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 56
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Oda F Beck
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of birth in a family of four children: (1) Eleanor M. ( deceased ) became the wife of Henry Bucking- ham, of Seymour, and they had six children, Ida ( deceased ), Minnie, Albert, William, Roy and Lewis. (3) Eva A., born July 26, 1853, is the wife of Jesse . Russell, and they have one son, Carlton Martin, of Plainville. (4) Henry Martin, a physi- cian of Upper Lehigh. P'a., married Ada Leisenring, and has four children, Maylon, Cameron. Josepli Hawley and Gertrude. Mr. and Mrs. Peck have had four children: (1) Ermon N., born July 26, 1870, a civil engineer, resides in West Hartford, where he is in the employ of the Hartford Water Co .; he graduated from the Connecticut Literary Institute in 1891, and entered the Scientific Depart- ment of Yale, but owing to ill health was unable to continue his studies. He married Emma Newton, of Westville, Conn., and they have one son, Ermon Newton. (2) Irving B., born June 19, 1872, mar- ried Hattie Clark, of Southington, and is now a mechanic of Forestville. (3) Elizabeth I. and (4) Lewis E., twins, were born May 27, 1875. Lewis E. died Aug. 31, 1875. Elizabeth taught school for one year in Bethany, Connecticut.
. Politically Mr. Peck classes himself with the Re -. · publicans, but believes that something should be done to stop the liquor traffic. Although he has never been an office seeker, he lias accepted local positions of honor and trust, serving as member of the school board, grand juror, assessor, member of the board of relief, etc. He is a member of the Woodbridge Grange, of which he is treasurer, and was worthy chief of the Good Templars Society when that organization was in a flourishing condi- tion. As a business man and citizen he is widely and favorably known, and no one in the town is more honored or highly respected.
WILLIS BRADLEY, a well-known citizen of Branford; was born there Oct. 20, 1848, son of Gurdon and Anna Maria ( Spinks) Bradley: Tim- othy Bradley. his paternal grandfather, married Irene, a daughter of Capt. Alexander Gordon, of Branford. The great-grandfather. Timothy Brad- ley, an early settler of Branford, married Sarah Goodsell. The 'maternal grandfather of Willis Bradley was Samuel Spinks, of Branford, who mar- ried Esther Tyler.
Willis Bradley passed his boyhood and youth in Branford, where he attended the public school, and when he was "older grown" served an ap- prenticeship of three years to the blacksmith trade, which he followed ten years in Branford and Meri- den. In maturer life he was made superintendent of the Cherry Hill farm of J. W. Nichols, and filled that position four years in a perfectly satisfactory manner to his employer. In 1883 Mr. Bradley be- gan work as a carpenter for his brother Richard, and this has been his occupation to the present time. Ile has had some very extensive dealings in the building line in the past years, and has established
an enviable character for business ability, fair deal- ing and upright treatment of his patrons.
Willis Bradley was united in marriage Aug. 20, 1872, with Isabelle Eliza, a daughter of Charles R. and Frances Louise ( Dudley) Lane, of Guilford. Her paternal grandparents were Noah and Betsey (Stevens) Lane, and her maternal grandparents were Jonathan and Eliza ( Holmes) Dudley, of Guilford. Mr. and Mrs. Willis Bradley are the parents of three daughters: Maria Louise ; Hattie Isabel. who is deceased ; and Helen Elizabeth. Mr. Bradley and his family are members of Trinity Episcopal Church, where they are much respected for their sterling worth and genuine character. Mr. Bradley is a member of Widows' Sons Lodge, No. 66, F. & A. M., and of the New England Order of Protection, where he is a welcome presence. In politics he is a Democrat, and in all things an honor- able and reliable citizen.
Mrs. Bradley has two brothers, Charles Holmes Lane, of Branford, and Herbert Eugene Lane, of New Haven, both of whom stand well in their re- . spective communities, and are widely known as hon- orable and trustworthy men in all their dealings.
GEORGE PREBBEL ROLF is ranked among the successful and well-established business citi- zens of Guilford. Since 1881 he has conducted a livery business in that locality, also dealing in horses.
Mr. Rolf was born in Folster, County of Kent, England. June 12, 1849, a son of Henry Rolf, who was born in 1823 in Folster, which is eighty miles from London. Henry Rolf married Sarah Jane Cox, a native of Elhain, England, and they came to this country with their family in the spring of 1850, landing in New York. From that city they came to New Haven, Conn., and thence by stage coach to Madison, where they located for a time. Several years later they removed to Guilford, where Mr. Rolf still resides, highly respected by his friends and neighbors in the community. He was a skilled workman at his trade, that of mason, which he fol- lowed until his retirement.
Our subject was scarcely one year old when he was brought to this country, and he attended the public schools of Madison. Adopting his father's trade, he pursued that both in Madison and Guil- ford, and in 1881 started in his present line, pur- chasing the interest of George S. Davis, who, in partnership with E. B. Redfield, conducted a livery business. In 1891 our subject bought the interest of Mr. Redfield, and since that time has most suc- cessfully managed a constantly growing business. He has secured the contract for the carrying of the mails, greatly increasing his responsibilities. Mr. Rolf knows a good horse when he sees it, and is one of the largest dealers along the shore line, having stables in New London as well as in Guil- ford. Seeking to please his patrons. Mr. Rolf is popular with every one, and is well and favorably
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known to a large class of citizens. His honesty in · dealing has gained for him the confidence of those who wish to purchase, and many excellent speci- mens of the best breeds of horses have passed through his hands to the public.
On March 21, 1872, Mr. Rolf married Mary Storer, a daughter of William Storer, and one child has blessed. this union, Fred, born in January, 1877, who received his education in Guilford, and is one of the progressing and rising young men of the town. As a pioneer in the canning of corn and tomatoes in Guilford young Mr. Rolf is the head of what is known as the Sachem's Head Canning Co., and also deals largely in feed, grain and fertilizers. Both Mr. Rolf and his son are Republicans, and our subject has served as warden of the borough three years ; burgess several times ; selectman, one term ; and chairman of the town committee. Frederick Rolf is recognized as one of the progressive and ris- ing young men of the community, and will prob- ably make his mark in both commercial and po- litical life. The family attend the Third Congrega- tional Church. George P. Rolf is a member of the I. O. O. F., Mennuntuck Lodge, No. 62. Guilford, and of the N. E. O. P., Sachem Lodge, Guilford.
JOHN WINFIELD NORTON, one of Wol- cott's most prosperous and highly esteemed citizens, was born in Wolcott Centre, March 27, 1854, and is a worthy representative of one of the best and old- est families of the State. In 1639, Thomas Norton emigrated from Ockley, County of Surrey, England, to the New World, and took up his residence in Guilford, New Haven Co., Conn. About 1625 he married Grace Wells, and to them were born the following children: Anne, born in 1625, married John Warner, of Saybrook, Conn .; Grace, born in 1627, was married April 2, 1651, to William Seward, of New Haven and Guilford, and died May 29, 1687 : Mary B., born in 1635, was married, April 9, 1660. to Samuel Rockman, a son of William Rockman, of Windsor, Conn .; John, born in 1640, is mentioned below ; Abigail, born in 1642, was mar- ried, Aug. 6, 1667, to Anamas Tryon, of Killing- worth ; and Thomas, born in 1646, was married May 8, 1671, to Elizabeth Mason.
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John Norton, son of Thomas, spent his entire life in Guilford, where he followed the miller's trade, and died May 5, 1704. He first married Hannah Stone, and for his second wife married Elizabeth Hubbard. In his family were six chil- dren : John, who was born Nov. 18, 1666, and died Jan. 10, 1667; John, who is mentioned below ; Susannah, who was born Oct. 4. 1672: Thomas, who was born May 4, 1675 : Hannah, who was born Feb. 4, 1677, and was married. Jan. 16. 1702, to Ebenezer Stone; and Mary, who was born in 1680.
Emanuel Buck, the first of that name in Wethers- field. Mr. Norton died March 15, 1711, his wife, Oct. 22, 1739. Their children were Anna, who was born Oct. 16, 1695, and died in October, 1721 ; Mary, born Dec. 6, 1697 ; John, born Dec. 23, 1699; Sarah, born Feb. 26, 1702; Joseph, born Oct. 10, 1704; Elizabethi, who was born Oct. 6, 1706, was married, Aug. 8, 1728, to David Benton, and died Aug. 25, 1756; and Hannah, who was born March 4, 1710, and died in 1724.
Joseph Norton, son of John (2nd), spent his en- tire life as a farmer in Guilford, where he died May 9, 1781. On April 11, 1728, he wedded Mary Champion, of Lyme, Conn., who lived for a time in Wolcott, but died in Guilford, July 13, 1800, at the extreme old age of 110 years. She was a good Christian woman and the mother of the following children : Simeon, born May 3. 1729, died Dec. 22, 1772; David, born Oct. 21, 1730, is mentioned be- low : William, born Jan. 22, 1732, died June 17, 1760; Hannah, born Oct. 1. 1734. died in 1736; Philemon, born. June 24, 1736. died in October of the same year ; Noah, born Jan. 27, 1740, died May 31, 1763; and Beniah, born in 1742, died Nov. 10, 1843.
David Norton, son of Joseph, came to Wolcott at an early day and purchased land near Wolcott Centre, upon which he spent the remainder of his life. He was a well-known citizen of that locality, was a consistent Christian, and highly respected. On Nov. 11, 1752, he married Submit Benton, who died in 1755, and for his second wife he married Suza Bishop. He was the father of the following children : Ozias, who was born Feb. 10, 1754, and is mentioned below ; Cyrus, who was born Jan. 14, . 1755, married Jerusha Jolinson, of Wolcott, and lived in New York; Ziba, who was born in 1757, and was married, Nov. 26, 1778, to Ruth Hopkins ; Suza, who was baptized June 12, 1759; Zebul, who was baptized Sept. 22, 1761, and married Rhoda Norton; and Noah U., who was baptized July 3. 1764. was married April 18, 1784, to Rachel Gillet, of Wolcott, and lived in New York.
Ozias Norton, son of David, made his home in Wolcott, where he owned property and engaged in farming until his death, which occurred Feb. 6, 1840, his remains being interred there. He married Maria Frisbie, and to them were born nine children, namely: David; Keziah, wife of Daniel Lane, of Wolcott; Susan and Elizabeth, twins, the former the wife of Daniel Byington, the latter the wife of Thomas Cook, of Ohio; Moses Frisbie married Percy Barber and lived in Ohio; Jonathan Frisbie, who married Polly Smith and died in Wolcott; Ziba, grandfather of our subject; Jedediah Har- mon, born May II, 1788; and Simeon Newton, born March 28, 1791.
John Norton (2nd), a son of John, was born Ziba Norton was born in Wolcott, and followed the trade of shoemaker. About 1830 he removed to Truxton, N. Y., where he died. He married May 29, 1668, and was a land owner and farmer of Guilford. He was married, Nov. 14. 1604. to Hannah Buck, of Wethersfield, Conn., daughter of 1 Abigail Atkins, of Wolcott, and the children born
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to them were as follows: Ada, born June 23, 1803. first married a Mr. Doolittle, and second George W. Royce; Talcott. born Sept. 19, 1807, married Belinda Hall, of Plymouth, Conn .; Lenora, born March 12, 1805. married Harley Downs ; Phoebe, born in December, 1800, married George W. Winchell; Minerva, born in March, 1812, married Everett Norton ; Hendrick, born in December, 1817; Rufus, father of our subject, was next in order of birth; Manville, born June 8, 1821 : and Rufinus, born in September, 1824.
Rufus Norton was born Feb. IS, 1819, and re- ceived a common school education, which was later in life greatly supplemented by extensive reading, giving particular attention to the study of the Bible, Shakespeare, historical and political works. He was a tanner and currier by trade, and followed that occupation for a number of years, but later engaged in farming first on the Hall farm, later on the Beecher farm. and then, after operating several different places in Wolcott, he returned to the Beecher farm, where he passed the remainder of his life, dying there Dec. 1, 1897. His remains were interred in the Wolcott Centre cemetery. He was an excellent judge of horses and cattle, and in con- nection with farming, also dealt in stock and wood. He first married Harriet Smith, and for his second wife wedded her half sister, Ellen Beecher, a daughter of John and Vina Beecher. She is a most estimable lady, a member of the Congregational Church, and is still living on the old homestead. In politics the father was first a Whig and later a Democrat, and he took quite an active interest in local affairs, filling several town offices, including those of selectman and assessor, holding the latter position for ten years. Although not a member of any church, he endeavored to follow the Golden Rule, and was widely and favorably known.
John W. Norton, whose name introduces this review, received only a district school education, and at the early age of fourteen years started out in life for himself, working in the shops at Bristol, Conn., for one year, at $1.50 per day. After that he spent about two years on a farmi in Bethany, and then returned to Bristol, where he was employed for two years at $1.75 per day. At the end of that time he bought a tract of woodland and an ox team, and commenced cutting the timber and selling the wood. This he continued until locating on the old Leonard Beecher homestead in Wolcott, where he is now extensively engaged in general farming, the wood and dairy business. He is one of the largest land owners in the town, and besides his farm here, he had property in Bristol and Southington, Conn., aggregating 575 acres.
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In Harwinton, Litchfield Co., Conn., Mr. Norton married Miss Nettie M. Cov, of that place. a daughter of Silas and. Lorinda Coy. Of the two children born to. them. one died in infancy. and John F. is at home. Politically lie is a Republican. .and since 1893 Mr. Norton has served as tax col-
lector of Wolcott, and he also filled the office of as- sessor for two years. He is liberal in his religious views. Since the age of fourteen years he has been dependent upon his own resources, and to-day he enjoys the reward of his painstaking and con- scientious work. By his energy, perseverance and fine business ability he has been enabled to secure a handsome competence. Systematic and method- ical, his sagacity, keen discrimination and sound judgment have made him one of the most pros- perous citizens of Wolcott.
FRANKLIN PIERCE SMITH, a representa- tive farmer and highly esteemed citizen of Cheshire, was born in that town Aug. 10, 1851, and belongs to an old and prominent Connecticut family. His paternal great-grandparents, David and Abigail (Lewis) Smith, were natives of Southington, Conn., and the former was a son of David Smith, Sr., and a grandson of Gideon Smith. Our subject's grandparents, Gideon Lewis and Lois (Barnes) Smith, were also natives of Southington, and in 1823 moved to Cheshire, where he followed farming throughout the remainder of his life, dying there in 1850. His wife died in 1846. Their children were Elizabeth, wife of Sherman Hart. of Berlin, Conn .: Rhoda, wife of John Hall, of Kensington ; Abigail, wife of Seth Pratt, of Southington ; Sylva, wife of David Beach, of Southington : Loyal, father of our subject ; Rollin, who died in Cheshire; Lois, who married Asahel Warner, and died in Auburn, N. Y. ; and Lola, wife of Burritt Parker, of South- ington.
Loyal Smith, our subject's father. was born in July, 1807, and was sixteen years of age when the family removed to Cheshire, where he afterward engaged in farming to the close of his life. He was quite a prominent and influential citizen of his community, and was a member of the State Legis- lature from Cheshire in 1856 and again in 1867. In that town he was married, Oct. 29, 1829, to Miss Henrietta Dickerman, who was born in Hamden Nov. 26, 1807, a daughter of Samuel and Lois ( Peck) Dickerman, also natives of Hamden, where her mother died. Her father died in Cheshire, in 1839. To Mr. and Mrs. Smith were born eight children, as follows: Sereno D., a resident of Meriden ; Lois, who died at the age of six years ; Eliza, who died in Cheshire in 1848, at the age of eleven years : Lois Lucelia, widow of Edward Ives, and a resident of Cheshire; Rhoda, wife of Amos Ives, of Meriden : Loyal Barnes, of Cheshire ; San- tel D. ; and Franklin Pierce, our subject.
Franklin P. Smith was reared and educated in much the usual manner of farmers' sons of his day, attending the local schools and aiding in the labors of the farm, and since attaining to man's estate has successfully engaged in agricultural pursuits. In 1882 he was united in marriage with Miss Emma E. Miles, a native of Meriden, and a daughter of John ) and Abigail ( Sanderson) Miles, who were born in
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Cheshire. Her father died in 1894, her mother in 1890. Mr. and Mrs. Smith have one son, Eugene C. The Democratic party finds in our subject a stanch supporter of its principles, and he takes quite an active interest in public affairs. He was one of the selectmen of Cheshire in 1883, and has been a member of the grand jury.
FREDERICK E. COLBURN, one of Ansonia's leading citizens, is a worthy representative of an old and honored pioneer family, being a descendant of Daniel Colburn, who settled in Stafford and passed his remaining years there as a farmer, dying at a good old age.
Daniel Colburn, our subject's grandfather, was a native of Stafford, and followed agricultural pur- suits there for many years. His wife, Elizabeth Moulton, who died at the age of seventy, was born in Stafford, daughter of Bounds Moulton, a prom- inent farmer. They had twelve children, none of whom are now living, and of their nine grandchil- dren only five are living. Among the deceased grandchildren was Col. Colburn of the Union army.
Sylvester Colburn, our subject's father, was born in Stafford Dec. 7, 1806, and was reared upon the farm, obtaining his education in the district schools. At sixteen he went to New Haven with his twin brother, Sullivan M., to work in the store of an elder brother, John Colburn, and later they started a small foundry, which they operated a few years. Their next venture was the founding of the Bassett foundry, and on disposing of it, in 1847, they locat- ed in Ansonia, our subject's father taking the pres- ent homestead, at No. 121 Howard avenue. They became interested to some extent in the Farrell foundry and the Wallace factory, and operated a cotton-mill in the building now occupied by Arthur H. Bartholomew, while for some time they were connected with Robert Bassett's enterprise in Derby. They owned valuable real estate, and built two houses on the lots adjoining the present homestead. They also held stock in the Birmingham Pin Co., which is retained by the family, and they purchased the first improved machine used by that company for the manufacture of pins. In fact, they were more or less closely identified with every enterprise started in their locality, and both continued their active interest in public affairs until their retirement from business. All the shade trees in West An- sonia were set out by them, and they assisted gen- erously in building and maintaining Christ Church in Ansonia, one-fourth of the running expenses hav- ing been paid by them for many years. Sylvester Colburn died July 23, 1870, aged sixty-four years, Mrs. Flora A. Smith Colburn, whose mental gifts and culture make her a social leader. is a men- ber of the D. A. R., Sarah Humphrey Chapter, of Derby, and is eligible to membership in the Society of the Colonial Dames. . She was born in Lake county, Ohio, and is of good old Connecticut stock in the paternal line. Her maternal great-grand- father, Joseph White, came from France and served and his brother Sullivan died May 1. 1876, aged seventy. Another brother. Dr. Josiah Colburn, who was born in 1799, was closely associated with them in business for some time. He practiced medicine in Orange and Derby for a number of years. but re- tired in 1852 and joined in the management of the Bassett foundry, then known as the Birmingham , seven years in the Revolutionary army under Gen.
foundry. On selling his interest he located in An- sonia and started an axe factory, but a few years later he sold this and invested in a foundry in Bridgeport, continuing, however, to reside in An- sonia, where he died March 11, 1882, aged eighty- three years.
Sylvester Colburn married Elizabeth Hull, a native of New Haven, and a daughter of Thomas Hull, one of the wealthiest citizens of Westville, where he owned a farm a mile square and had a resi- dence upon one of the finest streets. For many years he was interested in butchering and farming, and as a citizen he was much esteemed for his ster- ling qualities of character. His wife, Annah ( Thomas ), who died in 1826, aged forty-six years, was born in West Haven, and they had six children, of whom none are living. Our subject's mother was the last to pass away, dying Nov. 30, 1900, aged ninety years. She was a devout Episcopalian, and her family has been identified with that church for generations. Of her tour children only one is liv- ing, Frederick E. Another son, Arthur, with his daughters Annette and Eda, the captain and one sailor, were drowned by the upsetting of his yacht in Long Island Sound, on July 18, 1901 ; his watch stopped at three minutes past four. His daugliter Madaline and one sailor were saved by hanging on to an overturned rowboat for two hours, and were picked up by a passing tugboat.
Frederick E. Colburn was born in Westville Sept. 6, 1832, and was educated in the district schools of that section and in New Haven. For some years he was interested in the manufacture of guano and phosphates, but since 1884 his attention has been devoted to real-estate business. Politically he affili- ates with the Republican party, although he has re- fused all offers of official positions, and he is one of the prominent Masons of this section, having been a member of George Washington Lodge, No. 82, of Ansonia, for thirty-one years, and also belonging to Mt. Vernon Chapter, Ansonia. In 1859 he married Miss Flora A. Smith, and they have liad five chil- dren, of whom four are living. (1) Ruby W. mar- ried Dr. Baldwin, now of Rome, Italy, and they have six children, Frederick W., Henneth P. S .. John P., Charles L., Cornelia F. and Margaret. (2) Fairchild S. married Miss. Minnie Busher, and set- tled on his grandfather's farm in Ohio. (3) Eliza- beth H. married Rev. E. T. Mathison, an Episcopal clergyman, and has two children. Flora and Cather- ine. (4) Sylvester G. married Miss Ruth Sperry, and has two children, Elizabeth and Frederick S.
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LaFayette. Her great-great-grandfather, Giles Smith, a native of South Norwalk, settled in Derby at an early date, and Abraham Smith, her great- grandfather, passed his life there as a farmer. Pros- pect street now runs through the site of his old homestead. Abraham Smith married Sarah French. granddaughter of John Bowers, a graduate of Harvard College and one of the preachers at Guil- ford and Derby. James Smith, the grandfather of Mrs. Colburn, was a native of Derby, and followed farming at the homestead for some years in connec- tion with the cooper's trade. Later he moved to Waterbury, but his last years were spent in Derby, his death occurring at the age of eighty years. He married Molly Fairchild, daughter of Abial and Zerviah Johnson, and they had three children. Mrs. Sinith died when her son, James F., was but three weeks old.
James F. Smith, Mrs. Colburn's father, was born in Waterbury, and in 1819 went to Ohio. the journey, which was made with an ox-team. occupy- ing one month. For one year he worked by the month, saving his wages carefully. and as time passed he became one of the wealthiest farmers and fruit growers of that section, his farm com- prising 600 acres of land. He lived to the advanced age of ninety-three years. He married Caroline White, who was born in Granville, N. Y., one of the four children of John White, who died at the age of one hundred and two, and his wife, Ruby (Cleveland), who died aged sixty-seven. Mrs. Caroline Smith died aged sixty-seven years, and of her three children none are living except Mrs. Col- burn, who was second in order of birth. James H. died in 1896, and Mary Z. died in 1870, aged nine- teen years. The Smith family has also been con- nected with the Episcopal Church for many years. and Mrs. Colburn is among the active workers of the church in Ansonia.
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