USA > Connecticut > Hartford County > Southington > Ecclesiastical and other sketches of Southington, Conn > Part 48
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The office he occupied was the building directly in front of the Unitarian church, and is now used by MARCUS H. HOLCOMB, Esq., who by diligence and energy is rapidly gaining the reputation of the former members of the profession in the town.
MARCUS L. DELEVAN opened an office in this town in 1864, but re- mained only a short time. He has since been an editor.
The following lawyers were born and reared in Southington, but have located elsewhere, and become widely known:
CHARLES ROBINSON.
He was born in Southington Feb. 10, 1801, and is the son of Rev. William and Elizabeth (Norton) Robinson. In his youth he labored on his father's farm a portion of the time, and also attended the school which his father was instrumental in establishing in the village. He entered Yale College and graduated in 1821. For a number of years he resided on the homestead, and was active in public and church affairs. In the building of the present church edifice he was promi- nent. He removed to New Haven, and engaged in the practice of the law. Of a quiet, retiring disposition, he has contented himself with duties of his profession, without launching out into political life. He is justly honored for his probity of character and diligent pursuit
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of his calling. In personal appearance he is said to resemble his father, but has not attained his physical proportions.
HON. CHARLES UPSON.
Charles Upson is the son of Asahel and Lydia (Webster) Upson, and was born March 19, 1821, and was the 8th of nine sons. His father was a farmer in what is now known as the Marion district. The first thirteen years of his life were spent at home, helping his father and attending the district school. In his fourteenth year he attended a select school, under the care of the late Jesse Olney. This school had been opened in Southington by Mr. Olney for the purpose of affording opportunities to the many youths who seemed inclined to study branches not taught in the common schools.
Mr. Upson for two or three years engaged diligently in the study of Algebra, Geometry, Latin, and Greek, expecting to take a college course. His means being limited, at seventeen he taught the district school on East street for three months, receiving twelve and a half dollars per month " and boarding round." He taught the same school the follow- ing winter; and then for two winters taught in his native district. In the summer time he assisted his father upon the farm.
In the fall of 1840 he began teaching the school in the old academy building at Farmington, and here remained for nearly a year, when he was prostrated by typhoid fever. After recovery he resumed teaching at Farmington for a few months. In the summer of 1842 he attended the academy at Meriden. then under the care of John D. Post, devot- ing his time chiefly to the classics. About this time he felt constrained to abandon the purpose of a college course on account of his finances. The following winter he taught the North End district school, and in the spring borrowed from Judge Lowrey a copy of Blackstone, which he studied during the summer at intervals when not at work on the farm. In the fall of 1844 he enrolled himself as a member of the. Law School at New Haven. While at New Haven he had for his room-mate Tilton E. Doolittle, Esq., now a prominent lawyer of that city. Spending a single year at the Law School, he removed to Mich- igan, but not having been admitted to the bar. He spent his first winter at Constantine in that State, teaching and also studying law. He then removed to Centreville, teaching during the winter, but con- tinuing his law reading in the office of Gurney & Hammond. In 1847 he was appointed Deputy County Clerk for St. Joseph's County, Mich., and in the spring of that year was, on examination, admitted to the bar as an attorney. He at once opened an office for the practice of the law, but continued his duties as Deputy Clerk. At the end of two years he was elected Clerk of the County. In 1850 he was candidate
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HISTORY OF SOUTHINGTON.
for District Attorney of the county, but was defeated. In 1852 he was re-nominated, and elected, serving for two years. In 1854 he was elected State Senator by the Whig party, and served his time with distinction. In 1856 he removed to Coldwater, Branch Co., Mich., and formed a law partnership with Hon. George A. Coe, then Lieutenant Governor. In 1860 he was nominated by the Republicans for Attor- ney General of the State, and was elected. In 1862 lie received the unanimous nomination of his party for Congress, and was elected. He was re-elected in 1864, and 1866. In 1869 he was elected Circuit Judge of the 15th Judicial District. In every public trust Judge Upson has maintained the reputation of an able and incorruptible man.
HON. FRANKLIN H. MERRIMAN.
He was the son of Olcott and Sophrone (Hitchcock) Merriman, and born in Southington, January 13, 1813. He was a brother of Samuel G. Merriman.
In his boyhood he indicated that strength of mind and character which subsequently gave him such high rank. Without the means to pursue a liberal course of study, he applied himself closely in availing himself of the few resources at hand. He read, and thought, and labored, until he felt able to enter a law office. He enrolled himself as a student with Romeo Lowrey.
He entered the Law School in New Haven, but did not graduate. In 1837 he was admitted to the bar, and entered the office of the late Hon. Isaac Toucey, of Hartford. Here he remained for two or three years, when, in 1839, he removed to Galveston, Texas, where he soon acquired an extensive practice, and became a leading lawyer of that state. He was several times a member of the House and Senate, and also held other important offices, as United States district attorney, and judge of the higher courts of the state. He several times refused the office of judge when offered him by executive appointment. He was married October 15, 1850, to
He died at Galveston, Texas, March 17, 1871. He is spoken of as " a ripe scholar, and thoroughly grounded in a knowledge of his pro-
4 fession ; of good humor, great conversational powers, possessing a winning gentleness of manners and sympathetic kindness of heart, and having those qualities of mind and heart that endeared him to all who knew him."
The high esteem in which he was held in his adopted state, and the honor he reflected on his native town, appear from the resolutions passed in the Galveston District Court, the Supreme Court of Texas, and the United States Circuit Court, at the time of his death.
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HISTORY OF SOUTHINGTON.
PHYSICIANS 1 OF SOUTHINGTON.
In the earliest years of the settlement of this town all medical attend- ance came from Farmington and Wallingford. Probably the Wood- ruffs would send to the former place, since they removed from thence, and had relatives there. But as early as 1740 physicians practiced in the south part of the town, who lived in Wallingford. Down to the close of the century we find traces of physicians coming from all the adjacent towns. Old "store accounts " disclose the presence here of several who seem to have been paid for their services chiefly in " goods." Such were Drs. Hurlburt, Gridley, and Percival, from Kensington (the last the father of the poet); Drs. Potter and Hull, from Wallingford. I find the name of Dr. James Hurlburt (but always spelled Holbert) in account books dating from 1759 to 1789. He must have had a large practice here, for bills against families were very frequently cashed by the merchants. He lived in Kensington, not far from where the railroad crosses the main road to Berlin. The name of Dr. Percival is . still recalled in some of the older families. Dr. Todd, of Farmington, is the physician of all others who ever entered the town for practice. In sickly seasons he was seen daily in the streets, and so great was the confidence 2 reposed in his skill and judgment that very seldom did a family ask for a consultation. The traditions of his wonderful cases would fill a volume. It was really believed by some that if he set a bone it would knit together sooner than if set by some one else. If his life is ever written much material could be gathered from this town.
Dr. Jared W. Pardee, of Bristol, also had a large practice in the north part of the town, and was frequently here in consultation with resident physicians. He, like Dr. Todd, commanded the public confi- dence for skill.
Of the resident physicians here before 1780 there is some difficulty in writing. I am not sure that I have named all, but if omitting any it is because their names have disappeared from documents, or tradi- tions of them have been lost.
DR. SAMUEL RICHARDS.
The first name in order of settlement is that of Dr. Samuel Richards. . He was the son of Thomas, and his first wife, Abigail (Turner) Rich- ards, and was born October 22, 1726; baptized October 23, 1726. His
1 In preparing some of these sketches I have been aided by Dr. F. A. Hart.
2 It is related of Sam. Andrews that he had a slight altercation with Dr. Root, and Dr. Todd's name somehow came in, when he turned, giving his hand that nervous twitch for which he was noted, and saying "Root, Root, you don't know nothing; I had rather die under a man who knows as much as Dr. Todd, than get well under one who knows so little as you." This, of course, was only a bit of satire.
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HISTORY OF SOUTHINGTON.
parents moved to Southington, from Hartford, in 1728, and lived here until 1750, when they removed to New Britain. Dr. Richards lived with his father in Southington until after his marriage. He joined the church here June 5, 1748. He was in the old French War as assist- ant to a surgeon, and was at Cape Breton, (1745,) and thus acquiring some knowledge of "physic and surgery," he began medical practice after his return. He removed to Newington in 1750, thence to Ca- naan in 1755, and back again to Newington in 1758. He afterwards lived in New Hartford, and finally on 1 Red Stone Hill, (Plainville,) where he died, November 10, 1793, aged 66. He married Lydia (Buck) Stoddard, of Newington, April 10, 1748, and had nine children. His daughter, Lucretia, was the wife of John Barnes, deacon of the Ist Church, Southington, 1801-5.
DR. HENRY SKILTON.
He was the second resident physician of the town, and was a man of more than common ability in almost every particular. Not only did he successfully practice his profession, but conducted various business enterprises. At one time he had a store, hotel, mill, and two or three farms on hand.
He? was born in the parish of St. Michael's, Coventry, England, No- vember 19, 1718, and entered the British navy at seventeen years of age, and his ship landing at Boston he left the service and remained in this country. In 1741 we find him married to Tabitha Avery, of Pres- ton, and in 1748 he removed to Southington, and bought the farm that belonged to the late Avery Clark, Esq., at Clark Farms. He owned a large tract of land in the vicinity of the Merriman Burying Ground, and also the property now the site of the Atwater Manufacturing Company.
The time he began to practice medicine is unknown, but it is sup- posed that being intelligent and apt he began in the small way of ex- tracting teeth and blood-letting; and by reading of some text-books in Surgery and Practice, he was able to treat ordinary cases. He gave himself, however, more to business than to the practice of his profes- sion. It was probably his superior judgment that secured his profes- sional success. In 1760 he removed to Woodbury, where he practiced medicine, and became a landholder. A son of his having been drafted to serve in the continental army, he took his place. He died at Water- town in 1802, aged eighty-four.
He is said to have organized the Separate or Strict Congregational Church in Cheshire, now Prospect. While in Southington he took an
1 He is probably the Dr. Richards in whose hands the first Mrs. Robinson died. See Memoir of Robinson, p. 97.
2 See sketch in Cothren's History of Woodbury, p. 396.
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active part in the religious controversies of the time, and is said to have been a warm personal friend of Mr. Merriman, the first Baptist minis- ter. His descendants still live in the vicinity of Watertown.
DR. JOSHUA PORTER.
He was the third resident physician, although some of his descend- ants dispute that he ever practiced at all. But he came of a medical family, his father and grandfather both belonging to the profession. He probably practiced at first, but, like Dr. Skilton, he gave his atten- tion more to business, and finally became the largest landholder in the town. Mr. Curtiss, in recording his marriage, gives him the title of doctor, so that he had it as early as 1754, the date of his marriage. He lived on the place now occupied by Joseph P. Platt. It is said that he was the largest slaveholder' that ever lived in town. He died Feb- ruary 20, 1803, aged eighty-five. Among his descendants is Judge Roland Hitchcock, of Winsted. (See Genealogical Table.)
DR. ROBERT KINKAID.
He was the son of John and Elizabeth Kinkaid, and born in Bran- ford, Feb. 26, 1735. I find his name in connection with various docu- ments and store accounts from April, 1761, so that he was here as early as that time. Of his practice nothing is known. He never married. A brother of his, Robert, married Martha, daughter of David Woodruff, the first person born within the limits of the town. The brothers lived together on East street. Dr. Kinkaid died Feb. 16, 1783.
DR. JESSE COLE.
He was the son of Matthew Cole, of Kensington, and born Oct. 10, 1739. He was married in 1763 and located at Durham, where he con- tinued to practice until 1793, when he settled in Southington. He lived on the place now occupied by Mr. Adna Neal.
In his History of Durham, Dr. Fowler writes of Dr. Cole: "when a boy, I heard it remarked that he relied in difficult cases on two pills, one of which he called the black dog and the other the white dog; when the one was not strong enough, he sent the other down into the stomach of the patient."
In 1803 Dr. Cole removed to Wolcott, where he died Feb. 25, 1811.
1 One Sabbath morning a slave was disobedient, and he struck her with his eane. Afterward he set her to watch his cherry trees while he was at church, so that boys would not steal them. When she saw the boys coming she turned her back toward them and screamed out, "I no see you steal de cherries, but take all you want. Massa hit me on de shoulder wid big eane, and him hurt; I no care you eat all de cherries up." And they helped themselves bountifully. She, of course, suffered after the doctor's return.
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HISTORY OF SOUTHINGTON.
DR. JACOB CARTER.
His name first appears in 1759. He is supposed to have lived on West street. The death of a Dr. Carter, that probably refers to him, is recorded April 12, 1769. There was another Dr. Jacob Carter who died later. Both are said to have been ignorant but shrewd men, and secured their titles by skill in extracting teeth.
DR. JONATHAN BLAKESLEY.
Nothing is known of him, but I suppose he came from Plymouth. He was here from May 4, 1761, to July, 1766. I do not find his name at an earlier or later period.
DR. HEZEKIAH BEARDSLEY.
He was the son of John and Martha Beardsley, and was born at Stratfield (Bridgeport). He had several brothers who attained unto considerable distinction. One was Col. Nehemiah, of New Fairfield, of some note in the Revolutionary War; and two were Drs. Gershom and Ebenezer-the former a physician of Windham county, and the latter a druggist in New Haven.
It is not known at what time Dr. Beardsley began1 practice in this town. All that is known of him while here is, that his health was such as to seriously interfere with his practice. About 1780, he was in business in Hartford, so that at this time he had left Southington. While in Hartford he was engaged as a druggist in the firm of Beardsley & Hopkins. . In 1786 he was in New Haven in company with his brother Ebenezer, and engaged in the drug business. He continued in this business during life. His brother attended to the store, while he engaged in general practice. In 1784 he joined the Medical Society of New Haven county. In 1788 he read before the society a paper concerning a case he had while in Southington, which was published. In 1784 he received from Yale College the honorary degree of M.D. He died of consumption May 10, 1790, at the age of forty-two. He was married but left no children. While living here he owned and occupied the place where Dr. J. S. Barnes afterward lived.
DR. THEODORE WADSWORTH.
He was the son of Timothy and Mary (Cowles) Wadsworth, and was born in Farmington, Oct. 5, 1752. He studied medicine with Dr. Eli Todd, of Farmington, who was one of the first physicians of his time. According to Hinman, Dr. Wadsworth "in 1777 was ap- pointed surgeon's mate in Col. Douglass' regiment in place of Dr.
1 In an account-book of Timothy Lee are entries against him dating 1778-81. In balancing accounts, there was something due the Doctor for professional services.
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HISTORY OF SOUTHINGTON.
Todd, who had resigned Continental service." After about two years in the public service, he resigned and located in Southington, where he practiced medicine until his death: But although he stood high as a physician and had a good practice, he seems to have engaged largely in real estate speculations by which he suffered great losses. He was the agent in this town of the Virginia Land company, and was instru- mental in sending off quite a colony to that State. Some of the correspondence of the settlers with him in after years is preserved and reveals the fact that, as in the majority of such cases, there was dissatisfaction and disposition to attach blame to his course. He was also in connection with Mr. Chester Whittlesey, a manager in several lottery schemes. But while there were those to find fault with his conduct in such enterprises, he stood deservedly high in the com- munity. He died June 2, 1808, of what was known as the spotted fever, that ravaged this valley during the spring and summer of that year. Dr. Wadsworth married (1) Elizabetlı, eldest daughter of Daniel Allen, of Southington, who died Oct. 19, 1806, when he married (2) March 20, 1808, Asenath, widow of Lemuel Clark and daughter of Abel Carter.
His son Harry also studied medicine. His daughter Nancy married Chester Whittlesey and was an intimate friend of the late Mrs. Willard, of Troy, N. Y.
DR. JOSIAH ROOT.
He was born in Southington Dec. 17, 1752. With whom he studied medicine is not known. Entering the revolutionary army as surgeon's mate, he was promoted to the position of Apothecary General, and for a time was stationed at New York. Returning home, he engaged in general practice in Hamden, and married, April 1, 1786, Merab, daughter of Lemuel Lewis. He was located in Southington in 1805, and here died June 6, 1841.
Dr. Root was a man of good abilities, and had a disposition that made him very popular. Never lacking in material for a good story, his company was much sought by the young, who listened with delight to his conversations. He was never irritated unless some one reflected upon his skill while in the army. Generally, there was no bounds to his humor.1 Although not always up to the style in dress nor meas-
1 As an instance, it is related that a traveler was at one of the taverns of the place and told a very pitiful story of his great sorrows and troubles. The strain in which he did this cast something of a gloom over the company present. Dr. Root perceiving this, put on his inimitable manner and exclaimed, "No use, stranger, in nursing or borrowing trouble-yon are altogether too thin-skinned for comfort. I have a friend who never had any troubles, but he came near it once, when his wife ran off with a colored man and was gone several weeks. Then he feared he should have trouble in finding her, but she came back of her own accord and saved him all trouble."
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HISTORY OF SOUTHINGTON.
ured in speech, his society was generally courted in the town. His easy way of disposing of business did not help him as an economist. But few persons could draw about them more friends.
DR. AMOS BEECHER.
He was born in Wolcott, Dec. 3, 1772, and was the son of Amos I Beecher. In 1789 the father removed with his family to Freehold (now Durham), Greene county, N. Y., and in a few years to Rensse- laerville, Albany county, N. Y., where he died in 1818. Dr. Beecher remained with his father but a short time at Freehold, but returned to this State and began teaching in Southington,2 and at the same time pursued his medical studies with Dr. Josiah Root of this town.
For a time he practiceed in connection with Dr. Root, and at the urgent solicitation of Solomon Newell, who had removed to Barkham- stead, he settled in that place, May, 1798. About 1793 he married Mary, daughter of Asahel and Lois (Lee) Lewis. The date of this marriage, or by whom solemnized, I cannot learn.
Barkhamstead at that time was comparatively a new place, and the surrounding population sparse. Dr. Beecher's practice very soon ex- tended beyond the limits of the town, into Hartland, Granby, Canton, and New Hartford. From various sources, I learn that he was a man of pleasant disposition and sound judgment, and in professional life commanded the confidence of his brethren to a flattering degree. He was what is called a " self-made man." In the current literature of the he is said to have been well versed, and on all questions of the day he had definite and pronounced opinions. As was the custom in those days, he was called to serve his town in various ways. He was trial- justice for a number of years, and also several times a member of the State Legislature. Dr. H. A. Archer, of Meriden, was a medical pupil of Dr. Beecher in 1843.
His wife died March 13, 1843, aged 67 years; and he survived until Jan. 4, 1849, when he died respected and honored by his townsmen, and lamented by his kindred. His children are Lois, b. July 29, 1794; m. Dr. James T. Gormon. Rollin, b. Oct. 4, 1796; died Dec. 6, 1798. Amos, jr., born Oct. 10, 1798; married Phebe Hart, Aug. 4, 1819. Julia Lewis, born July 27, 1807; married Lyman Hart, Feb. 5, 1837. Rol- lin Lee, born Sept. 14, 1809; married (Ist) Susan J. Holmes, of Cole- brook, Sept. 11, 1838 (died Sept. 4, 1873); (2d) Margaret Nettleton, of Norfolk, Oct. 13, 1874.
1 Amos was son of Capt. Amos, and he of Joseph .- Wolcott Hist., p. 451.
2 In South End district.
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HISTORY OF SOUTHINGTON.
DR. MARK NEWELL.
He was the son of Asahel and Hannah (Woodruff) Newell, and born in Southington, Oct. 17, 1758. He entered the army as a private when about twenty years of age, and his health not being good he was se- lected by Dr. Wadsworth to become his clerk in the apothecaries de- partment. He also acted as an assistant in the hospital. In this way he became familiar with many of the duties of the physician, and after leaving the army completed his medical studies with Dr. Wadsworth and Dr. Potter of Wolcott. His first settlement was at Guilford, and thence removed after a year to North Branford, but finally located in Southington. His first residence was where Mrs. Sylvia Beach lately lived. He subsequently removed to Queen street, where he had bought eight acres of land of Ashbel Gridley, on which he built a large house that is still standing. His practice was never large, and most of his time was spent in farming. He married (1) Phebe, daughter of Rev. Elijah Sill, of North New Fairfield (now Sherman), and pastor of the Congregational Church. She died Oct. 26, 1809, when he married (2) Zerish, widow of Ard Gridley, and daughter of Josiah Andrews. All his children were by his first marriage, two of whom still survive. He died Jan. 9, 1829.
DR. TIMOTHY JONES.
He was born in New Haven Aug. 27, 1784, and graduated at Yale College.in 1804, with the reputation of a good scholar. Among his classmates were John C. Calhoun, Ezra Stiles Ely, Royal R. Hinman, Bennett Tyler, and John Pierpont, the poet. He studied medicine for a year or two with Dr. Eli Ives of New Haven, and afterwards with Dr. Eli Todd, of Farmington. He settled in Southington as a physi- cian in 1810. In his professional and social life he was highly respected, and died without a stain upon his character. He was honored with the offices of judge of probate, town clerk, and postmaster; and in all these trusts won for himself public confidence. He is said to have possessed a good mind, and in his career to have impressed the community with his good judgment.
DR. DOCTOR MERRIMAN.
He was born in Southington, July 8, 1776, and was the son of Eben Merriman, and grand-son of Rev. John Merriman. Being the seventh son in the family he was named Doctor, from the ancient belief that this number possessed some special charm in this connection. Although he was not "the seventh son of a seventh son," nevertheless the name was given him and the profession placed before him as his future calling. He gave some attention to the study of medicine and surgery, but never succeeded in getting into general practice.
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