USA > Connecticut > Encyclopedia of Connecticut biography, genealogical-memorial; representative citizens, v. 11 > Part 22
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May 9, 1753, Elizabeth Lord, born Au- gust 24, 1731, eldest daughter of Cyprian and Elizabeth (Backus) Lord.
Simon Edgerton, eldest child of Elisha and Elizabeth, was born December 14, 1753, in Norwich, and married there February 7, 1792, Lucy Griswold, who was born February 26, 1765, second daughter of Abel and Ruth (Avery) Griswold, descendants of two prominent families of the New London section. Francis G., third son of Simon and Lucy (Griswold) Edgerton was born March 23, 1797, in Norwich, and died at East Hamp- ton, Connecticut, in 1870. He began the study of medicine with Dr. Philomen Tracy and was later with Dr. William P. Eaton, both of Norwich, and after attend- ing courses of lectures at New Haven in 1824 and 1825, received his diploma. The death of Dr. Richmond of East Hampton left a vacancy and Dr. Edgerton located there, where he continued in practice un- til the end of his life, becoming one of the best known physicians of his section. He was a man of commanding presence, standing over six feet in height with weight in proportion and by his intel- lectual force and personal probity gained the esteem and confidence of his fellow citizens. He was a supporter of the Con- gregational Church, one of the most pub- lic-spirited of citizens and acted in polit- ical movements with the Republican Party. He married Marietta Daniels, a native of East Hampton. She was a woman of much independence and origin- ality and after the death of her husband she continued to manage the homestead farm for a period of thirty years, dying there in 1900 at the advanced age of eighty-nine years.
Dr. Francis Daniels Edgerton was born August 26, 1838, at East Hampton, the only child of Dr. Francis G. and Marietta
Edgerton, and was reared under intelli- gent direction, enjoying superior educa- tional privileges of which he made excel- lent use. At the age of twelve years he entered the celebrated preparatory school of Daniel H. Chase in Middletown, was subsequently a student at Wilbraham Academy and the academy at East Green- wich, Rhode Island. In 1857 he entered Wesleyan University at Middletown, and was graduated four years later from its classical course. His early life had been passed in the home of a busy physician and after completing his college course he settled down to a systematic study of medicine under his father's instruction. Later he attended the regular course of lectures at Berkshire Medical College in Massachusetts, and in the medical depart- ment of the University of Vermont, from which institution he received his first di- ploma as a doctor of medicine. About this time the Civil War engaged his attention and he passed an examination and be- came assistant surgeon to the 21st Con- necticut Volunteer Infantry and was duly commissioned. Circumstances over which he had no control prevented his entering active service and during the winter of 1863-64 he attended a course of lectures at the College of Physicians and Surgeons, a branch of Columbia University, from which he was graduated in the spring of the latter year, receiving a second di- ploma. In April of that year he passed a competitive examination under the com- missioners and continued eighteen months in the service of the city of New York in Bellevue Hospital and in the hospitals on Blackwell's Island. Having completed thus a very thorough preparation, Dr. Edgerton located in Middletown, July 6, 1866, succeeding Dr. John Ellis Black, who removed to New York City.
Dr. Edgerton's superior qualifications
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were soon manifest to the medical profes- sion, as well as to a multitude of patients, and his practice extended rapidly until his time was very closely occupied. In fact, it is probable that his death, which occurred January 19, 1905, was hastened by his very close application to the de- mands of his numerous patients. For twenty-four years he was located on Washington Street and in 1890 purchased the house which is now No. 101 Broad Street, and continued to reside there af- terward. His success was the natural result of his intelligent application and industry. He was never idle and when not actively engaged with patients he was devoted to study or to some effort for the promotion of the public interest. His genial disposition and invariable cheerful demeanor coupled with his faithful atten- tion to his patients, not only gained their confidence and love, but was a powerful element in aiding their recovery. His very courteous and generous treatment of his contemporaries made him much sought after in consultation and it is prob- able that no other practitioner in Mid- dlesex County had such an extensive list of patients or the ability to make a greater number of daily visits. In manner modest and quiet, his judgment was ever ready and his success was remarkable. In the various medical associations of the com- munity he was active and useful, serving from 1873 to 1877 as clerk of the Middle- sex County Medical Society and from 1876 to 1882 as treasurer of the State Medical Society, and under his adminis- trations both these organizations were greatly advanced in a financial way as well as in all other departments.
On the organization of the State In- dustrial School for Girls at Middletown, Dr. Edgerton was appointed attending physician and continued in that service
until the end of his life. In 1878 he was chosen to deliver the annual address be- fore the graduating class of Yale Medical School. For three years he was a mem- ber of the State Pharmacy Commission. In 1893 he was elected vice-president of the State Medical Society and in the fol- lowing year was made its president. Very active in the local medical association, he was made president of the Middlesex County Hospital Society, whose project - for the establishment of a hospital in Mid- dletown was happily carried to success during his lifetime. He was seldom ab- sent from the meetings of any of the soci- eties with which he was identified, and contributed largely to the literature of the profession. Among his valuable papers, was one read at the centennial of the State Society, May 27, 1892, at New Haven, in which he discussed his successful treatment of a case of diph- theritic croup. His services were re- peatedly in demand on commissions ap- pointed by the Governor, to determine the mental soundness of State prisoners. As becomes every patriotic citizen, Dr. Ed- gerton entertained a lively interest in the conduct of public affairs. His first pres- idential vote was cast for Abraham Lin- coln, and he continued a constant sup- porter of Republican principles, though never accepting a nomination for any civic office. In the midst of his great activities Dr. Edgerton found temporary recreation in music, and made occasional trips to New York or Boston, where he was enabled to hear some of the greatest performers of his day. This did not cause any neglect of patients, because he always returned on an early train and resumed without break his daily round of visits. About every third year he made a short summer trip to Europe and in this way crossed the ocean many times. In
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most of these trips he was accompanied by some member of his family, and dur- ing the later visits he placed his sons under favorable surroundings for the com- pletion of their professional equipment.
Like his father, Dr. Edgerton was tall in stature and of heavy weight, but was quick and light of foot, due largely to his careful and correct living. Hewas a total abstainer from the use of stimulants and always brought to bear upon cases in his charge a pure and strong mind in a healthy body. A- contemporary physician once said of him : "I never heard him utter one word of de- traction or disparagement of a brother practitioner." Of easy and agreeable man- ners, a pleasing speaker, choice in lan- guage and convincing in argument, his public addresses were highly appreciated.
Dr. Francis D. Edgerton was mar- ried, November 5, 1868, to Amelia Du- pont Cruger, a native of New Orleans, daughter of Henry C. and Henrietta (Cruger) Cruger, descended from some of the oldest and best families in New York. She passed away at the family home in Middletown, September 21, 1919. The children of Dr. and Mrs. Edgerton are justifying the promise of such excel- lent parentage, and the educational oppor- tunities afforded them. The eldest, Henry Cruger Edgerton, born May 21, 1870, graduated from Wilson's School on High Street in Middletown and is now tilling the old family homestead in East Hamp- ton. Francis C., the second, graduated from Trinity College, Hartford, in 1894, from the College of Physicians and Sur- geons in 1898, and was two years house surgeon at Bellevue Hospital in New York. He continued his studies under tutors in Berlin, Germany, and returning to New York began practice there as a physician. He was made resident phy- sician at the Sloan Maternity Hospital,
was subsequently elected assistant sur- geon of the Cornell University Medical Clinic. He is now established on Fifty- eighth Street, near Fifth Avenue. He has a daughter, Frances Cruger. John War- ren Edgerton, third child of Dr. Francis D., graduated from Trinity College in 1894, receiving the degrees of B. A. and M. A., subsequently taking the latter de- gree from Yale. In that institution, he completed three years of post-graduate work, was graduated from the Yale Law School in the class of 1900 with the degree of LL. B. cum laude. At the time of his graduation, he was a tutor, and also de- livered lectures on legal subjects before the New York Bankers' Association. He was also engaged to lecture at the West Point Military Academy and in attempt- ing to fill all these engagements broke down his health so that he was obliged to give up. He died in July, 1919, at his home in New Haven. He married Marion Gallaudet of Hartford, youngest child of the late Dr. Edward Miner Gallaudet of that city. Of the five children of John W. Edgerton, two sons and two daughters are now living.
EDGERTON, Henry Cruger, Agriculturist, Stock Breeder.
The eldest child of the late Dr. Francis D. Edgerton of Middletown, Mr. Edger- ton was born May 21, 1870, in that town, where he grew to manhood. After at- tending two years at the Middletown High School, he was three years a student at "The Gunuery," a very high class school for boys founded by Dr. Gunn at Wash- ington, Connecticut; he entered upon a business career, starting as a clerk in the office of I. E. Palmer, a large manu- facturer of Middletown. Here he gained a valuable business experience, and sub-
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sequently he traveled widely as a sales- man in the employ of Mr. Palmer, for a period of five years. At the urgent re- quest of his father, he settled upon the paternal acres in East Hampton, where he still resides. For several years he en- gaged in breeding Ayrshire cattle, in which he was successful, and is still a member of the Ayrshire and Brown Swiss Cattle associations. Mr. Edgerton is now a dealer in thoroughbred saddle horses, making a pastime of fitting up and selling the best specimens of their kind. He is an enthusiastic horseman, and his wife is also an equestrienne, usually accompany- ing him in rides about the scenic sections of Central Connecticut. Mr. Edgerton has never attempted to mix in the conduct of public affairs, though he is a steadfast Republican and endeavors to forward the public interests through the instrumen- tality of the principles he believes in. The Protestant Episcopal Church in East Hampton occupies land donated by the Edgerton family, and he is a supporter of the faith. The bell in the church was a gift to the parish from his mother. The original family residence on the Edgerton farm at East Hampton has been re- modeled and beautified by its present oc- cupants, and constitutes one of the most desirable rural homes in the State. Mr. and Mrs. Edgerton divide their time in summer between this mansion and their handsome summer home at Westbrook, and winters find them in California or other milder climes. Wherever they may go, they are welcomed for their fine and genial manners and intelligent person- ality.
Mr. Edgerton was married, in 1914, to Mrs. Annie E. (Day) Hotchkiss, widow of Frank Hotchkiss of Seymour, Connecti- cut, and daughter of the late Edmund and Annie E. (Melcher) Day of the same place.
Edmund Day was the original manu- facturer of the famous Waterman Ideal fountain pen. He was descended from Robert Day, born about 1604, who came from Ipswich, England, in the ship "Elizabeth" to Boston, accompanied by his wife Mary, aged twenty-eight. He was admitted a freeman at Cambridge May 6, 1635, and was one of the original settlers of Hartford, Connecticut, where he was living as early as 1639. There he died in 1648, aged forty-four. His second wife, Editha Stebbins, was a sister of Deacon Edward Stebbins. She married (second) Deacon John Maynard and (third) in 1658, Elizur Holyoke of Spring- field, where she died October 24, 1688. Thomas, son of Robert Day, born about 1638, resided in Springfield, where he died December 27, 1711. He married, October 27, 1659, Sarah Cooper, daughter of Lieutenant Thomas Cooper, who was born 1617, came to Boston in 1635, settled at Springfield in 1641, and was killed by Indians when they burned Springfield. Sarah, wife of Thomas Day, survived him about fifteen years, dying November 21, 1726. Ebenezer, sixth son of Thomas and Sarah Day, was born September 5, 1677, in Springfield, lived in West Springfield and died there September 1, 1763. He married April 18, 1700, Mercy Hitchcock, and their youngest child, Timothy Day, was born September 5, 1720. His home was in West Springfield, where he died September 29, 1797. He married, Febru- ary 6, 1747, Sarah Munn, of Deerfield, born November 14, 1724, died October 4, 1800, sixth daughter of Benjamin and Thankful (Nims) Munn, granddaughter of John and Abigail (Parsons) Munn, great-granddaughter of Benjamin and Abigail (Burt) Munn. Benjamin Munn was in Hartford, 1639, at Springfield, 1649. His wife was a daughter of Henry
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Burt, ancestor of a large progeny prom- inent at Springfield and throughout the nation. Edmund Day, youngest child of Timothy and Sarah Day, born January 17, 1767, in West Springfield, where he made his home and died September 2, 1831. He married, January 16, 1794, Bede Hitchcock, born 1767, third daughter of Jacob and Phebe (Ives) Hitchcock, de- scended from Matthias Hitchcock, the pioneer, through Nathaniel, Nathaniel, Caleb, and Jacob. Julius Day, second son of Edmund and Bede Day, born May 10, 1797, in Springfield, and lived there. He married, January 15, 1824, Lois Goodyear, born August 17, 1794, only daughter of Austin and Susanna (Pardee) Goodyear of Hampden and West Springfield. The Goodyear family, famous in the produc- tion of rubber wares, is descended from Stephen Goodyear, who was forty-third on the list of freemen at New Haven in 1638, was a large landowner in 1641, and was one of the London merchants who fostered the New Haven colony, and died in England in 1658. From 1643 to 1658 he was deputy governor of the col- ony. His first wife, Mary, was lost on the "phantom ship" which sailed from New Haven and was never heard of again. In 1648 he married Margaret, widow of Cap- tain George Lamberton, commander of the "phantom ship." Lieutenant John Goodyear, son of Stephen and Mary, born March 8, 1650, in New Haven, died there January 14, 1702. He married, June 26, 1683, Abigail Gibbard, born August 18, 1660, daughter of William and Ann (Tapp) Gibbard. Their fourth son, The- ophilus Goodyear, born 1698 in New Haven, died there April 22, 1757. He married, December 16, 1725, Esther Sperry, born 1703, granddaughter of Rich- ard Sperry of New Haven, proprietor of "Sperry's Farms" in what is now Wood-
bridge. Theophilus Goodyear, third son of Theophilus and Esther, born May 29, 1731, was a soldier of the Revolution. He married Sarah Munson, born March 18, 1732, died December 1, 1775, daughter of Joel and Mary (Morris) Munson of New Haven. Their third son, Austin Good- year, was born April 23, 1759, in Ham- den, and married, in April, 1790, Susanna Pardee, who was born February 7, 1760. Their daughter, Lois Goodyear, became the wife of Julius Day, as previously related.
Edmund Day, third son of Julius and Lois Day, born December 12, 1831, in West Springfield. He married, June 18, 1863, Annie E. Melcher, daughter of Wil- liam and Susan (Brown) Melcher of Springfield. Annie E. Day, senior daugh- ter of Edmund and Annie E. Day, became the wife of Henry C. Edgerton, as above stated.
TERRILL, Moses Weld,
Manufacturer.
The grandson and namesake of an ef- ficient business man of Middlefield, Con- necticut, Mr. Terrill was trained in busi- ness methods, and is following in the foot- steps of those who went before him, man- aging a large business enterprise with profit. He is a descendant of an old New England family, which has been traced back several centuries in England. The name is of French origin and was derived from a village not far from Paris, where Ralf de Tirel had his castle at the begin- ning of the eleventh century. He was descended from Charlemagne and Alfred the Great of England. Sir Walter Tyr- rell went with William the Conqueror to England in 1066, and was prominent in the battle of Hastings in that year. From him the English families are descended.
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The name appears under a great variety of spellings in England and America, such as Tyrel, Tyrrell, Terrell, Tirrell, and others. In the early records of Essex County, Massachusetts, it often appears as Thurrall, and under this name it went thence to the ancient town of Windham, Connecticut, where the first of this family now known is discovered. In Cromwell's time several moved to Ireland, whence they soon after came to America. These included three brothers, William, James, and John. Lewis Terrill, probably a son of one of these, born about 1700-1710, set- tled in Mansfield, part of the old town of Windham, and married (second), May 30, 1745, Anna Simons. The second son of this union, Arad, was born August 23, 1750, in what is now Coventry, and lived several years in Hampden, formerly a part of Hampshire County, Massachu- setts, whence he moved to Bennington County, Vermont. There he died, leaving a numerous family and he has many de- scendants in that State. He was a black- smith and farmer, industrious and pros- perous. In 1790 the census shows he was living in Rupert, Bennington County. He married Jemima Brace, and they were the parents of seven children. The eldest of these, Timothy Terrill, was born August 7, 1770, in Hampden, was a farmer in Rupert, a Congregationalist and Whig, and died at the age of sixty-two years. He married, November 22, 1792, in Ru- pert, Martha Leavitt. Their second child and eldest son, Moses Terrill, was born May 9, 1799, in Rupert, purchased a tract of land near the paternal homestead, which he cleared and tilled until his death, in 1883. He was largely self-educated, after attaining his majority, was industri- ous and shrewd, acquired a competence, and was influential and public-spirited. In early life he was a Democrat, later
joined the Liberty party, and was a Re- publican from the organization of that party. He represented his town in the State Legislature. He married, in Octo- ber, 1825, Matilda Weld, born April 14, 1801, in Cornish, New Hampshire, daugh- ter of Moses and Miriam (Harding) Weld, who moved to Vermont in 1811. She was a descendant of Joseph Weld, of Welsh stock, who came from Suffolk, England, to Massachusetts in 1636, when he became a freeman. He rendered important serv- ice to the colony and received valuable estates in Roxbury as a reward and was the richest man in the colony at the time of his death. He stands third on the original roll of the Ancient and Honorable Artillery Company, and was chosen en- sign at its organization, on the first Mon- day of June, 1638. The family is traced back to 1352, when William Weld was high sheriff of London. In 1637 Joseph Weld was representative of Roxbury in the general court and several years fol- lowing, and was captain of militia. He was a son of Edmund Weld of Sudbury, Suffolk, England, and died October 7, 1646. His wife, Elizabeth, died in Octo- ber, 1638. John Weld, eldest son of Joseph, born October 28, 1623, in Eng- land, came to America in 1638, was a free- man in 1650, served in King Philip's War and died September 20, 1691. He married, December 24, 1647, Margaret Bowen, daughter of Griffith Bowen, who came from Wales and lived in Boston. Lieu- tenant Joseph Weld, second son of John Weld, born September 15, 1650, died be- fore 1719, when his widow married a ser ond husband. He married, November 27, 1679, Sarah Faxon of Braintree, daughter of Richard and Elizabeth Faxon, grand- daughter of Thomas Faxon who became a freeman of Braintree in 1657 and died October 14, 1675. John Weld, second son
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of Joseph and Sarah (Faxon) Weld, born August 19, 1689, married, December 3, 1812, Elizabeth Child, scion of one of the old families of Roxbury. Moses Weld, son of John and Elizabeth (Child) Weld, born March 27, 1722, moved in old age to Cornish, New Hampshire, where he died May 10, 1806. He married, December 6, 1748, Elizabeth Holbrook, born January 13, 1727, died July 11, 1763. Their second son, Moses Weld, born January 15, 1757, was a Revolutionary soldier, a noted singer and chorister, many years deacon of the Baptist Church of Cornish, and also long clerk of the town. He died June 22, 1839, in Morristown, Vermont. He married, May 17, 1781, Miriam Harding, who died June 26, 1845. Their youngest child, Matilda, born April 14, 1801, in Cornish, became the wife of Moses Ter- rill, as above noted. Moses Weld Terrill, eldest child of Moses and Matilda (Weld) Terrill, was born October 2, 1826, in Mor- ristown, Vermont, and attended the pub- lic school of his native town. As he was not robust, he was sent to school at the academy in Johnson, Vermont, for a year, and had two terms of instruction in a select school. He began his business ca- reer in a general store at Morristown, where he continued two years and was next employed in a similar establishment at Wolcott, Vermont. In partnership with W. G. Ferrin he purchased the business, which was sold out at the end of a year and Mr. Terrill established a general store in Morristown, which he conducted suc- cessfully twelve years. In 1861 he took an interest in the manufacture of a clothes wringer invented by Rev. E. Dickerman of Morristown and, in the same year, se- cured a third partner in the person of David Lyman of Middlefield, Connecti- cut. The business was established in Mid- dlefield, under the name of the Metropoli-
tan Washing Machine Company, later called the Metropolitan Manufacturing Company, with Mr. Terrill as president. After the death of Mr. Lyman in 1871, Mr. Terrill became treasurer, and con- tinued in both capacities until 1891, when the concern became merged in the Ameri- can Wringer Company, when he retired from active business. In October of the same year he became a large stockholder in the Rogers Manufacturing Company of Rockfall and was elected its president, but did not take an active part in the man- agement. In 1892 he moved from Middle- field to Middletown, where he died Sep- tember 7, 1905. Mr. Terrill always strove to perform his duty as a citizen and was active in many progressive movements. His first presidential vote was cast for the Free Soil candidate and he was an earnest supporter of Republican principles. In 1855-56 he represented Morristown in the Vermont Legislature, and served in the Connecticut Assembly in 1860, 1867 and 1883. In Middlefield he acted as first selectman, assessor, justice of the peace, school visitor and member of the board of relief. An active member of the Methodist Church, he contributed generously to the building fund in Middlefield, and was a valued member of the church in Middle- town. Mr. Terrill married, at Morris- town, July 17, 1848, Almira Ortensia Fer- rin, born June 24, 1826, daughter of John and Hannah (Jacobs) Ferrin, the former a member of the Vermont Legislature. She died March 6, 1896, in Middletown.
Willis Edward Terrill, second son of Moses Weld and Almira O. (Ferrin) Ter- rill, was a very active and useful citizen of Middletown and Middlefield. He was born June 16, 1851, in Morristown, and was eleven years old when he went with his parents to Middlefield. With good educational opportunities, he became
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shipping and stock clerk of the Metro- politan Manufacturing Company in Mid- dlefield in 1871, and continued three years. For eight years following he operated a general store in Middlefield, and after- ward conducted a mercantile business at Eustis, Florida, eight years, serving as alderman of the city. In 1891 he became a stockholder in the Rogers Manufactur- ing Company and was made secretary, treasurer and manager, continuing until the death of his father in 1895, when he became president and continued to act as treasurer until his death, January 17, 1919. He was a director of the Middlesex County National Bank, of the Farmers' and Mechanics' Savings Bank and a mem- ber of the First Ecclesiastic Society, all of Middletown, in which city he lived from 1892.
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