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 58

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 58

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

Samuel Cook, son of Col. Thaddeus, married Mary Kirkland, a daughter of Constant Kirkland, of Wallingford, and died Sept. 24, 1824, and his widow passed away March 10, 1839, when eighty- two years old. Their children were: ( I) Russell, born Sept. 8, 1778, married a Miss Hall, of Che- shire. (2) Eunice, Aug. 24, 1780, married Elias Ford, Esq., of Naugatuck. (3) Harriet, born May 17, 1785, married Ira Yale. of Wallingford. (4) Turhand K., born in 1787, married Catherine Van Bryan, of Catskill, N. Y. (5) Samuel, born Feb. 28. 1788, married Martha Culver, of Wallingford. (6) Thaddeus, born April 3, 1791, married four wives, Julia Cook (who had one daughter, Julia, who married William Francis and had two sons, William and John), Sylvia Hall ( who had a daugh- ter, Catherine, who married David Hall, and had three sons). Thankful Hall, and Martha Hall ( who had four daughters: Caroline, who married Rev. Mr. Paddock : Sarah, wife of O. I. Martin ; Emma, who married Edward Cook, and has two children ; and Frances, who died in infancy). (7) George, born April 17, 1794, married Lavinia Culver, of Wallingford. (8) Friend, born Nov. 1, 1797, mar- ried Emily Atwater, of Wallingford. (9) John, mentioned below.

John Cook, son of Samuel and grandfather of John Augustus, was born on Cook's Hill. Dec. 2, 1799, and was a lifelong farmer. In political mat- ters he was a Democrat. and stood well in his own community, holding at different times local offices of trust and responsibility. Belonging to St. Paul's Church, he was one of the most influential mem- bers of the Episcopal communion in this region. On June 25, 1823, he married Mary Munson, of

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Northford, now North Branford, who bore him the following children : Samuel Merriman is men- tioned below: Mary Ann married Tilton E. Doo- little, for a number of years State's Attorney at New Haven, and both are now dead: Ellen At- gusta married Charles N. Jones. of Wallingford. and is now deceased ; and George Delos ( deceased) married Ella Belle Bullock. of Wallingford. John Cook, tlie father of these, passed away Jan. 1, 1858. at the age of fifty-eight years.

Samuel Merriman Cook was born in Walling- ford, May 5. 1825, on what is known as Cook's Hill, named after the after the family some genera- tions ago. On April 27, 1847. he married Saralı Ellen Bartholomew, daughter of Ira and Emie (Hall) Bartholomew. To this union were born three children: Frank, born Jan. 25. 1854. died July 11, 1884 (he left a daughter, who married H. L. Ingraham) ; John Augustus; and Abbey Bartholomew, born Dec. 9, 1864, married Sammel E. Hopkins, of Naugatuck.

John Augustus Cook was educated in the pub- lic school of Wallingford, and at the age of fifteen vears began for himself a small express business. This he has built up by close attention and fine management until it has become one of the most considerable establishments of the day. employing ten men steadily, often more, and using about twenty-five horses. He has every kind of a vehicle needed in his business, and has one of the most completely equipped stables in the State. Mr. Cook has contracts for teaming and hauling with several factories, and never lacks work. In 1897 Mr. Cook put up one of the finest and most modern residences in Wallingford.

On June 29, 1888, Mr. Cook was united in mar- riage with Miss Carrie Mae Chandler. of Galveston, Texas, daughter of Charles Henry Chandler. To this union was born Samuel John Cook. Nov. 28. 1889. The family have long been associated with the Congregational Church, and take an active in- terest in its work. Politically Mr. Cook is a Re- publican, but devotes more time to his private af- fairs than to partisan matters. He is highly es- teemed in the community in which his family has been represented so many years.

HENRY WILSON TYLER, a well-known mill man and farmer of Wallingford, makes his home at what is known as Tyler's Mills, where he was born Feb. 18, 1848.

Mr. Tyler comes of a family notably concerned with the affairs of New Haven county for many years. John Tyler, his grandfather, was born in the town of Branford, and when a young man was a sailor. He was in Boston during the turbulent years that ushered in the American Revolution, and was one of the "Indians" who threw overboard the tea in Boston harbor. During the bloody years that followed he was very active, and was on the vessel that brought over the treaty of peace. After

giving up his seafaring life Capt. Tyler removed to that part of Wallingford near the line of the town of Branford, and bought the mills now known as Tyler's Mills, devoting himself to the mill business with his son, Ezra. About the time of the marriage of this son John Tyler moved back to Branford and took charge of a mill at Mill Plain. There he died. and was buried in Mill Plain cemetery. He married Ann Rogers, who after his death returned to Wallingford, and lived with her son Ezra at the old homestead, where she died. She was buried in Branford, by the side of her husband.

Ezra Tyler, the son referred to, and the father of Henry Wilson, was born in Branford in 1799. and came to Tyler's Mills in company with his par- ents in 1812. Here he grew up, and here his entire life was spent, in the milling business. In connec- tion with his gristmill he had a sawmill, and owned and farmed a large tract of land. He was one of the successful men of his day, and commanded the hearty and unstinted respect and confidence of all who knew him. A long and active life was his, and it was not terminated until he reached the age of eighty-four years. A member of the Episcopal Church for many years, he served as vestryman and warden. In his politics he was a Democrat, but did not seek for office or gain, and was a good citizen and a man of high character and aims. On Sept. 19. 1824. he married Jenette Bates ( daughter of Parker Bates), who was born April 27. 1806. She was the mother of the following children : (I) George, born June 20, 1825, lives in Woodbury ; (2) Harvey, born March 9, 1827, is now deceased ; (3) Elsie, born July 11, 1829, married Munson Rogers. and both are deceased: (4) John, born Jan. 19, 1832, and (5) Ezra, born April 16, 1834, are de- ceased; (6) Jenette, born May 13, 1836, has never married; (7) Angenora, born Dec. 8, 1838, is de- ceased; (8) Miss Lucretia was born July 31. 1841 ; (9) Amanda, born March 17, 1844. married L. Lounsbury, of Southbury: (10) Emeline. born March 5, 1846, is unmarried ; ( II) Henry Wilson is mentioned below; (12) Ada C., born Feb. 24. 1850, died in infancy. Mrs. Ezra Tyler died on the farm, and was buried in Northford cemetery. Mr. Tyler married for his second wife Mary Bates. a sister of his first wife; they had no children. .

Henry Wilson Tyler was educated in the district school, and worked on the farm and in the mill un- til he attained his majority, when he learned the trade of carpenter and joiner. For a number of years that was his occupation, but later he came to operate part of the farm and engaged in milling. and has become one of the solid and prosperous men of the community. He has built a new house on his place. He is still operating the mill, and in all his business transactions is regarded as one of the squarest men of the community. Mr. Tyler was married. in New Preston. Conn .. to Miss Hat- tie MI. Signor. a native of Roxbury, this State, and a daugliter of Jolin Signor. Six children have come

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to bless this union: Angenora, who married Charles Woliver; Lydia; David; John; Minnie ; and George. Mr. Tyler is a Democrat, and a good citizen.

WILLIAM A. BARNES was born Nov. 18, 1850, at Roxbury. Conn .. where his family is well known. His great-grandfather, Jabez Barnes, who was said to have been a native of Wales, was a sea- faring man, and it is supposed died at sea. His great-grandmother, Martha ( Atkins), a native of Middletown, Conn., lived to be nearly one hundred years old. Ithamar Barnes, our subject's grand- father, was born in Middletown, and settled in 1800 at Roxbury, engaging in business as a shoemaker and saddler. He and his wife, Ana Thomas, both lived to the age of seventy. She was born in either Roxbury or Woodbury. Her father, Ebenezer Thomas, is said to have been a captain in the Revo- lutionary army ; he is buried in Roxbury.

George Barnes, our subject's father, was born Jan. 4, 1819, in Roxbury, where he has spent his life. After receiving a common-school education he engaged in farming, and for many years he has been interested also in the cattle business. As a citizen he is much respected. He married Julia Alling, who died aged seventy-three years. She was born in Woodbridge, New Haven county, daughter of Philo Alling, a farmer, who attained the ad- vanced age of eighty years: her mother, Huldah (Lines), died in early womanhood, leaving a large family of children. George and Julia Barnes had six children, of whom five are living, as follows : Francis, George E., William A., Catherine A. (now Mrs. Noble Davenport) and Susan (who married Charles B. Minor. In the maternal line our sub- ject is descended from ancestors who took a promi- nent part in the Revolutionary war and the war of 1812, and Roger Alling was the first treasurer of the Colony of New Haven.

Our subject obtained a common-school education in his native town, and when twenty years old left home to learn the trade of carpenter and joiner with Elliott P. Hine, of Southbury, this county. After working as a journeyman in Bridgeport and Water- bury for a time he went to Ansonia, in 1872, but remained only two years. In 1876 he returned to make his permanent home there. and with the ex- ception of one winter spent in Florida in 1888 he has since resided in that place. During the first fifteen years he was in the contracting business he had a partner, S. B. Bronson, and they speedily acquired a large patronage in their line in the town, putting up numerous dwelling houses and other buildings. Since Mr. Bronson's retirement our subject has continued alone in business.

In 1877 Mr. Barnes married Miss Martha Law- ton, a native of England, and daughter of Lewis and Rachel ( Higginbotham ) Lawton. Her father, who was a spinner by trade. died in Ansonia at the age of seventy-five; her mother lived to be

over seventy years old. They reared a large fam- ily. Our subject has one son, George L., who is attending school.

Politically Mr. Barnes is a Democrat, and he has served two termis as assessor, two years as dep- uty judge, and several terms as a grand juror. In 1896 he was appointed on the board of charities by Mayor Webster, and after serving the term of two years was reappointed by Mayor Burton, to serve until 1901. In 1898 he was chosen president of the board, to serve one year. He is a member of Christ Church, Ansonia, of which he has been a vestryman for a number of years. Fraternally he is identified with George Washington Lodge, No. 78; Mt. Vernon Chapter, No. 34, R. A. M .; and Naugatuck Lodge, I. O. O. F .. of Ansonia. He belongs to the Eagle Hose Company.

GEORGE BLACKSTONE, wholesale oyster dealer in New Haven, was born in Branford on the farm where he now resides, Feb. 6, 1859, a son of John Adam and Lucy ( Booth) Blackstone. James Blackstone, his paternal grandfather, was a prominent farmer of Branford, in whose honor his son, Timothy B. Blackstone, erected the Branford Library, the finest in New England, at a cost of $900,000, for tlie maintenance of which he provided endowment funds of $300,000.

James Blackstone was born in Branford, where George Blackstone is now living, in 1793, where lie died. He married Sarah Beach. The first ancestor of this family in America was the Rev. William Blackstone, a graduate in 1617 from Emanuel Col- lege, Cambridge, England, who was thereafter given Episcopal ordination in England. Not long after his ordination he embraced the Puritan faith, left his native country, and sought a home with the first settlers of Boston, on account of his Non- Conformist principles. He was the first settler of Boston, and when the Pilgrims arrived he was al- ready on the ground. The Colony records show that he was the first person admitted as a freeman of the new government, May 18, 1631. John ( I). his only son. married in 1692, and about 1713 moved to Branford. John (2), son of John (I), died in Branford Jan. 3, 1785, at the age of eighty-six. John (3), son of John (2), was born in Branford in 1731. and died Aug. 10. 1816, aged eighty-five years. Timothy. son of John (3), was born in Branford in 1766, and died in 1849, at the age of eighty-three ; he was the father of James Black- stone, who was born in 1793, and died Feb. 4, 1886. Thus are outlined the five generations who have lived and died on the homestead of George Black- stone.

John A. Blackstone was born on the homestead where he passed his life, engaged in farming, and where he died in September. 1890, at the age of sixty-five years. He married Lucy Booth, who died in November. 1880. and they had three children: ( 1) Adelaide, who married Willis P. Ilopson; (2)

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Emma, who married Horatio Pond, and has one daughter, Alice Blackstone ; and (3) George. The father was a Republican, but not active in politics.

George Blackstone was reared on the farm which has been his lifelong home, and obtained his edu- cation in the public schools. For fifteen years he has been engaged in the wholesale oyster business, proving à decided success in this line, his thorough knowledge of the business and his honorable and upright ways winning and retaining a good custom. Mr. Blackstone was married, Dec. 27, 1899, to Mrs. Nellie Valentine, a native of Branford, and daughter of Alexander and Eliza J. (Tottem) Van Wie. The father, who was born in Albany, N. Y., died in 1898; he was a carriagemaker by trade, and was for fifteen years superintendent of the Bran- ford Lock Works. He was a Republican politically. The mother is still living. They had a family of six children : John, Nellie ( Mrs. Blackstone). Jane .( deceased), Charles, Helena ( deceased ) and Frank. By her former husband Mrs. Blackstone had two children, William J. and Ethel Lena. Mr. Black- stone is connected with the Congregational Church, and in politics is a Republican. Mrs. Blackstone is a member of the Episcopal Church. They are

- both highly respected members of the community, and are much esteemed for their many good qual- ities.

HENRY J. SMITH, president of the Ansonia Lumber Co., at Ansonia, is one of the representative citizens of that town. The firm of which he is the head is the oldest lumber company in this section, and is the only one in Ansonia, their convenient location near the railroad and admirable system of business enabling them to meet all the demands of the large and growing trade in that locality.

Mr. Smith was born Oct. 1. 1831, in Oxford, this county, where his family has been prominent from an early day. Isaac Smith, his grandfather, also a native of the town, followed the black- smith's trade there throughout his life, and died at the age of sixty years. He married Sarah Beards- ley, who died aged sixty-five years, and they had a large family of children.

Philo Smith, our subject's father, was born in Oxford, and spent his life chiefly in the Nauga- tuck Valley. He was a fine mechanic, and followed the trades of carpenter, millwright and bridge build- er, being especially noted for his work in the latter line. His death occurred at the advanced age of eighty-one years. Mr. Smith married Betsey Lum, who was born on Great Hill. daughter of Deacon Jonathan and Charity ( Frazier ) Lum, and died aged fifty-eight years. She was one of a family of eight children, none of whom are now living. Dea- con Lum was a well-known man of his day in this section, and made his home successively at Derby or Great Hill, Woodbury and Oxford, where he died aged sixty years. Mrs. Lum lived to be over seventy years old. Our subject's parents were both

devout members of the Methodist Church, and were much esteemed in the community. They had two children, but our subject was the only one that lived to maturity.

Henry J. Smith's early years were spent upon a farm, and after completing a course in the district schools he attended the high school at Birmingham. At the age of seventeen he began to serve an ap- prenticeship at Birmingham as a carpenter and joiner, but after the completion of his apprentice- ship he went to New Haven to study architecture with the late Henry Austin. For some years lie followed that profession successfully in New Haven, and about 1861 he removed to Ansonia and entered the employ of Capt. John Lindley, then postmaster, as clerk in the post office and general store. In 1864 he was employed by Willis & Lewis Hotchkiss. lum- ber dealers, as clerk and bookkeeper, this arrange- ment continuing until the organization of the W. & L. Hotchkiss Lumber Co., when he was made secre- tary and treasurer. Ten years later the company was merged into the Ansonia Lumber Co., and Mr. Smith served as treasurer of that organization until the death of the Hotchkiss brothers, when he be- came president of the organization. He is also identified prominently with other business interests in the city, and is now vice-president of the Ansonia Flour & Grain Co., and president of the Savings Bank of Ansonia. Politically he is a Republican, and lie served two years as town clerk before the separation from Derby, and four years as selectman. When the city was first organized he was elected alderman from the Fifth ward. and he did effective work as a member of the first board in shaping municipal affairs.

In 1857 Mr. Smith married Miss Susan A. Wheeler, who was born in the town of Monroe. Fairfield county, one of the four children of Samuel Wheeler and his second wife, Sabra ( Seeley). Her father, who lived to the age of eighty-five years, was a lifelong resident of Monroe, where he fol- lowed the carpenter's trade in connection with farming. Mr. and Mrs. Smith have one son, Sam- uel W .. who is now the head of the firm of S. W. Smith & Co., druggists of Ansonia. He married Miss Mary Fessenden, and they have had four chil- dren, of whom three are living : Pauline, Henry J. and Gertrude. The family is prominent socially, and is identified with Immanuel Church, West Side, our subject being a vestryman. He is one of the well-known Freemasons of this section, being a member of George Washington Lodge, F. & .A. M. : Mt. Vernon Chapter. R. A. M. : and the Veter- an Masons' Association.

BENJAMIN L. BRONSON, a leading agri- culturist of Wolcott, is a worthy descendant of an old and honored New England family, which was established in this country by John Bronson, an early settler of Cambridge, Mass. In 1636 he came with Rev. Mr. Hooker's colony to Hartford, Conn., and

Nauy &Smith

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the following year took part in the Pequot war. He removed to what is now Farmington, Conn., in 1641, and was one of the seven pillars of the church, which was organized at that place in 1652. He died Nov. 28, 1680. His children were Jacob. born in January, 1641 ; John, born in January, 1644; Isaac, born in November, 1645; Mary; Abraham, a resident of Lyme, Conn. ; Dorcas, wife of Stephen Hopkins; and Sarah.

John Bronson (2) was born in Hartford, and removed with his parents to Farmington, but later ·came to Mattatuck, now Waterbury, where he spent the remainder of his life. He had seven children, whose names and years of birth were as follows: John (3), 1670 .; Sarah, 1672 : Dorothy, 1675; Eben- ezer, 1677 ; William, 1682; Moses, 1686; and Grace, 1689.

John Bronson (3) was born in Waterbury, in 1670, and there grew to manhood, but subsequently he removed to Southington, Conn., where he spent the remainder of his life. In January, 1697, he married Rachel Buck, of Wethersfield, Conn., and to. them were born the following children: John' Nov. 21, 1698; David, Aug. 9, 1704; Jonathan, May 14, 1706; Joseph, June 15, 1708; Rachel, July 6, 1710; Mary, Jan. 30, 1712; and James, Nov. 29, 1713.

Jonathan Bronson, son of John (3), spent his entire life in Southington, dying there Aug. 20, 1751. He was married, May 17, 1732, and had ten children: Asahel, born Oct. 25. 1733; John. in 1735; Ann, March 30, 1737; Abigail. Feb. 18. 1739; Jonathan, Dec. 24, 1740: a son (who died unnamed), Jan. 20, 1743; Zadac, Aug. 7. 1745; Huldah, April 18, 1747; Lois, Jan. 6, 1749; and Isaac, June 20, 1751.

John Bronson, son of Jonathan, was born and reared in Southington, and when a young man came to Wolcott. where he owned a farm. He was a hard working man and made farming his life occu- pation. He died Nov. 10. 1838, at the age of 103 years, 3 months and 25 days, and was buried in Wolcott. On March 30, 1758, he married Sarah Barnes, who was born Sept. 27. 1732, and died · Dec. 17, 1804. For his second wife he married Mrs. Curtis Hall. He had six children: Joel, who was born March 9, 1759, and lived in Burlington, Conn. ; Isaac, born July 19, 1761 ; Benjamin Barnes, who was born Aug. 19. 1763, and lived in South- ington ; Philenor, who was baptized April 21. 1766: Hannah; and John, born Jan. 31, 1776.

John Bronson, the youngest of this family and the grandfather of our subject, was a lifelong resi- dent of Wolcott. and was one of its prominent and influential citizens, taking an active part in town and county affairs and doing all in his power to promote the general welfare. He was a soldier of the war of 1812. He married Hannah Root, of Farmington. Conn., who was born Feb. 14. 1781. and died Feb. 24. 1853. while his death occurred Nov. 25, 1866, and the remains of both were interred

at Wolcott. Their children were Jarvis Root. born April 5, 1808; Sarah Ann, who was born April I, ISII, and married George W. Carter ; Stillman, the father of our subject; Pitkin, born May 2, 1815; and Sarah Maria, who was born June 18, 1823, and died Sept. 5, 1827.

Stillman Bronson, father of our subject, was born on the old homestead in Wolcott Sept. 1I, 1812, and was provided with a good district school education. He followed farming on the place owned by R. Carter, a tract of 150 acres, upon which he made many improvements, and he was also inter- ested in stock raising. His political support was first given the Whig party and later the Republican party, and in his church relations he was a Con- gregationalist. A man of industrious habits, up- right and honorable in all his dealings, he com- manded the respect and confidence of all with whom he came in contact, and was held in high regard. He died in 1891. and was laid to rest in Northeast cemetery. He married Charlotte R. Lindsley, who was born Dec. 21, 1816, a daughter of Lud and Hannah (Gaylord) Lindsley, and granddaughter of Benjamin and Keturah ( Anger) Lindsley, of Bris- tol. She is still living with our subject on the old homestead. and is one of the oldest ladies of Wol- cott. She is a good, consistent C.tristian, and pos- sesses an excellent memory. Her children are as follows: Emerson R., who was born March 21, 1841, and died Feb. 21, 1846; Lucy S., who was born June 26, 1843, and was married. Oct. 31, 1867, to Benjamin C. Lum, now of New Haven: Harriet L., who was born Dec. 7, 1844, and died Nov. 10. 1869; E. Bruce, who was born Feb. 23, 1847, and died Oct. 7, 1862: Benjamin L., our subject, who was born July 16, 1849; Elliott, who was born May 13, 1851 : Esther L. M., who was born July 16, 1854, and died Oct. 25, 1869; and Edith M., who was born Nov. 1, 1860, married Cornelius Tracy and resides in Waterbury.

During his boyhood Benjamin L. Bronson, our subject, attended the district schools, and, as soon as large enough to be of any assistance, he began to aid in the operation of the home farm, never leaving the parental roof. Since his father's deatlı he has entire charge of the place, and is now suc- cessfully engaged in dairy and general farming, also stock raising. Enterprising and public-spirited, he takes a deep interest in the public welfare, and has most capably and satisfactorily filled the of- fices of selectman and member of the board of re- lief. He is a deacon in the Congregational Church. and merits and receives the respect and esteem of all who know him.

WILLIAM E. CURTISS, a veteran of the Civil war, is a leading wagon manufacturer of Ansonia, who, of late years, has found it necessary to re- strict his business to orders, his general trade ex- ceeding his facilities. His shop is well equipped for all kinds of work, and in addition to the man-

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ufacture of wagons he carries on a general busi- ness as a horse shoer, being now the oldest black- smith in the town. As a self-made man and a most highly esteemed citizen his biography will be of special interest.

Mr. Curtiss was born May 28, 1850, in New- town, Conn., where his ancestors were early set- tlers. Ezra Curtiss, our subject's grandfather, was a farmer in Newtown and lived to a good old age. William Curtiss, the father of our subject. was born and reared at the old homestead in Newtown, and learned the tinner's trade, which he followed for some years. In 1862 he enlisted in Co. C, 17th Conn. V. I., as a private, and he died in the service at the age of fifty years. His wife, Sarah Fowler. a native of Philadelphia, died aged forty-five years. They had six children, of whom five are living. as follows: Eilen, who married David Downs ; William E., who has been twice married; Georgia F., deceased ; Theodore . D., unmarried ; Katie E., who married Clarence Blatchley ; and Sylvia A., who became Mrs. Soliday.

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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 58

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