USA > Connecticut > Encyclopedia of Connecticut biography, genealogical-memorial; representative citizens, v. 3 > Part 13
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mention in English history shows that William de Turges had grants of land from Edward I., in the village of Turges, county of Northampton, afterwards called Northfield. The coat-of-arms: Azure, a chevron fitchee or, a border engrailed of the last. Crest : A talbot's head or, eared sable. Motto: Esse quam videre. ("To be. rather than to seem").
In 1650 there were at least three dis- tinct branches of the Sturges family in England. The antecedents of the Con- necticut family of that name have not been traced. The progenitors of the Sturges family in New England were Edward Sturgis, of Yarmouth, Massa- chusetts, and John Sturges, of Fairfield, Connecticut. There have been many con- jectures as to the relationship between these immigrants, but whether or not they were related has never been deter- mined. The same Christian names were kept in both families for many genera- tions. There are many variations in the early spelling of the name, but this holds true of the spelling of most family names of that day.
John Sturges was born 1623, in Eng- land, and came to Fairfield, Connecticut, in 1660, in his thirty-seventh year. His name is often spelled Sturge and Sturgee. He bought Richard Fowles' homestead and various other property from time to time until he became one of the large property holders there, was admitted a freeman, May 14, 1669, and was a selectman the same year. His will, dated March 4, 1697, bequeathed to his son Jonathan the home- stead, his sword and various parcels of land; to Joseph his fowling piece, long gun and land ; to John his little gun ; to De- borah, wife of James Redfield, several lots of land and his negro woman Jenny ; to his grandson Christopher, son-in-law, Rich- ard Stratton, and children by his daughter Sarah ; to daughter Abigail, wife of Simon
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Couch, his negro boy Jack ; the remainder of his movables to be divided between his daughters Deborah and Abigail; to his absent son Thomas. His home was on the northwest side of the highway to Mill Plain. He married Deborah, daughter of John Barlow, Puritan. Joseph Sturges, their second son, was born 1653, and died May 9, 1728. On September 15, 1692, one Mercy Disborow was tried for witchcraft, and a manuscript account of the trial states that Joseph Sturges and another young man labored mercifully to press the poor woman under the water when she, bound hand and foot, was being tested in Edward's pond, and "swam like a cork," a sure evidence of guilt. His gravestone and that of his widow are among the oldest in Burial Hill Cemetery, Fairfield. He married (first) Sarah Jud- son, and (second) Mary - -. Solomon Sturges, son of Joseph and Sarah (Jud- son) Sturges, was born 1698, and was killed at the burning of Fairfield by the British in July, 1779. He married Abigail Bradley and they were the parents of three sons : Hezekiah, Joseph and Judson, all of whom were Revolutionary soldiers. Hezekiah, of further mention, survived the war, but lost all his possessions dur- ing the burning of Fairfield by the British in July, 1779; Joseph, the grandfather of Captain Judson Sturges, died on a prison ship in New York harbor; Judson was wounded and taken aboard a British ship on Long Island Sound and died there. Hezekiah Sturges, born 1725, married Abigail Dimon. Their daughter, Mary Sturges, born 1771, became the wife of Barnabas Lothrop Sturges, who was a direct descendant of John and De- borah (Barlow) Sturges, aforementioned, through their son, Jonathan Sturges, born 1650, married Susanna Banks, daughter of John Banks. Their son, Peter Sturges, born 1685, married Hannah Jennings. Their
son, Samuel Sturges, born 1712, married Ann Burr, daughter of Colonel Andrew Burr. Their son, Jonathan Sturges, born 1740 ; a graduate of Yale College ; judge of the Supreme Court ; a member of Congress of the Confederation of the United States and served for two years; in 1776 was elected a member of one of the Upper Houses of the State Legislature and served until 1789, when he was again sent to Congress, the first congress of the United States ; was presidential elector in 1797 and in 1805; received the honorary degree of Doctor of Laws from Yale Col- lege in 1806; married Deborah Lewis and they were the parents of Barnabas Lothrop Sturges, aforementioned, who married Mary Sturges. Their daughter, Abigail Dimon Sturges, born 1805, a rep- resentative of an old Fairfield family, be- came the wife of Captain Judson Sturges, born in Fairfield, Connecticut, March 31, 1796. Among their children was Everett, of whom further.
Captain Everett Sturges was born in Fairfield, Connecticut, in July, 1838, and died in January, 1894. After completing the public school course in his native town, he went to sea and gradually worked his way upward until he became commander. He possessed business in- stinct, was thrifty and prudent, and in association with his brother, Captain David Judson Sturges, became the owner of vessels engaged in freight traffic. In 1869 he retired from the sea, and pur- chased the interest of William J. Whiting in the firm of Allen & Whiting, of New Milford, dealers in dry goods, clothing and groceries. The firm name was changed to Allen & Sturges, and Mr. Sturges remained a member until 1876, when he retired from active business to enjoy a well earned relaxation and free- dom from business cares. Captain Sturges was a radical Republican, and an earnest
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worker in the ranks of the party, but was never an aspirant for political honors. However, as the duty of a good citizen, he filled several local offices in the town. He married, October 26, 1865, Emeline Perry Beers, daughter of David and Mabel (Perry) Beers, and granddaughter of Levi and Mabel (Gold) Perry, and a de- scendant of Major Nathan Gold, Hon. Nathan Gould, Onesimus Gold and David Gold. Captain and Mrs. Sturges were the parents of one child, Everett Judson, of whom further.
Everett Judson Sturges was born in Charleston, South Carolina, in 1866. He was reared in New Milford, Connecticut. receiving his primary education in the public schools of that town. At the age of seventeen years he laid aside his formal studies to begin a business career as sales- man in a clothing establishment in South Norwalk. He has throughout his life been a reader and student of men and events, and is among the best informed citizens of the State. In 1885 he entered the employ of the New Milford Savings Bank in the capacity of bookkeeper and teller. The banking business proved con- genial, and young Sturges determined to make it his life's work. He was no time- server, but took an eager interest in per- forming his various tasks to the best of his ability. He was diligent, observing and studied the principles and details of the business. In 1891 he became book- keeper and teller in the First National Bank of New Milford, and was promoted successively to the positions of assistant cashier and cashier. After thirty years of continuous connection with that bank he resigned to become bank commissioner. On April 1, 1915, he was appointed to this office to complete the three months re- maining of the term of Fred P. Holt, who had resigned. At the expiration of that period Mr. Sturges was appointed for a
full term of four years. Thoroughness and carefulness have ever characterized his work, and these qualities, combined with an habitual adherence to the highest ethical ideals, gave him a special fitness for the work in which he is engaged. While actively devoted to business for a long period, Mr. Sturges has not neglected the social side of life and those interests which tend to broaden one's sympathies and usefulness. He is a past master of St. Peter's Lodge, No. 21, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, of New Milford ; a member of Ousatonic Chapter, No. 33, Royal Arch Masons; and is a member of numerous commercial clubs. He has al- ways been an active worker in the Repub- lican party, and his encouragement and support can be counted on for every movement or cause that will promote the common good. Mr. Sturges and his fam- ily are identified with St. John's Episcopal Church of New Milford, of which his par- ents were also members.
Mr. Sturges married, September 8, 1890, Florence Canfield, daughter of Charles F. Canfield, of Bridgeport, Connecticut, who was also a descendant of one of the pio- neer settlers of Connecticut. Mr. and Mrs. Sturges are the parents of a daughter, Ethel P.
CUSHMAN, Eugene L.,
Business Man.
Eugene L. Cushman, president of the Cushman Chuck Company, is a worthy representative of one of New England's oldest and most illustrious families. It is more than half a century since the busi- ness was established and its success has contributed materially to the industrial prosperity of the city. Eugene L. Cush- man was born December 9, 1854, son of Austin F. and Harriet (Fairman) Cush- man.
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Robert Cushman, the ancestor of all the Cushmans in the United States, was born in England between the years 1580 and 1585. He was a Puritan, and a inember of the church of Rev. John Robinson, who emigrated to Holland during the years 1607 and 1608. After residing in Amster- dam about a year they removed to Ley- den, where during the succeeding years the congregation grew to about three hundred communicants. In 1617 Robert Cushman and Deacon John Carver were selected to go to London and open nego- tiations with the Virginia Company for liberty to settle in North America, and "to see if the King would give them liberty of conscience there." The history of those negotiations is familiar to all. They found their mission a difficult one; but after great procrastination and long and tedi- ous negotiation, a patent was finally ob- tained by which they were permitted to settle in America. As it finally turned out, this patent was never used; but the Pilgrims were determined to emigrate to America. Friends finally supplied the financial aid necessary. Deacon Carver and Robert Cushman were sent to Eng- land to receive the money and provide for the voyage. Again the delays were many and vexatious. The "Speedwell' was ob- tained in Holland, a ship, of only sixty tons, smaller than the average fishing smack that goes to the Grand Bank. In the meantime, Robert Cushman had hired in London a larger vessel, the "May- flower," of about one hundred and eighty tons, and had sent her to Southampton to meet his comrades from Holland. When the two vessels sailed from Southampton on August 5, 1620, Robert Cushman and his family were among the passengers, but when it was decided that the "Speed- well" should be abandoned, the Cush- mans, greatly disappointed, were among the number returned to London because
the "Mayflower" could not carry the en- tire party. In London, Robert Cushman acted as agent of the Pilgrims who had emigrated and as leader of those who were compelled to remain behind. The follow- ing year Robert Cushman secured the "Fortune," a small vessel of fifty-five tons, and a party of thirty-six, including the Cushmans, set sail for America, arriv- ing off Cape Cod, November 9, 1621. Robert Cushman remained in the colony only about a month, it being necessary for him to return to England to look after business affairs of the colony. He was allotted an acre of land in the first allot- ment which was made in 1623, but at that time was in England and was destined not to return to America. In 1623, in con- nection with Edward Winslow, Robert Cushman negotiated the charter for the settlement of what is now Gloucester, Massachusetts. Robert Cushman died in January or February, 1625. He "was one of the most distinguished characters among the collection of worthies who quitted England on account of their re- ligious difficulties." "He was one of the first movers and main instruments of the Puritan dissent of England, their pil- grimage to Holland, and their final set- tlement in America," and history has given him a high place among the leaders of the Pilgrim Fathers.
Elder Thomas Cushman, born in Eng- land in February, 1608, accompanied his father to America. He was left in the care of Governor Bradford when his father returned to England. On January 1, 1633, Thomas Cushman was admitted to the freedom of the society. He served as juryman in 1635, and in that year, or 1636, he married Mary, the third child of Isaac Allerton, who came in the "May . flower." In 1637 he received a grant of land, and later he removed to what is now Kingston, where he spent the remainder
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of his life. In 1645 he purchased Prince's farm. In 1649 he was appointed ruling elder of the church at Plymouth, and con- tinued in the office until his death. He was the principal witness to Governor Bradford's will, and inventoried his estate. Thomas Cushman died December 10 or II, 1691. From the records of the First Church at Plymouth the following quota- tion is made: "
* he was grave, sober, holy and temperate, very studious and solicitous for the peace and prosperity of the church and to prevent and heale all breaches." He left quite an estate for those days, indicating that he was pros- perous and thrifty. After the dismissal of Rev. Mr. Rayner, in 1654, and until the settlement of Rev. Mr. Cotton in 1757, he conducted the religious services twice on every Sunday, and during that time was the only preacher the church had. He was a participant in the making of the first treaty with Massachusetts and Samoset. Mary Allerton, his wife, was about eleven years of age when she came over in the "Mayflower." She was the last survivor of that Pilgrim band, dying seven or eight years after her husband, at the advanced age of ninety. They reared a family of seven children, all of whom married. Their son, Eleazer Cushman, born February 20, 1657, married, January 12, 1688, Elizabeth Combes, and lived in Plympton, Massachusetts. Their son, William Cushman, was born October 27, 1710, in Plymouth, lived in Mansfield, Connecticut, and died at Willington, same State, December 27, 1777. He married Abigail Lee, born April 9, 1713, died 1803. They were the parents of eleven children. Their son, William Cushman, born June 24, 1738, lived in Stafford, Connecticut, and died in 1820. His son, William Cush- man, was born in Stafford, but later be- came a resident of Belchertown, Massa- chusetts, where he followed the trade of carriage maker.
Austin F. Cushman, son of William Cushman, was born June 18, 1830, in Bel- chertown, and received his education in the public schools of his native town. When a young man he went to Stafford, Tolland county, Connecticut, where, in 1850, he married Harriet Fairman, of that place. He learned the trade of carriage maker, and soon changed from that to the occupation of pattern maker, as he was of a mechanical turn of mind. With his wife he came to Hartford, in 1859, and in 1862 started in business for himself in a small way, having no one in business but himself. After the troubles incident to the launching of a new enterprise in a practically strange city, the business be- gan to prosper, and in 1885 it was incor- porated as the Cushman Chuck Company. In 1870 his son, Eugene L. Cushman, was taken into the business. The first loca- tion was in the old O. D. Case Building on Trumbull street. It was later moved to the Howard Building on Asylum street, and the building on Cushman street was erected in 1872, the street being named after the firm. In January, 1915, they purchased the plant formerly owned by the Universal Machine Screw Company, which covers about seventy-five thousand square feet of land. They handle on an average of two hundred and fifty people, and their product is sold all over the world. Mr. Cushman was also an in- ventor and took out many patents. About fifteen years prior to his decease, Mr. Cushman's eyes began to fail, and from that time he was practically blind, so that while he was still interested in the busi- ness he was unable to give his personal attention to most of the details. In politi- cal principle he was a Republican. Mr. Cushman died of troubles incident to old age, November 29, 1914, at St. Francis Hospital, where he had been confined sev- eral months. He was eighty-four years of age, and left a wife and son.
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Eugene L. Cushman was reared in Hart- ford and received his education in the pub- lic schools of that city. In 1870 he be- came associated with his father in busi- ness, which he learned in a practical way, in both the shop and office. He is a direc- tor of the American Industrial Trust & Banking Company; treasurer and direc- tor of the Cushman Music Shop, and a member of Charter Oak Lodge, Independ- ent Order of Odd Fellows, and the City Club of Hartford. While a Republican in politics, he has neither sought nor held office. At one time he was a member of the Governor's Foot Guard. He married, 1882, Mary, daughter of Robert and Ann Wilson. They are the parents of two sons: I. Arthur E., born November 4, 1885, is president of the Cushman Music Shop; a director in the Cushman Chuck Company, Cushman Music Shop; mem- ber of the City Club, the Rotary Club and the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks; he married, 1909, Mary Bradley, of Baltimore, and they have three children : Henry Bradley, born 1910; Eugene L., born 1914; Arthur Bernard, born 1915. 2. Richard, born October 9, 1888; was educated in the public schools of Hart- ford and a private school in New York City, on completing his education he started to learn the chuck business in the Cushman Chuck Company's plant, where he worked in the shipping room, factory and office ; he was made treasurer in 1915 ; he is a member of the Hartford Golf Club, City Club of Hartford; associate member of Troop B, and a director of Cushman Chuck Company ; he married Louise, daughter of Henry James Cogswell, of Hartford; she was born there.
SWETT, Paul Plummer, M. D., Orthopedic Surgeon.
From time immemorial the professions have appealed to the cultured instincts of
the descendants of John Swett, the Amer- ican ancestor of Paul Plummer Swett, M. D., orthopedic surgeon of Hartford, Con- necticut. John Swett was one of the nine- ty-one grantees of Newbury, Massachu- setts, in 1642. The line of descent is through the founder's son, Benjamin, his son John, his son Joseph, his son Samuel, Harvard, 1800; his son, Dr. John B .; his son Samuel; his son, Rev. Josiah; his son, Dr. Josiah ; his son, Dr. Paul Plum- mer Swett, of the tenth American genera- tion. The family is of English origin, and bore arms: Gules, two chevrons between as many mullets in chief and a rose in base argent, seeded or and barbed vert. Crest : A mullet or, pierced azure between two gilly flowers proper.
Rev. Josiah Swett, D. D., was an emi- nent minister of the Gospel, a man of high intellectual attainment, the author of many books, and at one time acting presi- dent of Norwich University. He was pas- tor over several Vermont churches during his earlier career, and at the time of the birth of his son, Dr. Josiah Swett, was located at Bethel. He also taught private schools at some of the towns in which he was stationed and prepared young men for college.
Dr. Josiah Swett was born in Bethel, Vermont, died in New Hartford, Connec- ticut, January 13, 1916. He prepared for the medical profession at the University of Vermont whence he was graduated M. D., class of 1877, also did post-graduate work in Bellevue Hospital, New York, and for a time practiced in that city. He then located at Granville, Massachusetts, where he practiced successfully ten years prior to his coming to New Hartford, where he continued until his death. He was a member of the Hampden County, Connecticut State and American Medical associations, and was highly regarded as a physician of skill and honor. He was a Democrat in politics, and while in Gran-
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ville was clerk of the town and filled other offices. He married Bertha Huddleston, born in Granby, Connecticut.
Dr. Paul Plummer Swett, son of Dr. Josiah and Bertha (Huddleston) Swett, was born at Granville, Massachusetts, Au- gust 23, 1882, and there attended public school until the removal to New Hartford, where his studies were resumed. He finished preparation in the Gilbert School, Winsted, Connecticut, then entered Belle- vue Hospital Medical College, New York City. He received his M. D. from Belle- vue, class of 1904, having during his course served a term of six months as interne in Hartford Hospital. After be- ing awarded his degree, Dr. Swett prac- ticed for a year with his honored father in New Hartford, after which until 1910 he was associated as assistant with Dr. Ansel G. Cook, of Hartford. In 1910 he began practice alone in Hartford and has advanced to honorable position among the professional men of the city. He has specialized on children's deformities and since 1909 has been orthopedic surgeon to the Hartford Hospital, is orthopedic sur- geon to the Hartford Dispensary and con- sulting surgeon to the New Britain Gen- eral Hospital. His standing is high in this branch of surgical practice, and upon the organization of the American College of Surgeons in 1914 he was elected a fel- low. He is a member of the Hartford City, Hartford County, Connecticut State and American Medical associations, mem- ber of the Eastern States Orthopedic Club, and in all takes an active interest. He has won the respect and regard of the members of his profession, is called fre- quently in consultation and is one of the rising young surgeons of the State. His fraternity is Upsilon Phi; his clubs, the Harvard Golf and Twentieth Century ; his church, Trinity Episcopal.
Dr. Swett married, October 3, 1906,
Anna Howard Poole, daughter of George Poole. They are the parents of three sons, Paul Plummer (2), Josiah Dodge and Norris Poole Swett.
JACKSON, Thomas Francis, Business Man, Public Official.
Thomas Francis Jackson, a prominent business man of Waterbury, born in Waterbury, Connecticut, September 29, 1858, is of Irish ancestry. The earliest ancestors of which there is record came to the North of Ireland from Dumfries, Scotland, in the latter part of the eight- eenth century. His paternal grandfather was Timothy Jackson, who married Cath- erine Curry, and they were the parents of five children, all of whom are now deceased. Among their children was Charles Jackson, father of Thomas F. Jackson, who was born near Tipperary, Ireland, October 17, 1835. His parents died when he was a mere youth and he was but sixteen years of age when he emigrated to the United States. His first home in the new land was in the city of Albany, New York, where he learned the trade of stone cutting and carving, and later continued his apprenticeship in Washington, D. C., in which city he at- tended the Evening School of Art at the Smithsonian Institution, and several capi- tals in the present Senate room of the capitol were carved by him. In 1857 he took up his residence in Waterbury, Con- necticut, and there, in 1859, established the business that has been enlarged and continued by his son down to the present time. He married, August 17, 1857, Brid- get Walsh, a native of Ireland and one of the eight children of Michael and Alice ( Hennessy) Walsh, of Ireland. Mrs. Jackson is residing in Hartford, Connec- ticut, at the present time, aged eighty-five years. To Charles and Bridget (Walsh)
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Jackson were born eight children, six of whom are as follows: Thomas Francis, of whom further ; Joseph A., an architect in New York City ; Jerome A., engaged in a stone contracting business in New York City; Charles A., who conducts a stone business in Waterbury, Connecticut; Wil- liam H., a graduate of the Yale Law School and now in the publishing busi- ness in New York City; and Frederick S., graduated in the academic course at Yale University with the class of 1896, and from Yale Law School in 1899, and now engaged in the practice of his pro- fession in New York City.
Thomas Francis Jackson passed the years of his life in his native city, attend- ing the local schools, including the high school. He abandoned his studies, how- ever, when he was but fifteen years old and began work in his father's stone cut- ting establishment, where he learned the trade. He managed the business of the Plymouth Granite Company at Thomas- ton, Connecticut, until the year 1887 and then, at the age of twenty-nine was ad- mitted as a partner in the business which was then conducted under the name of Charles Jackson & Son. Mr. Jackson at once entered with energy into the conduct of affairs, and the name of the business was changed in 1901, when he became the sole owner, to Thomas F. Jackson. The concern has enjoyed a steady increase in size and importance and gradually in- cluded all kinds of stone contracting work, exterior and interior construction, slate and tiling work. The business at length became of such size that in 1912 Mr. Jackson incorporated it and it now bears the name of the Thomas F. Jackson Company, with offices in the Lilley Build- ing, No. III West Main street, Water- bury, and extensive works at Nos. 215 to 271 South Leonard street. But the promi- nence that Mr. Jackson holds in the busi-
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