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 34
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William Monson, son of Samuel (2), was born in 1695, married Rebecca. daughter of Thomas Curtis, of Wallingford, and resided in that part of that town which is now Cheshire. His death oc- curred in 1733.
William Monson (2), son of William, was born in 1731. He married in 1753, Sarah, born in 1734, a daughter of Isaac Griggs, of Wallingford and resided in what was then the town of Waterbury, but later, Wolcott. Mrs. Monson died in 1806, and her husband in 1815.
William Monson (3), son of William (2) was born in 1769, and he married first, in 1790, Olive Dayton, and second, in 1835. Elizabeth Ford. He resided in Plymouth and Litchfield, Conn., and Meredith, N. Y.
William Monson (4). son of William (3), and the father of David C. and Charles Monson, of New Haven, was born Jan. 10, 1793, in the town of Plymouth, Conn., and became a currier and tanner. by occupation, residing in Litchfield, it that part of the town which, in 1859, was set off as the town of Morris. His religious connections were with the Congregational Church. and his po- litical affiliations with the Whig and later with the. Republican party. Mr. Monson was twice married, first, Sept. 4. 1815. to Alice Emmons, who was born May 3. 1791. and died May 6. 1821. He married sec- ond March 19. 1822, Polly Benton, born in March. 1792, and died Sept. 30. 1875. Mr. Monson survived until Aug. 5. 1887. when in the ninety-sixth year of his age. His children were: William H., born Aug. 1, 1816. a tanner. settled at Cheraw. S. C., where his death occurred in 1887 (he served in the Con- federate army as adjutant of the Home Guards) ; Julius, born in 1818, died in 1819: Charles B., born in 1821. died in 1825 : Phebe A., born April 5. 1823, married May 8. 1845. Elias C. Woodruff, and re- sides in Westville. Conn .: Cornelia A., born March 22. 1825, married twice, and died in Hamden. in 1877: Elizabeth L., born Nov. 3. 1827, resided in Westville. and died. unmarried, at an advanced age, in 1895 ; David C., born Aug. 7, 1832 : Charles, born Feb. 14. 1834, is a merchant of New Haven ; and Homer G., born April 11. 1837, is an orange grower and investor, residing at Sanford, Florida.
Captain David C. Monson, son of the late Will- iam Monson, was born Ang. 7. 1832, in the town of Litchfield, Conn., where his school days and | youth were passed. Learning the trade and business
David & Mouros .
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of tanner from his father, he followed that during his earlier life. On Aug. 4, 1862, during the prog- ress of the Civil war, in response to the call ot President Lincoln for 300,000 men, in July of that year, Mr. Monson enlisted, as a private, in Com- pany C, 19th Conn. V. I., which later became Com- pany C, 2d Conn. Heavy Artillery. The engage- ments in which this regiment participated were : Spottsylvania, Va., May 22 to 24, 1864; Talopoto- my, Va., May 28, 1864; Cold Harbor, Va., June I. 1864; Petersburg, Va., June 20 to 26, 1864; Win- chester, Va., Sept. 19, 1864; Fisher's Hill, Va., Sept. 22, 1864; Cedar Creek, Va .. Oct. 19, 1864; Hatcher's Run, Va., Feb. 6, 1865 : Petersburg, Va., March 25 and April 2, 1865: and Little Sailor's Creek, Va., April 6, 1865. Captain Monson shared the fortunes of his regiment from start to finish, and returned to his home with an honorable war record, being promoted from sergeant on Dec. 26. 1864. to second lieutenant, and April 18, 1865, to first lieutenant of his company, and was mustered out with his regiment Ang. 18, 1865.
Captain Monson has resided in Litchfield, Mor- ris, Wolcottville, now Torrington, and Westville. and for many years was foreman in the Diamond Match Co., of Westville. His political affiliations have been with the Republican party, in which he has been active and influential. Since a resident of Westville he has served as constable, fence viewer and registrar of the Thirteenth ward, and is an enterprising and public-spirited citizen and com- mands the respect of his fellow townsmen.
On April 27, 1856, Capt. Monson was married to Sarah A. Holcomb, of Torrington, Conn .. born Nov. 2, 1837, and to this union have come children as follows: Alice Elizabeth, born March 13. 1859, in Morris, Conn .. married Homer L. Cooper, for- merly of Westville, now of New Haven, and they have had four children, Gertrude and Roland sur- viving ; Mary Eliza, born Nov. 18, 1860, in Morris, Conn., is a resident of Westville : William Holcomb, who died in January, 1899, was born Dec. 10, 1862, in Torrington, Conn .. married Oct. 23. 1889, Annie Wright Page, and had three children. Marjorie Fuller, Ruth and Mary ; and Clifford Benton, born Nov. 13, 1875, in New Haven, died Feb. 6, 1892. Capt. and Mrs. Monson are members of the Con- gregational Church.
When the town of Morris was set off from Litchi- field, Capt. Monson went to Hartford to represent his section of the town before the committee for this purpose. His fraternal connections are with the Masonic order, Olive Branch, No. 55. having entered in 1860, through Seneca Lodge. in Torrington ; American Mechanics: and Ad- miral Foote Past, G. A. R., of which he is past commander. His connection with the Diamond Match Co. ended when it went into a trust, in 1895. 'In 1897 he was made postmaster of Westville, and when this office was consolidated with the New Haven office, he was made superintendent, and as
such has since efficiently served the Government. His home on Central Avenue, Westville, Conn., was erected by himself, and there he is passing his de- clining years in peace and comfort, surrounded by many friends.
WILLIAM N. HOUGHTALING, builder of concrete walks and floors, Ansonia, is a native of New York State, born Jan. 22, 1838, at Sandlake, Rensselaer county.
Tunis Houghtaling, his great-grandfather, a farmer by occupation, was born in Holland, whence he came to this country, settling near Sandlake, N. Y., where he ,died at the age of eighty years, the father of ten children. His son Christopher Hought- aling, grandfather of William N., was born at Coey- mans, N. Y., and passed his entire life on a farm there, dying when seventy-eight years old. He mar- ried Nancy Mixter, who died at the age of fifty-six, the mother of a large family.
William M. Houghtaling, the father of William N., was born at Sandlake in 1813, and received his education at the common schools. After following agricultural pursuits for some years at the place of his birth he removed to Canaan, N. Y., then, after a . couple of years, making his home in West Stock- bridge, Mass., later, for six years, in Lenox, Mass. Following this he resided in North Adams two years ; Colerain ten years ; Windsor, Vt., for a time ; finally in Holyoke, Mass., where he died at the age of eighty-one years. He married Cynthia P. Gard- ner, of Stephentown, N. Y. (one of ten children born to her parents), and they had ten. children, six of whom survive: William N., Martha, Christo- pher, Charles, George and David, all living in Holy- oke except William N., in Ansonia, and Charles, in Seymour. The mother, born April 13, 1813, is vet living, at the patriarchal age of eighty-nine.
William N. Houghtaling. our subject. received a liberal education at the public schools, and remained under the parental roof until he was twenty-two years old, at which time he went to Goshen. Mass., thence to Colerain. From there he proceeded to. Shelburne Falls, where he engaged as a mechanic. in 1866 removing to Seymour, Conn., being there employed as a bit and auger maker up to 1884, when he commenced the business of making concrete walks, and floors. He remained in Seymour until November. 1891, in that year coming to Ansonia, where he has since remained, his house and office being at No. 33 Pleasant street. He is the only one in his special line in the city. and does a large amount of work. employing a considerable number of men. What he does is of the finest quality, and he has achieved an enviable reputation. not only as a thorough master of his business, but also as a citi- zen of the community, in which he is highly respect- ed by all who know him. In politics he is independ- ent.
In 1860 William N. Houghtaling married Miss Lucy L. Loomis, who was born Feb. 3, 1841, in'
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Goshen, Mass., a daughter of Almon B. Loomis, a native of Becket, Mass., and a granddaughter of Calvin Loomis, who was born in Springfield, Mass., Dec. 13, 1779. Her great-grandfather, Jonathan Loomis, first saw the light in Feeding Hills, Mass., where he followed farming during his early life, then removed to Becket, Mass .; he died at the age of ninety years. He served in the war of the Revo- lution.
Calvin Loomis left Becket when a young man, and journeyed to what is now Painesville, Ohio, but which was then a part of the great unknown West. After seven years he returned to Becket, and on July 10, 1810, he married Anna Freeland, daughter of Joseph and Mollie ( Mann ) Freeland, of Bland- ford, Mass. She died Jan. 7, 1876, at-the age of ninety-five, after sixty-six years of happy wedded life. Mr. Loomis survived until Dec. 14, 1878, when he passed away at the advanced age of ninety-nine years. He could well remember his great-grand- mother, at the great age of 103 years, as she laid her hands in blessings on his head. Six children blessed the union of Calvin and Anna Loomis, of whom Almon B. was the third son, and was of the sixth generation in descent from Joseph Loomis, who came from Braintree, England, in 1638, and settled in Windsor, Conn., in 1639; he was born about 1590, and died in 1658.
Almon B. Loomis, father of Mrs. William Houghtaling, was born Dec. 11, 1816, and passed his early years in Becket, Mass., later removing to Washington, Mass., then living in Peru, Windsor and Savoy, Mass., each for a short time, and finally settling in Goshen. Mass .: he purchased the old homestead, conducting same. also quarrying the finest flagstone in Massachusetts, until retiring from active life; he has since made his home with our subject. He married Hester Willcutt, a daughter of Rev. William Willcutt, a minister of some renown, who was born in 1796, and died at the age of sev- enty-three years. Rev. William Willcutt was a son of Zebulon and Mercy (Litchfield) Willcutt, the former a soldier of the Revolution, who received a life pension ; he died at the age of ninety-six years. Rev. William Willcutt's wife. Betsy ( Daniels), was born in Plainfield. Mass., Mav 1, 1796, and died Nov. 3, 1875, aged seventy-nine years and six months. She was one of eight children. and had a family of eight children. Her mother died at the age of eighty-nine. Mrs. Houghtaling's parents reared a family of four children, two of whom are yet living, viz .: Mrs. Houghtaling and Mrs. Addi- son D. Blanchard. the latter residing in Goshen. The mother died Dec. 14. 1803, at the age of sev- enty-four years. Mr. Loomis is a Republican in pol- itics, and a man of rare intelligence, now eighty-five years of age.
To Mr. and Mrs. Houghtaling have been born three children. a brief record of whom follows: (1) Lucy, born May 24. 1862, died at the age of two years. (2) Idella G., born Aug. 7, 1869, died April
27, 1899; she married Henry W. Phelps, a mason by trade, at present working for Mr. Houghtaling. (3) Lillian L., born Feb. 3, 1872, was educated in the Seymour schools, and later commenced the study of medicine, but on account of ill health had to abandon it. When the eldest daughter Lucy was born she had living four grandparents and five great- grandparents-a most unusual record.
In January, 1900, Mr. Houghtaling purchased land at No. 10 Arch street, West Ansonia. His daughter Lillian at once designed and drew plans for a fine residence, which was built accordingly, and in November the place was ready for occupancy, and is now the family home. The house is well elevated, large and well lighted, and is furnished with all modern improvenrents, including gas and electric lights.
CHARLES H. PULFORD, M. D., so widely and favorably known in the town of Seymour, is a man of sterling quality and broad, sound education, which he has manifested most liberally in his life and work. He was born in Stafford Springs, Conn., Dec. 18, 1859, and spent his early life under the guidance of his father, obtaining his primary education in the public schools of Connecticut. Later he took the Collegiate Institute Course at Hacketts- town, N. J., and then went to New York City to enter the college at the corner of 23d Street and Third Avenue, and in 1888 he was graduated from the Hahnemann Medical College of Chicago. He practiced with his father until the latter's death, after which he continued in general practice by him- self, continuing to occupy the same office. Dr. Pul- ford is the oldest practitioner in the town, and has a large clientele both in this and surrounding towns.
A glance into the ancestral life and history of our subject may here be of interest. His grand- father, William C. Pulford, was born in Leeds, England, and there he spent his life. He married a Miss Bannister, who was also of English birth and lived to the age of sixty years. Six children were born to them; one resides in Delaware, Ohio; one in Bradford, England; Elizabeth and Charlotte, both married, reside in Worcester, Mass., and two are deceased.
Frederick W. Pulford, the father of our subject, and the oldest son of William C., was also born in Leeds, England, where he lived until twelve years of age, when he sailed for this country, taking up his abode in Ohio. His early education was that afforded by the public schools. He was engaged in the woolen business until 1865, in which year he began the study of medicine. He commenced practicing in Royalston, Mass., continuing there until 1876, when he removed to Seymour, where he resided until his demise in June, 1803, at the age of sixty-six years. He was the oldest practitioner in the town and had a larger practice than any other physician there. In politics he was a Republican.
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Fraternally he was a member of Morning Star Lodge, F. & A. M., of Seymour, and professionally. belonged to the State Medical Society. He married Sarah A., daugliter of Chester Leonard, a lumber «lealer of Dunkirk, who lost his life on Lake Erie. Two daughters and seven sons were born to them of whom the following are now living: (1) Rufus A., superintendent of a department of the Scoville Mfg. Co., resides in Waterbury; (2) Charles H. is our subject ; (3) William E. resides in Prospect, Conn .; (4) Arabella E. married Andrew J. Miles, of the firm of Baldwin & Miles, meat dealers. Dr. and Mrs. Frederick W. Pulford were both members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. They possessed considerable musical talent and ability, and were active in all local musical entertainments. In addi- tion to his vocal accomplishments Dr. Pulford was a violinist and cornetist and played in a band and orchestra at one time. Mrs. Pulford died in 1892, aged sixty-three years.
Born and reared in an environment of culture and refinement, the early inclinations of Dr. Charles H. Pulford received that recognition and training which developed the ability displayed in his daily life. He has lived very largely among the people, and is deservedly popular. As a vocalist he is active in all musical entertainments, and he also
plays the piano. His religious views are liberal. In his fraternal relations, he is identified with Morning Star Lodge, No. 47, F. & A. M., of which he is the musical director ; and he also belongs to Evening Star Lodge, R. A. M. Professionally, he is a member of the State Medical Society. In politics he is a Republican. His office and residence is at No. 26 Maple Street.
JUDGE ALEXANDER DANA McLEAN is a worthy and notable descendant of the McLean fan- ily of Wallingford, one of the most respectable and noted names in New England history.
Dr. Neil McLean, the first of the family in America, was born in the Island of Coll, in Scot- land, about 1702, and, according to tradition. came to this country in 1736, with the celebrated Dr. Morrison, with whom he was associated in several difficult cases. On Jan. 5, 1737, he settled in Hart- ford, Conn., where he was highly esteemed as a successful physician and as a man of much in- telligence and of high character. He had a beau- tiful country seat at Bloomfield. Conn., which was approached through an avenue of white pine trees, but these trees were cut down soon after his death because "they shaded the soil." Dr. McLean died in Hartford, Jan. 15, 1784, while on a visit to his friend, Dr. Nichols. He had been twice married. His first wife, whom he wedded in Hartford, was Mrs. Hannah (Stillman ) Cadwill, daughter of Geo. Stillman, who came from London, England, about 1680, and married Rehecca, daughter of Lieut. Philip Smith, and granddaughter of Nathaniel Foote, of Wethersfield, Conn. Mrs. McLean was
the great aunt of General Warren and James Otis, of Revolutionary fame. She died April 22, 1755, at the age of fifty-two years. In 1757 Dr. McLean married Mrs. Knowles, who died in 1766. By his first marriage Dr. McLean became the father of the following children: Allen, baptized Oct. 2, 1737, died Sept. 19, 1741 ; Lachlan, born Nov. 4, 1739, marrid Sarah Humphrey, and lived in White- stone, N. Y., until his death Sept. 19, 1813 ; Allen (2), born Dec. 13, 1741, graduated at Yale College in 1762, became a physician, and died in March, 1829 (he married Mary Sloan, of New Haven) ; John, baptized Jan. 29, 1744, is mentioned below ; Neil, born Feb. 9, 1746, died in August, 1793 ; and Catherine, baptized Sept. 23, 1748.
John McLean, fourth in the family of Dr. Mc- Lean, became a farmer in Windsor, Conn., . where he spent his life, dying Sept. 2, 1822. Sarah Goodwin, his wife, was a daughter of Daniel Good- win, of one of the best-known families of Hartford, and died May 5, 1817, at the age of seventy years. She was a woman of good character, kind heart and ardent piety. To John McLean and his wife Saralı were born the following children : (1) Dolly Good- win, born May 18, 1771, married William Willis- ton, of Suffield, and died May 1, 1861. (2) John, born in 1776, was a sailor, and died in 1805. (3) James, born May 6, 1779, was a sea captain, and was one of the impressed seamen that caused the war with England in 1812. and spent seventeen years on board a British man of war ; he died Jan. 2; 1865, at Sailors Snug Harbor, Staten Island. (4) Harry is mentioned farther on. (5) Sally, born in 1784, married Edward Vining, of Simsbury, and died in 1815. (6) Betsy, born Aug. 9, 1787, died Nov. 15, 1810.
Harry McLean, the father of Judge McLean, was born in Windsor, which is now the town of Bloomfield, April 30, 1782, and died in 1844, and his remains were buried in the old Bloomfield ceme- tery. He was a farmer by occupation, and was one of the best known men of Bloomfield. A stanch Democrat, he worked hard for the party, and was a man of influence in political matters, and served as selectman many years. He attended the Epis- copal Church, and was a good Christian man and upright citizen. On Dec. 22. 1807, Mr. McLean married Miss Susanna Gillette, a daughter of Jona- than Gillette, of Windsor. This union was blessed with eight children: (1) Betsy, born April 25, ISIO, married Eliezur Latimer, and removed to Ohio, where she died Oct. 15, 1886. (2) Polly, born April 30, 1812, died May 10, 1817. (3) Henry, born April 17, 1814, died May 25, 1815. (4) Henry (2), born May 26. 1816, married Jan. 9, 1846, Abigail Allyn, and died Oct. 26, 1863. (5) John, born April 25, 1818, married Elizabeth Allyn in 1842, and died Feb. 16, 1897. (6) Daniel Good- win, born Sept. 3, 1820, married Maria Dana, of Wilkesbarre. Penn., and removed to Enterprise, Fla., where he died March 30, 1895. (7) Susanna
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married Watson Dewey, of Granby. and died in 1854. (8) Alexander Dana, born May 24. 1829.
Alexander Dana McLean was still young when he lost his father. He had his education at the pub- lic schools, the Connecticut Institute at Suffield. and at a private school in Bloomfield. Growing up on the farm, he took up the study of surveying and civil engineering, and engaged in the practice of that calling in his native town, and was also a car- penter. He remained in the town of Bloomfield until 1869, when he went to Edgerton, Wis., and en- gaged in tobacco culture and general farming for nine years. He took up the study and practice of law, becoming quite successful, and was judge of the city court of Edgerton four terms, and justice of the peace, filling other offices as well. In 1878 he removed to Chester, Virginia, where he carried on extensive building operations. the Presbyterian church of that place being one of his principal constructions. He was one of the organizers of this church, and became an elder. After spending four years in that country he returned to Walling- ford, Conn., settling at North Farms, and engaging in tobacco and general farming for six years ; and while he has been in the tobacco business for twen- ty-five years, he never uses the article in any form. In 1887 he removed to Wallingford. where he settled in the city, and followed his profession as surveyor, for four years being surveyor for the borough of Wallingford. For a number of years his wife was engaged in the florist business, and this business has grown so much that it now takes the most of Mr. McLean's time as well. He is a man well-known and highly respected. He was elected Borough Judge of Wallingford in 1895, and has, served two years, filling the position with dig- nity and honor. The Judge is a life-long Demo- crat, and has held many positions of trust. In 1863 he was elected to the State Legislature from Wall- ingford, and served on the committee on civil en- gineering. He was selectman, tax collector and as- sessor. All his life he has been known as a thor- oughly honorable and upright man, of the most un- swerving integrity, and wherever he has lived has had a host of friends. He is a prominent and active member of the Wallingford Agricultural Society, and is deeply interested in everything that touches the local welfare. He belongs to the Congrega- tional Church, and is a devoted worker in the Sun- day School, having been a superintendent of differ- ent Sunday-schools for ten years.
Judge McLean has been twice married. On March 30, 1851, Ellen A. Dana, daughter of Francis Dana, and a sister of the wife of Daniel Goodwin McLean, became his wife; she died in July, 1863, leaving two children : (1) Harry Francis, who married Nancy Stewart, and settled in Michigan City, Ind., where he is a railroad engineer. (2) Nellie Edith, who married Pitman Angel, of Man- chester, Va. Judge McLean, for his second wife, married Mrs. Mary J. Churchill. She was born in
Wethersfield, and is the mother of one child, Charles Levi, who is in the express business be- tween Wallingford and Meriden ; he married Emma Tooth, and has two children, Harry E. and Russell J. Mrs. Mary J. McLean was the widow of Levi Churchill, and a daughter of Elisha Blinn, of Weth- ersfield.
CALVIN MINER LEETE, late of the town of Guilford, was one of the best known and most highly respected citizens of New Haven county, and his industry, thrift and intelligent application to agricultural pursuits won him a marked degree of success in that vocation.
Mr. Leete was born Oct. 18, 1816, on the old Leete homestead in the town of Guilford, the youngest son of Miner and Lucinda ( Norton) Leete, and received his education at the common schools of the neighborhood. He worked on his father's farm up to the age of nineteen years, at which time, impaired health demanding a change of residence, he removed to Meriden and made his home there for several years. Returning to Guil- ford greatly improved in health, he began his life vocation on Leete's Island, and there engaged in agricultural pursuits until his retirement from active life. Mr. Leete died Feb. 17. 1899. His estimable virtues made him one of the foremost citizens of the community, and his many sterling qualities won for him the high regard and respect of all. Though averse to holding office he was elected a representa- . tive of Guilford in the State Legislature in 1856. again in 1862, and, for a third time, in 1878. He also served the town in various other capacities, and was always deeply interested in the local wel- fare and progress. Early in life he espoused the cause of abolition, and he cast his presidential vote for Birney and Hale. He voted for Van Buren in the Free-Soil movement, and after the formation of the Republican party supported its principles and candidates. In 1849 Mr. Leete became a member of the Congregational Church in Meriden, from which he transferred his membership to the Third Church at Guilford, of which, for a long time, he was a leading member and for many years a deacon.
Deacon Leete married. Feb. 7. 1866, Lucy MI .. daughter of Morris A. and Clarinda (Graves) Leete. Of this union there is one son, CALVIN MORRIS LEETE, born Jan. 11, 1867, and now living at the ancestral home.
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