USA > Connecticut > Encyclopedia of Connecticut biography, genealogical-memorial; representative citizens, v. 1 > Part 46
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).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57
Mr. Marsh was twice married. By his first wife, Amanda Blandon, of Burling- ton, New York, one child was born, Char- lotte Bliss, who died when she was but four years of age, while her father was with his regiment in the south during the war. The first Mrs. Marsh died in 1886, and in 1888 Mr. Marsh was married to Fannie Forrester Hawley, of Bridgeport, a daughter of Munson Hawley, a promi- nent resident of that city.
The death of Mr. Marsh was very wide- ly felt as a severe loss. Not only those who were intimately acquainted with him personally, although these of course felt it the most keenly, but all the more casual associates, in business and other relations of life, felt the gap left in the community by the withdrawal of one who formed a large factor in the sum total of Bridge- port life. From every source expressions
of affection and sorrow were uttered, and each vied with each to do his memory the most honor. The People's Savings Bank. which he served in the capacity of treas- urer so faithfully and so well and for such a great term of years, closed its doors dur- ing the afternoon of the funeral and many other tokens of respect were accorded to him.
GUNN, Frederick W.,
Founder of Famous School.
Jasper Gunn, immigrant ancestor, came to New England in the ship "Defiance," in 1635, then aged twenty-nine years. He settled in Roxbury, Massachusetts, where he was a proprietor of the town, and was admitted a freeman, May 25, 1636. He removed to Milford, Connecticut, but was living in Hartford, Connecticut, in 1648. He settled finally, however, in Milford. In 1649 he was "freed from watching dur- ing the time that he attends the service of the mill." In 1636 he is called a phy- sician in the public records. He was deacon of the church in Milford and per- haps school master, and on one occasion appeared before the court in the capacity of attorney. He was a deputy to the General Court and an extremely active and versatile citizen. He married Sarah Hawley. He died January 12, 1671. Children : Samuel; Jebomah, mentioned below; Daniel, married Deborah Cole- man and died in 1690; Nathaniel, settled in Branford ; Mehitable, baptized in 1641 ; Abel, baptized in 1643, a physician at Derby, Connecticut.
Jebomah, son of Jasper Gunn, was born 1641. He was also a resident of Milford. He married, in 1660, Sarah Lane. Among their children was Captain Samuel, men- tioned below.
Captain Samuel Gunn, son of Jebomah Gunn, was born in Milford in 1669, died
318
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
there in 1749. He married, in 1698, Mercy Smith. Among their children was Lieu- tenant Samuel, mentioned below.
Lieutenant Samuel (2) Gunn, son of Captain Samuel (1) Gunn, was born at Milford, January 15, 1701, died in 1756. He married Sarah Clark, who was born October 24, 1706. Among their children was Samuel, mentioned below.
Samuel (3), son of Lieutenant Samuel (2) Gunn, was born in Milford in 1740, died in Washington, January 7, 1782. He settled at Woodbury, Connecticut. He married Phebe Northrop, born April, 1735, a descendant of Joseph Northrop, a founder of Milford. Among their chil- dren was John Northrop, mentioned be- low.
John Northrop, son of Samuel (3) Gunn, was born at Milford, June 5, 1772, died in Washington, October 3, 1826. He was a farmer, but for many years held and discharged the duties of deputy sheriff, an office then held in much honor, which he so acceptably filled that he be- came widely known and still lives in local tradition as "Sheriff" Gunn. He married, at Washington, Connecticut, October 25, 1797, Polly Ford, born June 19, 1773, at Milford, died January 15, 1827. She was highly esteemed for her goodness and refinement and for her ready kindness and skill in nursing the sick. She was the daughter of Samuel and Susannah (Stone) Ford. Her grandfather, Samuel Ford, died 1760, was son of John Ford, born 1654, died 1711, and grandson of Thomas Ford, who came from England and died at Milford in May, 1662. Chil- dren of John Northrop and Polly Gunn : John Northrop, born August 1, 1798; Louisa, March 3, 1800; Susan, October 10, 1801; Abby, November 30, 1804; Lewis, November 30, 1806; Sarah, Octo- ber I, 1809; Amaryllis, September 14,
1811; Frederick William, mentioned be- low.
Frederick William Gunn, son of John Northrop Gunn, was born at Washington, formerly Woodbury, Connecticut, Octo- ber 4, 1818, died August 19, 1881. At the age of thirteen he began to attend a school in Cornwall kept by Rev. William Andrews. He prepared for college in 1831-32 at Judea Academy, then taught by Rev. Watson Andrews, son of Rev. William Andrews, and he graduated from Yale College in the class of 1837. He taught in the academy at New Preston during the winters of 1837-38; in the Judea Academy, 1839-43; in the New Preston Academy, 1845-47; in Towanda, Pennsylvania, 1847-48-49. He established the famous private school at Washington, 1849, and it came to be known as "The Gunnery," in his honor. It is at the pres- ent time one of the foremost preparatory schools of the country, of National fame. He was master of the Gunnery from 1849 to 1881. As a thinker and teacher, Mr. Gunn was far in advance of his time; in his school and town he exercised a power- ful influence for the good of the com- munity. The gratitude and reverence of his pupils are expressed in the book writ- ten and published by them entitled "The Master of the Gunnery." The people of Washington have shown their appreci- ation of his life and work among them by erecting the Gunn Memorial Library, a beautiful building which stands on a corner of Washington Green. Mr. Gunn was always a strong supporter of the Ecclesiastical Society of the First Congre- gational Church of Washington, of which his wife and daughters were members.
He married, at Washington, April 16, 1848, Abigail Irene Brinsmade, born at Washington, July 18, 1820, died Septem- ber 13, 1908, daughter of Daniel Bourbon
319
.
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
and Mary Wakeman (Gold) Brinsmade. Children: I. Daniel Brinsmade, born January 9, 1849, at Towanda, Pennsyl- vania, died April 19, 1865, at Washing- ton. 2. Mary Gold, January 20, 1853, at Washington; married, October 4, 1876, John Chapin Brinsmade.
OWEN, Elijah Hunter, Public-Spirited Citizen.
John Owen, immigrant ancestor of Elijah Hunter Owen, was born in Wales, December 25, 1634, died February 1, 1698- 99; he emigrated to this country and settled at Windsor, Connecticut, but later removed to a place called Polly's Or- chard ; he married Rebecca Wade. Their son, Isaac Owen, was born May 27, 1670; was one of the first settlers of Turkey Hills, Connecticut; married Sarah Hol- comb. Their son, Elijah Owen, was born October 7, 1706, died September 22, 1741 ; married Hannah Higley. Their son, Elijah (2) Owen, was born probably in 1738-39; resided at Turkey Hills ; married Lydia Clarke. Their son, Elijah (3) Owen, was born April 17, 1763; married Hannah Mather. Their son, Elijah (4) Owen, was born at East Otis, Massachu- setts, died in New York; married Sarah Hunter, and they became the parents of Elijah Hunter Owen, of this review.
Elijah Hunter Owen, son of Elijah (4) Owen, was born in Otis, Massachusetts, November 30, 1810, died April 14, 1881. He was one of the leading merchants and business men of his day in Hartford, and took besides a large and active part in charitable enterprises. He was a member of the firm of Owen, Root & Childs, dry goods.
Early in 1861 his private means and business connection were used by Gov- ernor Buckingham for purchases of equip- ments for the Connecticut troops, and it
was mainly due to his skill and energy that the Connecticut men were the first to reach the field with tents and field equipments ready for campaigning. The original subscription for the Kansas rifles, marked "pd" in Mr. Owen's well-known autograph hand, is in the possession of the Connecticut Historical Society. The list of names and date prove that some- thing had occurred prior to the so-called "Topeka murders" which led the think- ing men, good deacons and leading citi- zens of Hartford, as well as Boston and New Haven, to furnish John Brown, Owen Brown and Owen Lovejoy with Sharp's rifles. Mr. Owen probably did not know that John Brown was a distant cousin, but took an interest in Brown's venture as an original Abolitionist and stockholder in the Kansas Emigrant Aid Society. Mr. Owen was remarkable for personal uprightness no less than for the generous and wise aid and advice which he gave to young men, especially of his own profession.
He married, June 13, 1836, Susannah, born May 2, 1813, daughter of Thomas Danforth and Elizabeth (Lewis) Board- man. Her father was born in Litchfield, Connecticut, January 21, 1784, and was the son of Oliver and Sarah (Danforth) Boardman. Her mother was the daugh- ter of Abel and Joanna (Bidwell) Lewis. Her father and mother were married May 28, 1812. Her father lived to the age of ninety, and set up the first steam engine at Hartford, Connecticut. Children: I. Charles Hunter, born March 15, 1838, re- sides in Hartford; married Esther Dix- well, of Cambridge, Massachusetts. 2. George Boardman, November 9, 1839, died December 25, 1858. 3. Henry Elijah, May 28, 1843. 4. Edward Thomas, March 4, 1850, resides at Madison, Wisconsin ; married Emily B. Pratt, of Brooklyn.
320
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
SEYMOUR, Origen Storrs, Jurist.
Origen Storrs Seymour was born in Litchfield, Connecticut, February 9, 1804, and died there, August 12, 1881. He was the son of Ozias and Selina (Storrs) Sey- mour, grandson of Major Moses Seymour, and the seventh in descent from Richard Seymour who settled in Hartford, Connec- ticut, in 1635, and was the ancestor of all of this name in America. This branch of the family continued to reside in Hartford until the time of Major Moses Seymour, who removed to Litchfield, Connecticut, where he enlisted in the patriot army ; he attained the rank of major at the end of the war ; was for thirty-seven years (1789- 1826) town clerk; from 1795 until 1811 was a member of the Legislature; was largely instrumental in securing to the cause of common school education the proceeds of the sale of the Western Re- serve lands, and is credited with originat- ing the plan.
Origen S. Seymour was graduated from Yale College, Bachelor of Arts, 1824, Master of Arts, 1827, and was admitted to the bar in 1826. He was clerk of Litch- field county, 1836-44; a representative in the Connecticut Legislature, 1842 and 1849-50, being speaker of the House in 1850; was a Democratic representative in the Thirty-second and Thirty-third Con- gresses, 1851-55; was judge of the Su- perior Court of Connecticut, 1855-63 ; was the unsuccessful candidate of the Demo- cratic party for Governor of the State in 1864; was elected by the State Legisla- ture, then controlled by the Republicans, a judge of the Supreme Court, and in 1873 he succeeded as Chief Justice, re- tiring in 1874, having reached the age limit. He was chairman of the commis- sion that settled the boundary between New York and Connecticut in 1876; was
chairman of the commission that pre- pared the State practice act; was an an- nual lecturer at the Yale Law School, 1876-81 ; and was again elected a repre- sentative in the State Legislature in 1881. The honorary degree of Doctor of Laws was conferred upon him by Trinity Col- lege in 1866, and by Yale College in 1873.
He was married, October 5, 1830, to Lucy Morris, daughter of Major-General Morris Woodruff, and they were the par- ents of four children.
TAFT, Cincinnatus A.,
Eminent Physician.
Robert Taft, immigrant ancestor, was born in Ireland, about 1640, died in Men- don, Massachusetts, February 8, 1725, re- moving there from Braintree. His son, Robert (2) Taft, was born in 1674, was living February 17, 1747-48, when his will was dated; resided in Uxbridge, one of the leading citizens. His son, Israel Taft, was born April 26, 1699, and his will was allowed, September 19, 1753; married Mercy Aldrich. Their son, Samuel Taft, was born September 23, 1735, died Au- gust 16, 1816; he was a noted tavern- keeper in his day and had the honor of entertaining General Washington and his staff on one of his journeys north. His son, Frederick Taft, was born in Ux- bridge, June 19, 1759, died there, Febru- ary 10, 1846; was a prominent citizen and held various positions of trust and honor ; married Abigail Wood. Their son, Fred- erick Augustus Taft, was born in Ux- bridge, April 7, 1791, died at Dedham, September 18, 1837; was the founder of the Dedham Manufacturing Company ; married (first) Amanda Wheaton, (sec- ond) Eliza Flagg. Among the children of his first wife was Dr. Cincinnatus A. Taft, of this review.
Dr. Cincinnatus A. Taft, son of Fred-
ConD-1-21
321
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
erick Augustus Taft, was born at Ded- ham, Massachusetts, in March, 1828, died at Hartford, Connecticut, June 26, 1884. He attended the public schools. He stud- ied medicine in the office of Dr. Lewis, of Boston, and of his brother, Dr. G. M. Taft, of Hartford, the first to practice homœopathy in Hartford. He attended lectures at Harvard Medical School, and was graduated from the College of Phy- sicians and Surgeons of New York City in 1846. Notwithstanding his allopathic preparation, he followed his brother in the practice of homœopathy, though he exercised a certain eclectic independence which looked rather to cure than to creed, and was not entirely within the limita- tions of any one school. Before Hart- ford had any homeopathic physician, the late Dr. Gray, of New York, was fre- quently consulted by people in Hartford, and at length he sent to that city a young physician who had been a student in his office, Dr. G. M. Taft, who soon acquired a large practice. Believing that he could successfully cope with yellow fever, Dr. G. M. Taft went south in 1845, and lost his life in the attempt, himself a victim of yellow fever. His brother, Dr. C. A. Taft, came to Hartford in 1847, and was at that time a tall, slender young man of very delicate health. Indeed, his medical friends said that it might interest him to begin practice, but they said he could not live a year. He suffered from frequent and severe hemorrhages of the lungs, and though he lived to practice nearly forty years, it is a fact that he had the full use of but one lung. Few people ever thought that Dr. Taft with his erect frame and broad shoulders was not strong and well, but he told a friend not long before he died that he had never run as much as the length of a single block since he had been in Hartford. He could not do it. He was able to endure the strain which
his large practice brought upon him by a life as regular in its methods as the interruptions that come to every physi- cian would permit, and by as nourishing and liberal a diet as possible, and when his appetite failed his strength rapidly failed. He went about his practice long after he would have ordered to bed any of his patients similiarly run down, and from the day when he was compelled by weakness to cease making professional calls, he was unable to leave his bed and hardly able to raise his head from the pillow. His breakdown, when it came, was complete. The last day he was out was May 22, 1884.
It is impossible to say in how many homes and to how many persons Dr. Taft occupied and so ably filled the im- portant office of family physician, but his practice was undoubtedly larger than that of any other physician of his day and probably larger than any other physician who ever has practiced at any time in Hartford. His professional calls were brief, as a rule, and his words few, but his manner in a sick room was so cheer- ful and self-possessed that he always in- spired the fullest possible confidence in the patient and family. He was very re- served by nature and to many he seemed to have a certain harshness of manner, but it was merely a shield behind which beat a tender heart and much more sym- pathy than he cared to show. Yet, in spite of his reserve, the affection of his patients was irresistibly drawn towards him and in spite of the lack of words, the trust of his patients in his skill was un- bounded. Many there were who believed they owed to him their lives and health. He himself seemed scarcely aware of the confidence and gratitude of his patients, and when reminded of their sentiments he treated the matter with a humility that was in striking contrast to his positive-
322
THE NEW YORK
IL Hight.
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
ness in other affairs. How entirely he devoted himself to his profession may be inferred from the fact that for a period of more than twenty years he was not absent from the city forty-eight consecutive hours. As if by clock work his life was ordered and when not keeping his office hours he was making professional calls. He took no time for social calls and social pleasure. Outside of his own home, his entire life was devoted to his practice, going from one sick room to another. He found most enjoyment in life in reliev- ing sickness and in conquering pain and disease. In his later years, his friends urged him to abandon his calls and con- tinue only his office practice and consulta- tion, but he was unwilling to lay aside the duties he had performed so long and so well. In personal appearance Dr. Taft was distinguished-tall and of great breadth of shoulders, with a long white beard in later years, of scrupulous neat- ness in clothing and person. He was quick at repartee, keen of wit and sharp in retort, but original and frank in speech to such a degree that many of his epi- grams and sayings have been remem- bered and treasured by his patients and their friends and families. His practice brought him, a handsome income and he invested his savings wisely. Various cor- porations sought his services as a direc- tor, but he always declined, saying that he lacked the time to perform the duties of the office and he would not take any position in which he could not do his duty. During his long career he had but one medical student under his instruction, Dr. G. B. Cooley, now of New Britain, and but one partner, Dr. P. S. Stare, with whom he was associated from 1872 to 1877.
Dr. Taft married, in 1854, Ellen, daugh- ter of Ezra Clark, of Hartford. One of his children was Laura W., who married Robert H. Schutz, of Hartford.
HETZEL, Joseph L., M. D.,
Physician, Ideal Citizen.
Joseph L. Hetzel, M. D., was so closely associated with the town of Southport, during all of the most active years of his career, and associated in such a way as to make his name generally honored and loved there, that the mere fact that he was born in quite a different part of the country, and, indeed, spent most of his life without the limits of Connecticut, is a minor factor in deciding in what en- vironment his life should be considered. It was in Southport that his characteristic work was done, in Southport that he be- came best known and most honored, and it was in that town that the misfortune of his death was felt most keenly.
The town in which he was born July 22, 1862, was Branchville, Sussex county, New Jersey, a son of J. S. and Jane (Hunt) Hetzel, for many years residents of that place. Dr. Hetzel spent his boy- hood in New Jersey, and was there edu- cated, attending the public schools and some excellent private institutions. Upon completing his studies he turned to the profession of teaching, and soon won an excellent reputation for himself. He secured the position of instructor in a number of schools situated in different parts of the State of New Jersey, and eventually became principal of a school in Deckertown. It was with no idea of making this a permanent career, however, that the young man pursued teaching for a time. He had determined upon medi- cine as his profession, and all the time that he was employed in the New Jersey schools he was preparing himself for the study of his chosen subject. He began his medical course at the Bellevue School, where he distinguished himself greatly in all his classes, and drew the favorable at- tention of his professors. He was gradu- ated with the class of 1891, and for a time
323
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
located at Stillwater, New Jersey, where he remained until after the death of his mother, who had been an invalid for many years. Of an enterprising and somewhat adventurous nature in his youth, Dr. Het- zel gave up the practice he had already begun, and removed to the west. About this time Saginaw College at Saginaw, Michigan, was in process of establish- ment, and at this place Dr. Hetzel arrived at the psychological moment. He was promptly chosen Professor of Physiology in the new institution, but did not hold the chair above a year. At the end of that period he resigned, and returned to the east. He first reentered the Bellevue School for a post-graduate course, which, having completed, he went directly to Southport, Connecticut, and there estab- lished himself in general practice, April 12, 1897, and from that time onward until death ended his career, the Connecticut town was at once his home and the scene of his busy activity. From the outset he was extremely successful in the practice of his profession, many circumstances contributing to this result. Beneath them all, of course, was his real skill and ability in his science, which rendered him an ex- tremely successful diagnostician and pre- scriber. He was especially fond of the surgical side of his work, and many are the stories told of his resourcefulness in time of emergency. Especially striking is that of the occasion when called suddenly into a serious case he was confronted with the necessity for immediate operation, without his instruments. No time exist- ing in which to obtain them, he calmly proceeded to perform with entire success, a delicate operation with his pocket knife. In addition to these fundamental pre- requisites to success in medical and surgi- cal work, he possessed a character well- nigh as necessary to the practitioner, that of personal magnetism. His very appear-
ance in the sick room was the occasion of a rise in the patient's spirits, and the feeling of well being that his cheerful atti- tude induced was perhaps as largely influ- ential as his prescriptions in accomplish- ing his cures. He was not one to trust to any such power to the point of neglecting the material means at hand, and his office was a model one, containing every modern appliance of the science and a splendid medical library. Dr. Hetzel's profession was a very serious matter with him, and he neglected no opportunity to increase his skill and knowledge and keep abreast of the times. He never gave up a case undertaken by himself until death or com- plete recovery had resulted, and he was noted for the difficult cures his skill and determination had wrought.
A man of these characteristics was natu- rally a popular physician, but it was not on these grounds alone that the great popularity of Dr. Hetzel rested. Possess- ing one of the most charitable hearts in the world, he treated all who requested it without reference to their ability to pay, thus doing much charity work, yet he be- stowed upon such patients the same care and consideration as upon the most wealthy, so that the love and affection with which he was regarded was univer- sal and not confined to class or station. His sudden death, with which his exer- tions during the hard winter of 1912, doubtless had much to do, was a sore blow to many of his poor patients, who were thereafter at a loss to obtain efficient medical service.
Dr. Hetzel was a remarkably versatile man. Although the practice of his pro- fession, which was not confined to South- port but extended many miles into the country, made the greatest demands upon his time and energy, yet he seemed always able to shoulder one more burden if it appealed to his idea of what was bene-
324
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
ficial to the city, no matter in what depart- ment of life it was included. He possessed the broadest and most varied tastes, and although not essentially fond of the con- ventional social relations, did not hesitate to mix with men in the pursuit of any object. He gave generously of attention and effort to every public enterprise of benefit to the community, and was espe- cially interested in the local fire depart- ment, it being due in a large measure to his efforts that the money was collected for the construction of the new city fire house. Even in the active work of the department, the actual fighting of fires, he was often called upon to direct the men, and this he did in a manner so un- assuming as to gain for himself great popularity with "the boys."
One of the most gracious sides of Dr. Hetzel's character was his intense fond- ness for nature in all its aspects. He had a fine farm near the city of Southport, and spent much of his spare time there. He seemed to possess an intuitive understand- ing of things agricultural, and though he had but little time to study modern sci- entific methods, seized upon the principles with great readiness and was able to di- rect his men as an expert. He delighted, too, in taking a hand himself in the work to be done. Another form in which his fondness for nature expressed itself, was his enjoyment of hunting big game, and he took, as often as possible, a vacation in the Canadian woods, from which he brought back a number of handsome hunting trophies for the adornment of his home and office. He was greatly inter- ested in the preservation of our native American birds, and was chosen to at- tend the State Legislature at Hartford in his characteristic function of influencing legislation for their protection.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.