who have not only led lives that should serve as an ex- ample to those who come after them, but who have also been of important service to their town and county through various avenues of usefulness. Among them may be named Alfred Hughes, who passed away Oct. 18, 1899, after a life of industry, and rich in those rare possessions which only a high character can give.

Mr. Hughes was born Nov. 14. 1822, in what is now the town of New Haven, but at that time formed a part of East Haven. The Hughes family of East Haven is descended from Henry Freeman Hughes, whose posterity have been substantial men and women and useful citizens in this and other communities in which their lots have been cast. He had a brother, Bodwell Hughes, who, however, has no descendants in East Haven : his only son died in 1815. Our subject was in the fourth generation from Henry Freeman Hughes, who was born in 1723 in Wales, and was impressed as a seaman in the English navy. On account of his dislike for the service he deserted his ship, and about 1748 ap- peared in East Haven, Conn., under the name of Henry Freeman ; he was reported to have come from Newburyport. His name was Henry Hughes, . but to avoid detection and capture he assumed that of Freeman in remembrance of his escape, and Free- man has ever since been a common name in the family. On July 19, 1749, Mr. Hughes married Lydia Tuttle, who was born in 1722, daughter of Noah and Rachel ( Hoadley) Tuttle, and a member of one of the oldest and most influential families in Connecticut. Mr. Tuttle was a large land owner in East Haven, and Mr. Hughes by his marriage came into possession of considerable property. He was industrious and prosperous, but finally was over- come with misfortune. He was a farmer and ferry- man, and though his house was not a tavern he al- ways afforded entertainment for those who desired accommodations. He also kept staple groceries and provisions on hand for his own use and for those who did not want to go to New Haven for them. He was a strict Episcopalian, very firm and settled in his belief. At that time, iust preceding and dur- ing the Revolution, when the ground which sepa- rated Puritan and Churchman was contested inch by inch. it took courage and decision to be a Church- man. His wife was a Puritan. but she united with his church. and their children were all brought up in that faith. Mr. Hughes died in 1791, and Mrs. Hughes in 1704.

(II) Daniel Hughes, son of Henry Freeman, the

settler, was born June 17, 1759, in East Haven, and married (first) Lucy Grannis, born in 1761, in New Haven. She died June 25, 1791, and on Dec. 25, 1795. he married ( second ) Sarah Atwater, who was born April 26, 1756, in Cheshire, Conn., and died Jan. 14. 1817. On April 5, 1818. he married (third), in East Haven, Rachel Shailor, born in Bristol, Conn., in 1773, who died March 20, 1844. Daniel Hughes received a practical education in the common schools, and took up farming, in which he met with marked success : occasionally he engaged in other lines of business. He was a remarkable man in many respects, and a type of the primitive New Englander. Throughout life he continued to reside in the neighborhood of his birth. He pos- sessed good common sense and was a strong prac- tical reasoner, and clung to his belief with firmness. He was an acute observer and a man of quick per- ception. Simple in his tastes and habits, he was very active in both body and mind, and until his death kept up the habit of rising between three and four o'clock in the morning and retiring at sunset. He never would ride and never would have a horse on his farm, believing in walking. He never used spectacles, and read without them with perfect ease. Mr. Hughes was dignified in his personal appear- ance. Always kind, generous and hospitable, his home was open to all. and those who came were welcome. Blessed with abundance, he cheerfully gave to the deserving who had less than he, and he was widely known and beloved. In politics he was a Whig, but had not much taste for party affairs. He early united with the Episcopal Church, and was strongly attached to its teachings, being a very prominent member to the day of his death. Nov. 8, 1842.

(III) Aaron Atwater Hughes, son of Daniel, born Jan. 20, 1797. in East Haven, was a lifelong resident of that town, where he died Julv 14, 1833. On Jan. 20, 1822, he married Lydia Caroline Tuttle, who was born Oct. 25, 1798, and died May 30, 1892. She was a daughter of Josiah Tuttle, and grand- daughter of Joseph Tuttle, who was a volunteer minute-man in the Revolutionary war, and did coast patrol duty at old Black Rock Fort, now Fort Hale. He and his son Josiah, who joined the Revolution- arv army at the age of sixteen, were both taken prisoners by the English at that place, July 5, 1779. The British officers took possession of his house, which they destroyed with considerable other prop-

erty. Aaron A. Hughes inherited the prominent family traits of character to a marked degree, hav- ing been warm hearted and open handed. genial, kind and hospitable to all. He was gifted with a high order of ability. Mrs. Hughes was a woman educated in advance of her time. and her mental store was constantly enriched by continual reading, with keen perception, clear and strong reasoning. Hers were those sterling qualities of mind and heart which enabled her to guide hier children in all the essentials of usefulness and integrity, a duty which

.. .

Alfred Hughes

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devolved upon her by her early widowhood. She always kept abreast ot the times, in all current events, and retained her faculties in a remarkable de- gree to the last. Her birthday Scriptural proverb was truly fulfilled: "Strength and honor are her clothing. She shall rejoice in time to come." Al- fred Hughes, our subject, was the older in a fan- ily of two children, the other being Sarah Eva.

Miss Sarah E. Hughes was educated in the schools of New Haven and the Academy at West- field, Mass., and in 1853 commenced teaching in a school which she attended. Later she taught in private boarding schools for a few years, and then became connected with the public schools of New Haven, being principal's assistant at the Wooster school two years, and principal of the Dixwell ave- nue school for nineteen consecutive years, making twenty-one years of continued service in New Ha- ven. Miss Hughes was a very popular and thor- ough educator, and met with most excellent suc- cess. She is now living with our subject's widow on the old home farm. One writer speaks thus of her life and work: "Miss Hughes has not only main- tained herself by a successful prosecution of a busi- ness to which she has devoted her energies, but has surrounded herself with the comforts of a home which it is her delight also to make, in her gener- ous and hospitable way, the home of those whom she loves and respects. Her childhood was charac- terized by the early development of a bright and inquiring intellect which instinctively thirsted for knowledge. This literary turn of mind, together with an ardent love of study, ultimately led her to resolve to qualify herself for the honorable position of a teacher. With this view, after spending several years in the best schools in New Haven, she entered the academy at Westfield, Mass., under the charge of William C. Goldwaite, where she spent two years in the study of the higher branches of education. Upon her graduation from this institution, she com- menced her career as a teacher in the same, and re- mained as pupil and teacher three years and a half. At the expiration of this period a flattering offer was extended to her to become a teacher in a board- ing school in Louisa Court House. Va., which after mature consideration she concluded to accept. This position she continued to fill, with the entire accept- ance of her employers, from September, 1854. until July, 1857, when, upon the failure of her health, she was compelled to resign and return to her friends in Connecticut. Here. in consequence of ill health, she remained until 1860, when an offer was made her of another position in a boarding school in Sara- toga, N. Y., where she remained for one year, when, finding that the climate did not agree with her. she was obliged to relinquish the engagement and return to her home. After an interval of rest, she next ac- cepted the position of principal's assistant in the Wooster public school in New Haven, which she re- tained for the period of two years. Her next field of labor was the Dixwell school-another of the

public schools of New Haven -- which she entered. 111 1804. After the faithful and energetic discharge of the duties of the subordinate positions m this mistitution she was ultimately promoted to become the principal, whien position she heid, to hier credit, as well as to the entire satistaction of the board of education, until 1883.

"In 1851 the attention of Miss Hughes was drawn to the subject of religion, and at a subse- quent period, in the rite of confirmation, she made a profession of her faith in Christ, and was admitted to the Holy Communion in St. James Church, Fair Haven, of which parish she has continued to be a faithful and exemplary member ever since. In man- ners and address Miss Hughes is courteous and agreeable ; and as a teacher she has been eminently successful."

At the age of seventeen years Alfred Hughes began life for himself, taking charge of the farm where his widow now resides-the homestead of his father, located about a half mile east of Tomlin- son's bridge. To its cultivation and improvement he devoted his time and energies throughout life, and was numbered among the best and most suc- cessful agriculturists of the community, at the time of his death owning quite a large and valuable estate. He was a man of decided preferences and strong prejudices, but full of forbearance and con- siderate charity for those who held opposite views. Although tenacious of his opinions and firm in his purposes, he was a "man of strict integrity, sound judgment and good business capacity. He was a man of tender sympathies, which were easily aroused, and led him to the performance of kindly acts to neighbors, friends and strangers. Plain and unpretending in his habits and address, he com- mended himself to all as the friend of the unfortu- nate and helpless, but was the enemy of idleness. and vagrancy. A faithful advocate and liberal pa- tron of all practical improvements for the moral and intellectual benefit of the community, he en- joyed in a high degree the confidence of his neigh- bors and townsmen, among whom his sound judg- ment and faithful execution of all projects which commended themselves to his favor is proverbial. An industrious, honest and substantial man, as a son, brother, husband and father. he was faithful, considerate, affectionate, indulgent and tender."

Alfred Hughes was married in New Haven, Nov. 4, 1861, to Miss Mary Ann Rowe, who was born in East Haven, Dec. 20, 1839, a daughter of Robert and Abbie Rowe: her father was a native of Falmouth, England; her mother was born in Norwich, Conn., a descendant of a Story who was one of the very early settlers of Massachusetts, and soon after moved to Norwich, Conn. To Mr. and Mrs. Hughes were born three children, namely : Caroline Tuttle graduated from the New Haven high school and the State Normal, and for a num- ber of years taught in the New Haven public schools; she is at present teaching in a young la-

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dies' seminary at Springfield, Mass. Normand At- water married Clara L. Pierce, and has one child, Marion. Alfred Burdette is a graduate of Yale Col- lege, class of 1895, and Yale Law School, 1897, and is a practicing lawyer of New Haven.

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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 3, Part 15

Author: Beers (J.H.) & Co., Chicago, pub Publication date: 1902 Publisher: Chicago, J.H. Beers & co. Number of Pages: 988

Author: Beers (J.H.) & Co., Chicago, pub
Publication date: 1902
Publisher: Chicago, J.H. Beers & co.
Number of Pages: 988