USA > Connecticut > Encyclopedia of Connecticut biography, genealogical-memorial; representative citizens, v. 1 > Part 25
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to the poor, and always ready to con- tribute his full share to all objects of worthy charity. As a husband and par- ent he could not do enough for those so nearly connected to him and his affections knew no bounds or limit. The deceased leaves a widow, three sons and a daugh- ter surviving him, to mourn his loss. Though his death had been expected for several days, owing to the character of his disease, yet our community was not prepared to meet with so great an afflic- tion and deeply sympathize with the stricken family in their great sorrow."
He married (first) Julia A. Dodge. He married (second) September 18, 1855, Abby Jane Wells, born at Litchfield, in 1826, died September 30, 1908, daughter of Tomlinson and Electa (Smith) Wells, granddaughter of Philip and Elizabeth (Tomlinson) Wells. Hezekiah Wells, father of Philip, was son of Thomas, grandson of John, and great-grandson of John Wells, of Stratford, Connecticut. John, last mentioned, was son of Gov- ernor Thomas Wells. Children: I. John Tomlinson, born November 3, 1856. 2. Philip Parley (twin), June 9, 1859, cashier of the Litchfield National Bank ; married, May 9, 1896, Harriet A. Cook, of Lowell, Massachusetts; children: Miriam, born February 21, 1897 ; Harriet, May 13, 1902. 3. Anna Electa (twin), died December II, 1909. 4. Frank Wells, August 2, 1865 ; attorney, legal adviser of the New York Street Railway ; married, November 18, 1891, Grace W. Keese, of Brooklyn, New York. Children: Grace Louise, born March 18, 1893; Waldron Wells, July 10, 1896.
BULKELEY, Eliphalet Adams, Prominent Citizen and Public Official.
This surname is a place name of ancient English origin, and was originally spelled Buclough in the time of King John, in
1199, and later. It signifies "a large mountain." There have been and still are many variations in spelling. Bulkeley is the one most commonly used, other forms being Bulkle, Bulkley and Buckley.
Rev. Peter Bulkeley, the immigrant an- cestor, was born at Odell, Bedfordshire, England, January 31, 1582-83, and died at Concord, March 9, 1658-59. He sailed for New England in 1635; settled first in Cambridge and the following year with twelve others began the settlement of Concord. He was teacher of the church at Concord, and is always spoken of as the first minister of Concord. He was among the first to instruct the Indians, and the singular immunity of Concord from Indian attack was largely credited, by tradition, to his sanctity and influence. He wrote several Latin poems, and he also published a volume in London in 1646 entitled "The Gospel Covenant," and an elegy on his friend, Rev. Mr. Hooker.
His son, the Rev. Gershom Bulkeley, was born at Concord, December 6, 1636, and died December 2, 1713. He gradu- ated at Harvard College in 1655, and in 1661 he became the minister of the second church at New London, Connecticut, and in 1666-67 removed to Wethersfield, where he was installed as pastor. In 1676 he asked for dismissal on account of im- paired health, and thereafter devoted him- self to the practice of medicine and sur- gery, in which he achieved much success and reputation. In 1675, during his pas- torate, he was appointed surgeon to the Connecticut troops in King Philip's War, and placed on the council of war.
His son, the Rev. John Bulkeley, was born in 1679. He graduated from Har- vard College in 1699, studied divinity and was ordained as minister of the church at Colchester, Connecticut, December 20, 1703. He was classed by the Rev. Dr. Chauncey in 1768 among the three most
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eminent for strength of genius and power of mind which New England produced. He was regarded by men of his time as a famous casuist and sage counselor.
His son, Hon. John Bulkeley, was born April 19, 1705, and died July 21, 1753. He graduated from Yale College in 1725, studied law, and became eminent in his profession. For eleven years he was one of the assistants of the province, was judge of probate and held other offices of trust, and was colonel of his regiment.
His son, Colonel Eliphalet Bulkeley, was born at Colchester, Connecticut, Au- gust 8, 1746. He was a prominent officer in the Connecticut troops in the Revolu- tion, a captain of the Colchester company that responded to the Lexington Alarm, April 19, 1775, and promoted lieutenant- colonel in May, 1780. His son, John Charles Bulkeley, was born in Colches- ter, Connecticut, August 8, 1772. He married Sally Taintor and they were the parents of three sons: Charles Edwin, born October 16, 1799; John Taintor, born October 3, 1801; and Eliphalet Adams, of whom further.
Eliphalet Adams Bulkeley was born June 20, 1803; died in 1872. He was graduated from Yale College in the class of 1824 and began the study of law in the office of William P. Wil- liams, of Lebanon, Connecticut, and be- gan to practice at East Haddam, where he became a prominent citizen. He be- came president of the East Haddam Bank; representative to the General As- sembly and twice State Senator from the nineteenth district. In 1847 he removed to Hartford, where he was already known and where he enjoyed a large practice. He was for a number of years one of the school fund commissioners, leader in poli- tics and town affairs and held various positions of trust and honor. He was elected in 1857 to the Legislature from
Hartford with Nathaniel Shipman and was chosen speaker of the House of Rep- resentatives by the Union Republicans. He was originally a Whig, but joined the Republican party at its organization. For some years he was in partnership with Judge Henry Perkins under the firm name of Bulkeley & Perkins, a well known law firm, but his later years were devoted to the business of life insurance. He was the first president of the Connecticut Mu- tual Company and assisted in its organi- zation. In 1850 he organized the Ætna Life Insurance Company, serving as pres- ident until his death. He was interested in all the Ætna companies, banking and insurance, fire and life. He was a direc- tor of the Willimantic Linen Company and other corporations, and was a lead- ing stockholder in many profitable enter- prises. Through his own enterprise, good judgment and sagacity in investment and development of business he accumulated a fortune and was rated as a millionaire at his death. His habits of life were most regular and methodical. He was prompt in keeping his engagements and was pres- ent at all meetings where he was expect- ed. In eighteen years he never failed until his last illness to preside at the meet- ings of the Pearl Street Ecclesiastical So- ciety, to which he belonged. When he lived on Church street he regularly at- tended the school meetings in the first district, and after he removed to Wash- ington street he was equally punctual in the south district. At all gatherings, re- ligious, political or otherwise, in which he took an interest, he was never tardy. His regularity and promptness were never ex- ceeded by any other citizen, probably. He was especially faithful in his political ob- ligations and he not only voted himself, but urged others never to neglect the duties of citizenship. One marked char- acteristic was his wonderfully retentive
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memory regarding people and events. His wonderful knowledge in this respect enabled him to give with surprising accu- racy many general facts relating to fam- ilies of which their own members were in ignorance. Few men have lived in this State possessed of such general informa- tion with regard to individual associa- tions. In other respects his knowledge was extensive, accurate and valuable. He may be said to have died at the post of duty for he was stricken while at his desk in the office of the Ætna Insurance Com- pany, though he was almost blind during his last years. He died February 13, 1872.
He married, January 31, 1830, Lydia Smith Morgan, of Colchester. Children : I. Mary Morgan, born October 21, 1833, died June 30, 1835. 2. Charles Edwin, born December 16, 1835 ; graduate of Yale College in 1856; lawyer of Hartford ; cap- tain of company of artillery in Civil War; died December, 1864, in command of Fort Garesche, near Washington, D. C. 3. Morgan Gardner, born December 26, 1837. 4. William Henry, born March 2, 1840. 5. Mary Jerusha, born September 27, 1843 ; married Leverett Brainard ; director and president of the Union for Home Work and in 1904 president of the Or- phans' Asylum of Hartford. 6. Eliphalet Adams, born July 11, 1847, died Decem- ber 17, 1848.
HOWE, Edmund Grant,
Representative Citizen.
Abraham Howe, immigrant ancestor, was born in England, and settled in Watertown, Massachusetts, where he be- came a proprietor. He removed to Marl- borough, Massachusetts Bay Colony, in the records of which his name first appears in 1660. His house stood near School No. 2. He died in Marlborough, Massachu-
setts Bay Colony, June 30, 1695. His re- lationship to the other pioneer of the same town, John Howe, and to the family of Abraham Howe, of Roxbury, Massa- chusets Bay Colony, is still to be deter- mined. There is every reason to believe them closely related, however. He mar- ried, May 6, 1657, Hannah, daughter of William Ward, ancestor of General Ar- temus Ward. She survived him and died November 3, 1717. Their son, Captain Daniel Howe, was born in 1658, died at Marlborough, Massachusetts Bay Colony, April 13, 1718. He lived at Marlborough, Massachusetts Bay Colony, and owned large tracts of land there and at Lancas- ter and Westborough, Massachusetts Bay Colony. His estate was inventoried at one thousand two hundred and sixty-four pounds. His widow was administratrix. She died in 1735. Their son, Jonathan Howe, was called Jr. in the records to dis- tinguish him from an older Jonathan in the same town. He was born April 23, 1695, died July 25, 1738. He lived at Marlborough, Massachusetts. He mar- ried Sarah Hapgood, descendant of Shad- rach Hapgood, of Sudbury, Massachu- setts. Their son, Solomon Howe, was born at Marlborough, Massachusetts, De- cember II, 1718, died October 13, 1762. He was a farmer in Marlborough, Massa- chusetts, until about 1760, when he set- tled in Mansfield, Connecticut. He had baptized a son Solomon, July 6, 1760, and Mary, October 13, 1761. The family Bible containing the births of his children is now owned by Daniel R. Howe, of Hart- ford, Connecticut. He married Mary Howe, of Marlborough, Massachusetts, about 1738. She was born November 18, 1719, died November 16, 1792. She was doubtless closely related to the Howe family that owned the Wayside Inn of Sudbury, made famous by Longfellow. Their son, Daniel Howe, was born in
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Marlborough, Massachusetts, June 13, 1740, died at Mansfield, Connecticut, De- cember 8, 1807. He married, August 26, 1761, Bridget Smith, who died March 20, 1815, aged seventy-one years. The Bible gives the year of death only. In 1790, according to the first federal census, Dan- iel had four males over sixteen, one under that age and two females in his family. Their son, Edmund Howe, was born in Mansfield, Connecticut, April 25, 1780, was baptized there June 24, 1781, died December 10, 1834, aged fifty-four. He married, March 3, 1807, Eunice Grant, born 1781, died October 12, 1844, aged sixty-three, sixth in descent from, Mathew Grant, the progenitor of the Connecticut Grants, and of the same family as Gen- eral Grant. His home was in Mansfield Center on Spring Hill, Connecticut. He was a general merchant and farmer. His wife's family lived at Mount Hope, Con- necticut, near Mansfield Center and Ash- ford, Connecticut, and descendants are living on the old place at the present time. Children, born at Mansfield: Ed- mund Grant, November 8, 1807, men- tioned below; Daniel Miner, born 1808, died March 21, 1814, aged six; Eunice Minerva, July 5, 1815 ; Harriet Smith, Oc- tober 4, 1817.
Edmund Grant Howe was born in Mansfield, Connecticut, November 8, 1807, died April 23, 1872. He was educated in the public schools and followed in the footsteps of his father as a dry goods mer- chant. He was captain in the State militia of Connecticut and represented his dis- trict in the General Assembly of that State. He came to Hartford, Connecti- cut, in 1829 and established the firm of Pratt, Howe & Company in 1831. He continued in this firm, which was emi- ently successful until dissolved in 1857. He became a partner in the banking firm of Ketchum, Howe & Company, 26 Ex-
change place, New York City. In 1860 he returned to Hartford and became a part- ner in Howe, Mather & Company and continued until his death in 1872 in active business. He was one of the organizers of the Hartford Carpet Company and Greenwoods Company. He was first pres- ident of the City Bank of Hartford from 1851 to 1857, president of the Exchange Bank from 1866 to 1872, vice-president of the Connecticut Mutual Life Insurance Company, director of the New York, New Haven & Hartford Railroad Company and first president of the Hartford & Wethersfield Horse Railway Company. Junius S. Morgan, father of the late J. Pierpont Morgan, was for fifteen years in partnership with Mr. Howe. He mar- ried Frances, born at Charlton, Massachu- setts, March 28, 1817, daughter of Samuel and Pamela Kies.
DEMING, Henry Champion, Soldier, Public Official.
John Deming, the immigrant ancestor, was one of the early settlers of Wethers- field, Connecticut. The first mention of him on the public records after his house is recorded was March 2, 1642, when he was one of the jury of the "particular court." He was one of those named in the famous charter of Connecticut in which King Charles granted to them and to those who should afterwards become associated with them the lands of Con- necticut, "in free and common socage," and established a colonial government with unusual privileges. He held many public offices and was prominent in com- munity affairs. He signed a codicil to his will, February 3, 1692, and this is the last recorded act of his life, and he very likely died soon after this year, though his will was not proved until November 21, 1705.
His son, David Deming, was born in
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Wethersfield, Connecticut, about 1652, and died in Boston, Massachusetts, May 4, 1725. He removed from Wethersfield to Cambridge, from there to Boston, and in the conveyance of some land he is called a "Knacker," which has been de- fined as "a maker of small work, a rope- maker." His son, Rev. David Deming, was born in Wethersfield, Connecticut, July 20, 1681, and died in North Lyme, Connecticut, February 6, 1745-46. He was graduated from Harvard College in 1700; he was ordained minister of the church at Medway, Massachusetts, No- vember 17, 1715, but resigned his charge seven years later, and later he settled in North Lyme, Connecticut. His son, David Deming, was born in Middletown, August 24, 1709, and died in North Lyme, Connecticut, May 30, 1781. He seems to have been a man of quiet habits, and little is to be found of him in the records of the town. His son, Major Jonathan Deming, was born in North Lyme, Connecticut, February 29, 1743, and died in Colchester, Connecticut, March 1, 1788. He was a prosperous merchant and accumulated considerable property. He served in the Revolution as an officer in the Conti- nental army. It is said that he instituted the first commandery of Knights Tem- plar in America. His son, David Dem- ing, was born in Colchester, Connecticut, August 23, 1781, and died there, June 6, 1827. He was for many years a success- ful and prominent merchant in Colches- ter; he was frequently a member of the State Legislature, was a delegate to the convention to form the State constitution in 1818, was active in military affairs, and received honorary degrees from Yale and Williams colleges. He married, Septem- ber 17, 1804, in Westchester, Connecti- cut, Abigail, daughter of Henry and Abi- gail (Tinker) Champion, born in West- chester, January 17, 1787, died in Hart-
ford, March 31, 1853. Among their chil- dren was Henry Champion Deming, of this review.
Colonel Henry Champion Deming, son of David Deming, was born May 23, 1815, at Colchester, Connecticut, died in Hart- ford, October 9, 1872. He was graduated from Yale College in the class of 1836 and from Harvard Law School in 1839. He then opened a law office in New York City, but devoted more attention to litera- ture and to journalism than to his profes- sion. With Park Benjamin he edited the "New World," a literary monthly. In 1847 he came to Hartford, Connecticut, and made another start in the practice of law, but finding politics more attractive, he entered upon a public career. He rep- resented the city in the General Assem- bly of the State in 1849-50, and from 1859 to 1861. In 1851 he was a State Senator. He was mayor of the city of Hartford from 1854 to 1858 and from 1860 to 1862. He was a Democrat of the old school and before the Civil War earnestly opposed coercion of the Southern States. After the attack on Fort Sumter, he gave his support to the federal government, but opposed a war of aggression or invasion. But the course of events finally brought him into accord with the federal policy of preserving the Union. Although the Leg- islature was Republican, he was elected speaker pro tem., October 9, 1861, such was the confidence in his ability and good judgment. In September, 1861, he was commissioned colonel of the Charter Oak Regiment, the Twelfth Connecticut, re- cruited especially for the New Orleans expedition under General Benjamin F. Butler. After the passage of the forts, his regiment was the first to reach New Orleans and it was assigned by General Butler the post of honor at the Custom House. He was appointed provisional major of the city and detached from his
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regiment for that duty. From October, 1862, to February, 1863, he administered the affairs of the city under the most diffi- cult and trying circumstances. He was elected to Congress by the Republican party in 1863, and served two terms, win- ning distinction by his rhetorical ability and force of character. His military ex- perience made him an exceedingly use- ful member of the committee on military affairs and he was also chairman of the committee on expenditures in the war de- partment. In 1866 he was delegate to the Loyalist Convention at Philadelphia. He was appointed collector of internal reve- nue in 1869 and to the duties of that office he devoted the remainder of his life. He was conceded to be one of the most elo- quent and convincing public speakers in New England in his day, and as an orator he won a national reputation. He trans- lated Eugene Sue's "Wandering Jew" (published in 1840) and "The Mysteries of Paris." He delivered before the Con- necticut Legislature in 1865 a eulogy on Abraham Lincoln, and was the author of the "Life of Ulysses S. Grant," published in 1868, and also of various other publi- cations. A man of culture and refinement, of excellent literary taste and discrimina- tion, he was also a gifted and prolific writer.
He married (first) February 12, 1850, in Hartford, Sarah B. Clerc, born August 12, 1828, in Hartford, died June 26, 1869, in that city, daughter of Laurent and Eliza C. (Boardman) Clerc. He married (second) June 29, 1871, in East Hartford, Annie Putnam (Wilson) Jillson, born January 7, 1849, in Hartford, died in the city of New York, October 27, 1905, with- out issue, daughter of Myron W. and Elizabeth (Putnam) Wilson, widow of Sherman L. Jillson, and great-great- granddaughter of Israel Putnam. Chil- dren born of first wife at Hartford: I.
Henry Champion, born November 25, 1850; graduated in 1872 at Yale College with the degree of Bachelor of Arts, and was a member of the Psi Upsilon and Skull and Bones societies; was president of the Mercantile Trust Company of New York City, from which office he resigned in 1908, since which time he has not been actively engaged in business; a member of the Union, University, Lawyers', Larchmont Yacht and Yale clubs ; resides at 114 East Twenty-seventh street, New York. 2. Charles Clerc, born May 22, 1852. 3. Mary Shipman, died in her sev- enth year. 4. Laurent Clerc, born No- vember 21, 1860; graduated in 1883 from Yale College, where he was a member of Psi Upsilon and Skull and Bones soci- eties; he is assistant secretary of the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railroad Company ; resides at 114 East Twenty- seventh street, New York City ; is a mem- ber of the University, Yale and New York Yacht clubs.
PLATT, Alfred,
Manufacturer.
The surname Platt has been early found in many countries, the word meaning an open, level piece of land. Coats-of-arms were granted to half a dozen different branches of the family in England as early as the reign of Elizabeth, and some as early as 1326. Deacon Richard Platt, the immigrant ancestor of the line herein described, settled in New Haven, Con- necticut, as early as 1638, and was one of a party of sixty-one who formed a church settlement at Milford being the first set- tler in that place ; his will is dated Janu- ary 24, 1683-84. His son, Josiah Platt, was born in Milford, 1645; married Sarah Camfield. Their son, Josiah (2) Platt, was born in Milford, January 12, 1679; married Sarah Burwell. Their son, Josiah
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(3) Platt, was born October 13, 1707, and his will was dated at New Haven, Octo- ber 26, 1758 ; married Sarah - -. Their son, Josiah (4) Platt, was born 1730-35; married (first) Sarah Sanford, (second) Lydia -. His son, Nathan Platt, was born at Newtown, March 3, 1761, died in Wallingford, 1845; was a soldier in the Revolution; married (first) Ruby Smith, (second) Charlotte Dickerman. Alfred Platt, of this article, was a son of the first wife.
Alfred Platt, son of Nathan Platt, was born in Newtown, April 2, 1789. When ten years of age he came to Waterbury with his father and settled at a point on the river about three miles below the center, afterwards known as Platts Mills, or Plattsville. He studied at the school in Litchfield, quite famous in its day, of which James Morris was the master, for whom the town of Morris was afterwards named. At the age of nineteen he em- barked in business for himself. He oper- ated a saw mill, which he had built near his father's flour mill, and afterward was a travelling salesman for the celebrated Waterbury wooden clocks. He was one of the earliest members of the firm known as A. Benedict, afterward the Benedict & Burnham Manufacturing Company, and he was the first to manufacture brass and copper wire in Waterbury. For sev- eral years he made all the wire used by the Scovill and the Benedict & Burnham Manufacturing Companies in making but- ton eyes. After a time he sold out his interests in the firm of Benedict & Burn- ham, and bought of his father and Gideon Platt the mill and water power at Platts Mill. After running the old mill several years he built a new one in its place near the old site, and continued actively in business to the end of his life. In build- ing his mill he devised an improved method of making buckwheat flour, built
special machinery, and patented both process and machines. He was the first to produce buckwheat flour white in color and free from grit. His business devel- oped into the present concern known as the Platt Brothers & Company. He was a prominent member and for many years deacon of the Baptist church, and was one of three men who gave obligations to the full amount of their property as secur- ity for the debt incurred in building the first Baptist meeting house at the center of the town. He died December 29, 1872. He married, June 8, 1814, Irene, daughter of Nirom Blackman, of Brookfield, Con- necticut. Children, born at Waterbury : I. Nirom Blackman, born September I, 1818; a merchant of Waterbury ; died Oc- tober 14, 1863; married, September 17, 1840, Eliza Kirtland, daughter of Wheeler, of Woodbury; children: i. Frances Eu- genia, born March 28, 1842, married Charles H. Russell ; ii. Margaret Phoebe, born September 5, 1843, married Wilson N. Osborn, of Brunswick, New York ; iii. Charles Kirtland, born October 1, 1846; iv-v., died young; vi. Ida Kirtland, mar- ried Lewis Elmer Perkins, of Naugatuck; vii. William Wheeler, of California. 2. Charles Sanford, born July 30, 1820, re- moved to western Massachusetts; died in Great Barrington, Massachusetts, Febru- ary 5, 1896; married Mary M. Tobey, September 4, 1861; children: Mary, Charles, Frederick Charles, Jeannette. 3. William Smith, born January 27, 1822. 4. Clark Murray, born January 1, 1824. 5. Alfred Legrand. 6. Seabury Blackman, born October 5, 1828; entered Yale, class of 1852, but on account of ill health left in his junior year; studied law in the office of J. W. Webster and was admitted to the bar May 18, 1864; began practice at Birmingham, where he was appointed judge of the borough court; died at Derby, August 12, 1895.
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