USA > Connecticut > Encyclopedia of Connecticut biography, genealogical-memorial; representative citizens, v. 1 > Part 18
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Levi, son of Joseph (2) Andrews, was born in Wethersfield, February 23, 1747. He married, December 20, 1770, Chloe Wells, of Newington, daughter of Cap- tain Robert and Abigail (Burnham) Wells. She was born May 31, 1746, and was a quiet, unassuming woman, a great lover of order and home, a devoted Chris- tian. He took the "half-way covenant" in Newington, May 8, 1768, and both joined Dr. Smalley's church, May 5, 1771, in New Britain, he on profession, she by letter. He bought a farm in New Britain about the time of his marriage, and occu- pied it during his life ; it was in the south part of Stanley quarter, so called, and was one of the best farms in town. In 1775 he was sick of the fever from which he recovered, although his father died. He was executor to his father's estate. He was clerk and treasurer of the Ecclesi- astical Society several years; he was made one of the standing committee of
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Dr. Smalley's church in 1807. He held rank of ensign in the company of militia in New Britain, and ever after held this title. He was appointed in 1782 by the town of Farmington to provide for sol- diers' families. He was a very success- ful farmer, of kind, cheerful disposition, and a great lover and promoter of peace. Ensign Levi Andrews died May 8, 1826, aged eighty years. The widow died Jan- uary II, 1837, aged ninety-one.
Professor Ethan Allen Andrews, son of Ensign Levi Andrews, was born April 7, 1787. He graduated at Yale College in 1810, and studied law at Farmington. He commenced the practice of law in his native town in 1812. He married, De- cember 19, 1810, Lucy Cowles, who was born January 20, 1789. She was daughter of Colonel Isaac and Lucina (Hooker) Cowles. Solomon Cowles, father of Colo- nel Isaac, had four brothers: Ezekiel, born November 17, 1721 ; James, Septem- ber 25, 1723; Elijah, January 12, 1726; Amos, July 29, 1730. Children of Solo- mon Cowles were: i. Martha, born June 29, 1751. ii. Isaac, July 15, 1753. iii. Colonel Isaac, born July 31, 1756. iv. Solomon, February 20, 1758. v. Zenas, February 15, 1761. Professor Ethan Allen Andrews was admitted to the church at New Britain, August 5, 1821, during the great revival of that memora- ble year. His wife was admitted August 6, 1815, by letter from the Farmington church. He built on Stanley street, near his father's home in 1813. He taught a select school in a part of his house with good success for several years. He re- moved his family in 1829, and his church connection in 1832, to New Haven, where he had a select school for young ladies, and a like school in Boston subse- quently. He was a professor of lan- guages in the University of North Caro- lina for a time. After his return to his home, he represented his town in the
State Legislature for the year 1851. He was a magistrate and judge of probate court, but he gained his eminence and celebrity from his literary taste and labor as a Latin author. In 1848 his alma mater (Yale College) gave him the honorable degree of Doctor of Laws. He died in the midst of his literary labors, March 24, 1858, aged seventy years. He was gentle- manly in deportment, and was eminently a literary light of his age and country. On May 19, 1858, at the request of several prominent citizens of the place, Rev. Hubbard Winslow, of Boston, delivered a eulogy on the life and services of this distinguished man, at the Centre Church of New Britain, to a very large audience, a copy of which was requested and pub- lished in Boston soon after. An inven- tory of his estate, amounting to $23,- 314.48, was made and presented to pro- bate court, district of Berlin, June 15, 1858. He built a Gothic house in 1855, on the site of his father's old red one.
NILES, John M.,
Legislator, Cabinet Officer, Journalist.
John Milton Niles was born in Wind- sor, Connecticut, August 20, 1787, son of Moses and Naomi (Marshall) Niles, and grandson of Benjamin and Lucy (Sill) Niles. His father was a native of Groton, Connecticut, and removed to Windsor prior to the Revolutionary War. The fol- lowing account, condensed from Stiles' "History of Ancient Windsor," written by Hon. Gideon Welles, of Hartford, re- veals the outlines of a life of great use- fulness.
Losing his father in early childhood, his educational advantages were restricted to the opportunities afforded by a com- mon district school, such as they were in his day. Realizing their defects, he re- solved upon further study, and being limited in mean and too old for collegiate
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advantages, he entered upon a course of systematic and laborious work, which he followed up with such assiduity as for a time to impair his health. With an in- quisitive and keenly discriminating in- tellect, fond of statistics, and a memory that retained every incident and event that came within his reading and obser- vation, his mind became a great store- house of facts that were easily at com- mand, and made him always formidable to political and legislative opponents. Few men associated with him in the pub- lic councils were more conversant with history, better understood the science of government, or had more deeply investi- gated the political and civil institutions of our own and other countries. Madi- son's administration covered a time of high party excitement, sharpened by the commercial restrictions which the Fed- eral administration had deemed neces- sary to prevent our country from becom- ing involved in wars that were then sweeping over almost the whole of the civilized world. Mr. Niles, while yet a student in the office of John Sargeant, was a zealous Republican and supporter of the administration and policy of Mr. Madison. The courts and bar, as well as the State authorities, were almost unani- mously of the opposite politics. Diffident and unassuming in his manners, but earnest and firm in his convictions, Mr. Niles was frank in the avowal of his opinions and principles, and the reasons by which he was governed. A portion of his leisure he devoted to political essays, most of which were published in the "American Mercury," at Hartford. Being attached, however, to his profession, and his circumscribed means rendering it necessary that he should attend to some- thing else than political controversies for a livelihood, he contemplated migrating to some other State. With this in view he visited Vermont, New York and Penn-
sylvania, but returned to Connecticut, un- decided, and without any definite plan for the future. It was while at Harrisburg in 1815 that he formed his first slight ac- quaintance with James Buchanan, Wil- liam J. Duane and Joel B. Sutherland, then young men of about his own age, and each of them for the first time mem- bers of the Pennsylvania Legislature. This acquaintance was twenty years after renewed with each, under widely different circumstances.
The termination of the war and retire- ment of Mr. Madison extinguished poli- tical issues that had been long in contro- versy, and led to a dissolution of the Na- tional party ; but during the general an- xiety on Federal politics that character- ized the Monroe administration, public action became concentrated on local dif- ferences within the States. In Connecti- cut there was a growing disquietude in regard to the old order of things, and the dynasty in power steadily refused to yield to innovations. The times were auspici- ous for the reformers to press their views, and radical changes were demanded, the most prominent of which were an exten- sion of the right of suffrage, religious equality, and a written constitution de- fining and limiting the power of govern- ment. Mr. Niles embarked in these re- formatory measures with zeal, energy and ability, and more than any other man, perhaps, contributed to the evolu- tion of parties which followed. To for- ward his views and give them efficiency, with the cooperation of others he estab- lished in January, 1817, the Hartford "Times," a paper that acquired an im- mediate local position and influence. He was for several years its editor, and for thirty years continued to be a liberal con- tributor to its columns. In 1821 the Gen- eral Assembly appointed him an associate judge of the county court for the County of Hartford, an appointment which he
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filled eight years, then declining to hold it longer. In 1826 he was elected from the town of Hartford to the General As- sembly. The Republicans nominated him as their candidate for the Senate in 1827, but, being friendly to the election of Gen- eral Jackson, a portion of the party re- fused to sustain him, and he was conse- quently defeated. This proceeding con- tributed perhaps to his activity, as it cer- tainly gave him prominence in instituting and organizing what was subsequently known as the Democratic party which elected and sustained General Jackson.
In the spring of 1829 Mr. Niles was ap- pointed postmaster at Hartford, which place he resigned on receiving from Gov- ernor Edwards the appointment of Sen- ator in Congress, the post having been made vacant by the death of Nathan Smith. This appointment was confirmed by the Legislature, and he served in the Senate until March, 1839. He was the Democratic candidate for governor in 1839, and again in 1840. In the latter year President Van Buren tendered him the office of postmaster-general, and the Senate unanimously confirmed his nomi- nation. Retiring with Mr. Van Buren in March, 1841, he was again in 1842 elected to the Senate of the United States, which place he held until the expiration of the term in 1849, when he relinquished official life, although he retained to the close of his days an abiding and lively interest in all political subjects. In the Senate he took an active part in the proceedings and debates. Although not a brilliant speaker, he was a ready, interesting and instructive debater, one whose accurate knowledge, acute and just discrimination, and sound common sense, were acknowl- edged and appreciated by men of all parties. The financial questions which called into existence the Whig and Demo- cratic parties, generated intense animosi- ties, and to some extent affected social
intercourse. The unyielding firmness and uncompromising character of Senator Niles, particularly when principles were in- volved, led many to misunderstand and misapprehend his genial and kindly na- ture. There was less partisan bitterness in his last than in his first senatorial term, in consequence of the adjustment and final disposition of the exciting financial questions that had agitated and con- vulsed the country, and he was not one who desired to perpetuate differences when the causes which led to them ceased to exist.
No man more fully recognized the utility and necessity of party organiza- tion to accomplish and carry into effect important measures based on funda- mental principles, but under no circum- stances would he abandon or surrender those principles to the mandates of or- ganization. This was in his view a per- version and abuse of party to which he would not submit. It was an axiom with him that party and organization must be subordinate and subsidiary to principles, and principles should never be secondary or sacrifice to party. Hence, on repeated occasions when the party with which he acted took a new position, he was brought into conflict with valued friends, eventu- ating to some extent in a change of asso- ciates but not of principles. This was the case in 1820, when the party which revo- lutionized the State neglected, as he con- ceived, to carry to their fulfillment re- forms with which they commenced. Again, in the election of Jackson, and the bank controversy at a later period, he dis- regarded the old organization with which he had been connected because he deemed it faithless to the principles which origi- nated it. The bank and kindred measures he denounced as centralizing, as an inva- sion of the reserved rights of the States. and an unwarrantable assumption of power by the Federal government.
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Though assailed with unsparing viru- lence, he ably vindicated his adherence to principles which he deemed funda- mental and essential. The acquisition of large additional territory from Mexico near the close of his senatorial service brought the subject of extending and na- tionalizing slavery prominently before the country. Incidental to and connected with this subject was the territorial policy of the government, which it was proposed to change in order to strengthen the or- ganization on these new issues. Prompt- ly, and at the threshold, Senator Niles met the question, and denounced the scheme as a perversion of the objects, purposes and principles of the Demo- cratic party, whose mission was of a dif- ferent character. Adhering to the primi- tive doctrine of strictly construing the constitution, and limiting the authority of the Federal government to the powers granted, he deemed that Congress could not legislate slavery into the territories or delegate that power or permission to others. No obligation of party or allegi- ance to organizations could swerve him or induce him to sacrifice his conscienti- ous convictions on this subject, for his opinions were deliberately formed, and essential principles were involved. With all the ardor and sincerity of his earlier years he opposed what in his view were the centralizing tendencies of the admin- istration. As the controversy progressed, his opinions became more decided and his feelings more interested, and, believing the emergency required extraordinary efforts he, at the age of sixty-eight, pro- jected the establishment of a new daily paper and the organization of a distinct Republican party, to act in concert with others in the different States who were commencing a similar movement. While earnestly engaged in the prosecution of these labors a cancerous affection de- veloped itself in his system. Undeterred
by this affliction, he persevered in what he considered to be his duty to its con- summation. Through his instrumentality, the Hartford "Press" was established, being first published in February, 1856. A Republican State Convention was held in March of the same year, and the Re- publican party was forthwith organized, but his disease in the meantime had made such progress as to compel him to discon- tinue his labors. His last public effort and his last appearance among his fellow citizens was at the Republican Conven- tion in March. He breathed his last on the 3Ist of May, 1856, in the sixty-ninth year of his age.
Senator Niles, besides his political labors, employed his pen in other fields as an author. His first undertaking was that of editing the republication of an Eng- lish work, entitled "The Independent Whig," a large quarto of over five hun- dred pages, published in 1816. This was followed in 1819 by a "Gazetteer of Con- necticut and Rhode Island," in the com- pilation of which he was assisted by his brother-in-law, Dr. John C. Pease. He also prepared a very useful and service- able book, called "The Civil Officer," of which several editions were published. "A History of Mexico and the South American Republics," written by him. ran through many editions. He also wrote a biography of Oliver H. Perry, a quarto volume of about four hundred pages, as well as numerous pamphlets. orations and addresses on political, agri- cultural, financial and miscellaneous sub- jects, which during a period of forty years emanated from his prolific pen, and which had extensive circulation and influence.
His speeches in the Senate were many, and on almost every important question before that body while he was a member ; some were very effective and distin- guished for great research and argumen- tation. Those on the bank, the deposits,
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the expunging resolutions, the independ- ent treasury, the tariff, the Mexican War and the Jefferson Ordinance as applicable to the newly acquired Louisiana terri- tory, may be specified as among his ablest efforts. Mr. Calhoun, with whom he often and widely differed, awarded him the possession of the most ready and accu- rately discriminate mind of any member of the Senate. Thomas H. Benton said that not only were his opinions eminently sound and correct, but that his political and moral courage exceeded that of his associates. Silas Wright declared he al- ways distrusted the accuracy of his own conclusions when he differed from Sen- ator Niles. Such were the estimates of some of the master minds of the Senate, men with whom he was associated in daily, social and official intercourse for years. The remark publicly made by Mr. Van Buren, that "Senator Niles spoke as Franklin wrote," conveys a correct im- pression of the matter and manner of the man. Indeed, his marked traits were good, practical common sense, without pretension, unassumingly but honestly and fearlessly expressed.
President Van Buren showed his high appreciation of the qualities and abilities of Senator Niles by tendering him un- solicited a seat in his cabinet, and that, too, when the department was laboring under serious embarrassments. The re- forms which he introduced into the de- partment not only contributed to its im- mediate relief, but constituted the basis of future action in the administration. He promptly discontinued the transportation of mails on Sundays except on the princi- pal routes, and advised another great re- form which was soon carried into effect, the reduction of the rates of postage, as a means of promoting mail facilities and thereby increasing the revenue, a propo- sition that was to many a seeming para- dox
Senator Niles was twice married, but left no children. In the fall of 1824 he married Mrs. Sarah Howe, a native of Worcester county, Massachusetts, who died in the autumn of 1842. His second marriage was with Miss Jane H. Pratt, of Columbia county, New York, in the latter part of 1845; she died in the sum- mer of 1850. A considerable portion of the years 1851 and 1852 he spent in visit- ing the various countries of Europe. Un- ostentatious, plain and frugal, Mr. Niles acquired by industry and economy a handsome estate. Humane and benevo- lent, he exercised active charity during life, and dying desired to alleviate suffer- ing humanity. Besides numerous lega- cies to individuals, he bequeathed twenty thousand dollars in trust to the city of Hartford as a charity fund, the income from which he directed to be annually distributed to the poor. This noble bene- faction to the city of his adoption was the crowning act of a useful and well-spent life.
HUNTINGTON, Jabez W., Jurist, Senator.
Jabez Williams Huntington was born at Norwich, Connecticut, November 8, 1788, son of Zachariah Huntington and grandson of Jabez Huntington (1719-86), who served for several years as speaker of the Connecticut Legislature, was active during the Revolution as a member of the Committee of Safety, and from Sep- tember, 1776, held the rank of major- general of militia.
Jabez W. Huntington, after pursuing an academical course, was graduated from Yale College in 1806. He studied law at the celebrated Litchfield Law School, was admitted to the bar, and con- ducted a successful practice in Litchfield for many years. In 1828 he was elected to the State Legislature, and in 1829 to
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Congress, where by two successive re- elections, he represented Connecticut until 1834, when he resigned to accept an appointment as a judge of the State Su- preme Court of Errors. He was also a judge of the Connecticut Superior Court. Later he was elected to the United States Senate as a Whig, filling the vacancy made by the death of Senator Thaddeus Betts, and continued a member of that body from 1840 until his death, on No- vember 1, 1847, at Norwich, Connecti- cut, which had been his home since 1834.
BEACH, George, Business Man, Financier.
There were three immigrants of the name of Beach under Colony records of 1639 among the settlers of the New Haven colony, Richard, John and Thomas, who was the immigrant ancestor of the Hart- ford branch of the family. He resided in New Haven, Milford and Wallingford, but returned to Milford before his death in 1662. His son, John Beach, was born in Milford, October 19, 1655, and died in 1709. He removed to Wallingford. His son, John (2) Beach, was born in Wall- ingford, October 15, 1690, and died May 9, 1775. He was one of the founders of the town of Goshen, and erected one of the largest houses in the town in the sec- tion now known as East Goshen. His son, Adnah Beach, was born January II, 1718, and died March 10, 1783. He repre- sented the town of Goshen in the General Assembly. His son, Ebenezer Beach, was born May 30, 1766, died May 3, 1793, and was buried at Sheffield, Massachusetts. He appears to have been in business in Hartford, Connecticut, and later was en- gaged in business in Litchfield, Connecti- cut. He married Lucy Steele, and after the death of her husband she returned to Hartford. She married (second) Dr. Wil-
liam Whitman. Ebenezer and Lucy (Steele) Beach were the parents of George Beach, of whom further.
George Beach, eldest child of Ebenezer and Lucy (Steele) Beach, was born in Litchfield, November 29, 1788, died at his house on Farmington avenue, Hartford, May 3, 1860. Upon the death of his mother he probably returned to live with his Grandfather Steele until 1806; his sis- ter, Lucy, was taken by his father's sister, ' Susannah, wife of John Reed, of Canaan, Connecticut ; his sister, Julia, being taken by his mother's sister, Mittie (Mehitable), wife of George Benton, Front street, Hart- ford. He began his business life as a clerk for John Pierce, a West India mer- chant, State street, Hartford, and lived for a time with the family of his employer. A few years later Mr. Beach became junior partner, the firm name becoming Pierce & Beach. The trade of the firm was ruined by the war of 1812, and Mr. Pierce withdrew and left the city. George Beach, Jr., used to tell a story of one of his father's merchant vessels which had been given up as lost or captured by the British. But early one Sunday morning, before daylight, he was awakened by a knock at the front door, opened his win- dow, and found a messenger from New London who announced the safe arrival of the ship, which had sailed under the French flag by a roundabout way to escape the British. In 1814 Mr. Beach closed up the West India business and, upon the organization of the Phoenix Bank of Hartford, was elected its cashier, an office he filled until September 6, 1837, when he was elected president, and con- tinued at the head of this institution until his last illness, resigning April 5, 1860. At the outset the disturbance of the cur- rency of the country caused by the war with England, led the bank to issue a quantity of bills for fractional parts of a
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dollar, which the vice-president and direc- tors of the bank were authorized to sign. With the exception of these bills Mr. Beach signed all the notes and bills issued by the bank, and its circulation some- times rose above a million dollars. At the time of his death he had undoubtedly signed more bills than any other man in this section. In 1836 Mr. Beach became a partner in the firm of Phelps, Beach & Company, formerly Hungerford, Phelps & Beach, George Beach, Jr., being a part- ner of the original firm and continuing with his father and Mr. Phelps. When Mr. Phelps retired in 1839, the firm be- came Beach & Company, and George Beach became its head. For a number of years he lived in the house which is still standing, but somewhat altered in appear- ance, on the north side of Church street, and there most of his children were born. Later he removed to the house on Farm- ington avenue, and his son George lived in the next house to the west. Both houses were built by Cyprian Nichols, his father-in-law. Upon the visit to this country of General Lafayette, about 1825, it was the duty of Mr. Beach, as captain of the Governor's Foot Guard, to meet the general and with his company escort him to a raised platform in front of the Phoenix National Bank, where the State reception was held. He was generous with his wealth and always favored the young men just starting in business. He favored the small loans which are usually so hard to negotiate. He contributed largely to charity, but preferred to give anonymously. He donated the land for St. Paul's Church. The Widows' Home, which he built and maintained, was a most sensible and worthy benevolence, consisting of a number of small apart- ments let gratuitously to deserving widows who had no home. From early life he was an active member of Christ Church and a faithful churchman.
Mr. Beach married (first) in Christ Church, Hartford, April 15, 1808, Harriet, born June 27, 1792, died July 16, 1826, daughter of Aaron Bradley. He married (second) 1827, Maria, born May 10, 1799, died November 15, 1845, daughter of Cyprian Nichols. He married (third) Sophia (Buckland) Bull, widow of E. W. Bull, who survived him many years.
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