USA > Connecticut > Encyclopedia of Connecticut biography, genealogical-memorial; representative citizens, v. 5 > Part 25
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Nathaniel (2) Clark, son of Nathaniel and Experience (Hinsdale) Clarke, was born in Medfield, November 5, 1705. On February 4, 1729, he married Judith Ma- son, and they resided in Medway.
Amos Clark, son of Nathaniel (2) and Judith (Mason) Clark, was born Decem- ber 6, 1730, and lived part of his life in Medway, where three of his children are recorded. He married, February 9, 1757, Hannah Crage. After 1766 he removed to Farmington, Connecticut, where presum- ably their son Salmon was born.
Salmon Clark, son of Amos and Han- nah (Crage) Clark, according to Farm- ington church records, was baptized in that place on December 4, 1768, and mar- ried Achsah Chandler, of an old Colonial Windsor family. He was appointed a second lieutenant of the Thirteenth Reg- iment, United States Infantry, by Presi- dent John Adams, and approved by the United States Senate. The commission was signed by President Adams, April 17, 1799, but was antedated January 10, 1799. He appears to have resided in New York State later in life, and family tradition says that at one time he was warden in the old Newgate Connecticut State Prison, and afterwards held a position in the government arsenal in West Troy, New York, where it is thought his son, of same name, was born.
Salmon (2) Clark, son of Salmon (1) and Achsah (Chandler) Clark, was born May II, 1824. When a boy of eight years he came to Windsor, and there, in man- hood, followed agricultural accupations, particularly tobacco growing, until 1849. In that year the rush to the California
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gold fields attracted him West, and in that State he remained for eighteen months, a period of strenuous, but success- ful, prospecting. Soon after his return to Windsor, on September 8, 1850. he mar- ried Laura Z. Thrall. She was born in Windsor, January 30, 1829, and died there December 22, 1883. Her parents were Hon. Horace and Eliza Johnson (Wil- son) Thrall, and she was descended from William Thrall, who was a resident in Windsor before the Pequot War, and who in 1646 joined with Robert Winslow in purchasing, from Simon Hoyte, the land known as "Hoyte's Meadow," upon which land the home of the Thralls has ever since been. Mrs. Eliza Johnson (Wilson) Thrall was the daughter of Cal- vin and Submit (Denslow) Wilson; her father was a Revolutionary soldier, and a leading citizen of Windsor town, resid- ing in Poquonock. Salmon (2) Clark remained in Windsor for about five years after his marriage, but then, on Decem- ber 24, 1855, he started on a whaling voy- age around Cape Horn to the Okotsk seas, and during this voyage, which lasted for three years, he visited China. After his return to Windsor, he resumed farm- ing operations, and thus occupied, re- mained in Windsor until his death. To Salmon (2) and Laura Z. (Thrall) Clark were born children as follows: Eliza Achsah, born January 22, 1852, married, April 7, 1874, Walter J. Lamberton, of Windsor; Charles Oliver, of whom fur- ther : and a twin of the latter, who died in early infancy.
Charles Oliver Clark, after public school education in Windsor, took ener- getically to railroad work, in the employ of the New Haven Railroad Company. Connected with that line he remained for nine years, holding during that time the positions of brakeman, fireman and con- ductor. Thereafter, until the present, his time has been given chiefly to farming
and the growing of tobacco. Soon after leaving railroad work, he purchased the old John Phelps place in Poquonock, and commenced actively to raise tobacco on his land. He prospered and eventually became one of the largest individual growers in his district, where tobacco is the main crop. He remained on the old Phelps place until 1915, when he acquired his present property in Windsor, the old Hayden homestead, the house on which estate was built in 1735.
Mr. Clark has a good record in public life. He is a Democrat, and notwith- standing that he has never sought office, he has been elected to many by the peo- ple of Windsor, in whose estimation he ranks high. In 1909-10 they elected him to the Board of Selectmen, and he re- ceived further evidence of his popularity in 19II, when he was chosen candidate of Windsor for the more responsible office of representative in the State Legislature, to which house he was sent with the dis- tinction of having received a larger vote than had ever before been cast in favor of a Democrat by the people of Windsor. He also takes keen interest in national affairs, and fraternally he is a member of Washington Lodge, No. 70, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, and Palisado Lodge, No. 23, Independent Order of Odd Fellows. He does not belong to any historical or patriotic societies, though, by reason of his ancestry, particularly in the maternal line, he is entitled to mem- bership in the Sons of the American Rev- olution.
Mr. Clark married, April 11, 1893, Julia Easter, daughter of William and Rosanna Carroll, of Windsor. Their children are: I. Rebecca Eliza, born April 8, 1895; she married Edward J. Kernan, April 12, 1915 ; they live in Windsor, and have one child, Frances Juliana, who was born on August 23, 1917. 2. Salmon (3), born May 23, 1900, and lives with his parents.
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THOMPSON, Royal W., Attorney.
Royal Windford Thompson, LL. M., secretary in Washington, during their terms, to two former United States Sena- tors from Connecticut, and at present a prominent member of the legal bar of Hartford county, is a representative son of Connecticut, the State where so many have by individual effort risen to note- worthy place in industrial and profes- sional life. Attorney Thompson's ad- vancement to creditable place among the successful lawyers of the capital city of Connecticut is worthy of extended refer- ence in this work. He was born in Elling- ton. Tolland county, Connecticut, the son of the Hon. John and Amanda J. (Ban- croft) Thompson, and belongs to a fam- ily which for six generations has been resident within the State, and for the whole of that period proprietors of landed estate in the vicinity of East Windsor.
The Thompson family is of Scottish origin. William and Margaret Thomp- son crossed from Scotland to Ireland in 1716, with their nine children. There William Thompson, in 1718, died, and his widow and children resumed the journey to America, reaching a point in New Eng- land in that year. The family located in East Windsor, Connecticut, on land where succeeding generations of Thomp- sons were destined to live. The direct line from William to Royal W. Thomp- son is through: Samuel, son of William and Margaret ; James ; John McK .; John ; and the Hon. John, father of Royal W. John Thompson, grandfather, was a well- known agriculturist of Ellington, Tol- land county, Connecticut. He married Anna E. Ellsworth, daughter of Benja- min Ellsworth, and of their nine children John was eighth born.
The Hon. John Thompson was born
January II, 1840, and died April 4, 1917. He was educated in the district and high schools of his native place, Ellington, and when he reached his majority took charge of the ancestral homestead. The out- break of Civil War influenced him, so that on August 25, 1862, he enlisted, becoming a member of Company F., Twenty-fifth Connecticut Volunteer In- fantry. He rose to the rank of first cor- poral, but a wound received during the Battle of Irish Bend, Louisana, on April 14, 1863, ended his military career, he being honorably discharged for disabil- ity at Hartford, Connecticut, on August 26, 1863, after treatment at field hospi- tals, and at the Institute Hospital in New Orleans, had rendered him reasonably fit for civilian occupations again. Returning then to his home, he thereafter through- out his life applied himself to the affairs of the family estate, which then was a valuable holding of about two hundred acres extending into the township of East Windsor. He was esteemed in his com- munity, and took much interest in the public affairs of the neighborhood. For many years he was president of the El- lington Creamery, and was officially con- nected with other enterprises, including directorship of the Patron's Mutual Fire Insurance Company for Tolland county. The respect in which he was held in the community manifested itself in his pre- ferment to many public offices. Politi- cally, he was an enthusiastic and active member of the Republican party, and on the Republican ticket he was, in 1885, elected to the State House of Representa- tives by the voters of his home district. His legislative record was good, and he was once again elected, in 1895. Two years later, he became county commis- sioner. Among the other public offices he held were: Selectman, several terms ; member of State Board of Agriculture,
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two years; county auditor, two years, 1895-96. Particularly in matters pertain- ing to agriculture was he active; he was one of the organizers of the East Central Pomona Grange, and was first master, serving as such for two years from the date of its establishment. Also, he was the first master of Ellington Grange, serv- ing two successive years, and was lead- ing worker in the Patrons of Husbandry Association. Religiously, he was a com- municant of the Congregational church ; and, by reason of his war service was, of course, a member of the Grand Army of the Republic, affiliated with Burpee Post, No. 71, at Rockville.
Mr. Thompson married, February 10, 1870, Amanda J., daughter of Bissell and Johanna (Morton) Bancroft, of Ware- house Point. To them were born four children: I. Morton E., who succeeded to the family estate, which required all his time in farming operations. 2. Liz- zie M., who became the wife of B. F. Pin- ney, of Somers, Connecticut. 3. Royal W., of whom further. 4. Emery J., who during the Spanish War was in the United States naval service and latterly has been, for several years, connected with the United States Department of Agriculture at Washington, D. C.
Royal Windford Thompson was born October 23, 1874. He was educated in the common and select schools of Elling- ton, and at the High School at Rockville, from which, after graduation, he pro- ceeded to the Wesleyan Academy at Wil- braham, Massachusetts. Deciding to enter business life he became a student at Huntsinger's Business College, Hart- ford. Thus well grounded in general and special knowledge, his first business posi- tion was not one of irresponsibility; he secured appointment as secretary in the Hartford office of the superintendent of the Central New England Railroad. A year later he received an advantageous
offer from P. & F. Corbin Manufacturing Company, of New Britain, Connecticut, and he accepted the position offered, that of secretary to the president and general manager of the company. Undoubtedly, he served the chief executive well, for he held the position for seven years, resign- ing then so that he might proceed to Washington, D. C., as private secretary to the Hon. Joseph R. Hawley, a United States Senator from Connecticut, whom he served throughout his term, and also as clerk of the United States Senate Com- mittee on Military Affairs. And an indi- cation of his value in secretarial office may be understood in the fact that when the Hon. Morgan G. Bulkeley succeeded Senator Hawley, he retained Mr. Thomp- son as his secretary, and also made him clerk of the United States Senate Com- mittee on Railroads. Altogether, Mr. Thompson held these positions for four- teen years, 1897-1911. And during his service in the federal capitol, he did not permit himself many moments of leisure. He had resolved to fit himself for admit- tance to legal practice, and that meant the consumption of considerable "mid- night oil." His application to the study of the fundamentals of law began under private tutelage, but he soon thereafter became an undergraduate at the National University Law School, the standing of which among professional schools is well- known. In 1906 he graduated, and thus became entitled to the degree of LL. B. In 1907 he secured the major degree of LL. M., from the same school, and he was admitted to practice at the Connecti- cut legal bar on June 26, 1908. When Senator Bulkeley's term expired, in 19II, Mr. Thompson returned from Washing- ton, and opened a law office at No. 50 State street, Hartford. Since that time he has devoted himself closely to legal practice, and has established himself in good repute as a lawyer. He has every
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reason to be satisfied with his progress in professional life, which has come to him by strict adherence, in his dealings with his clients, to the principles of squareness and fairness such as he is retained to seek for them in the courts. He has the confidence of an extensive and increasing clientele. But notwithstand- ing his professional ties, he finds time to participate to some extent in public affairs. He resides in Windsor, and for several years has served that town as jus- tice of the peace ; and his interest in the progress of Hartford has been shown on more than one occasion. He is the presi- dent of the Kiwanis Club of Hartford, a business men's organization, similar to and affiliated with other clubs through- out the United States and Canada. He was one of those most prominent in the organization of the Kiwanis Club, in 1916, and was elected its first president. And to some extent he also comes into busi- ness circles, in executive capacity, for he is secretary and treasurer of the Merwin Paper Company, of Poquonock, Wind- sor. Fraternally he is a Mason, member of Washington Lodge, No. 70, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, of Windsor.
Attorney Thompson, on November 15, '1895, married, at Ellington. Connecticut, Selina J. Evans, of that place, and three children have been born to them: I. Winnifred Mabelle, who was born in New Britain, Connecticut, December 3, 1896, but who died on January 26, 1898. 2. Reginald Everett, who was born on Au- gust 29, 1904, at Hartford, Connecticut. 3. Royal W., Jr., who was born on April 15, 1906, in Washington, D. C.
HITCHCOCK, Henry P., Merchant.
One of the leading citizens and also one of the most interesting of the city of Hartford, Connecticut, Henry P. Hitch-
cock was born there June 1, 1837, the son of Lambert and Mary Anne (Preston) Hitchcock.
The house in which he was born was of historical note and for many years stood at the corner of High and Walnut streets, known as the old Sigourney Homestead, being occupied for a long time by Mrs. Lydia Sigourney. The boy- hood of Major Hitchcock was spent in Farmington, Connecticut, whence his father had removed soon after his birth. He attended the local schools of that town and also was a pupil at the cele- brated academy of Deacon Hart, many of whose graduates have since made them- selves famous in the business and pro- fessional world. The death of his father, which occurred in 1852, made it neces- sary that the boy seek means of employ- ment and accordingly he went to Hart- ford where he secured a position with the firm of N. J. Brockett & Company, Cloth- iers, then located on State street. For ten years he remained in this employ- ment, and although he received the mea- gre sum of twenty-five dollars a year, the same impelling spirit which brought suc- cess to him later in life enabled him to lay aside a sufficient amount so that he was able to engage in business for himself in partnership with a Mr. Kelsey and a Mr. Carpenter under the style of Kelsey, Car- penter & Hitchcock. In 1863, at the re- tirement from the firm of Mr. Carpenter, the business was continued as Kelsey & Hitchcock for nineteen years, at which time Major Hitchcock was the sole part- ner and successfully conducted a flourish- ing business. Subsequently. after a short rest from active business life, Major Hitchcock again established himself in business in the very location he had started out as a boy and which he con- tinued with remarkable success until his death.
Although he carefully looked after even
Conn-5-12
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the smallest details of his business, it did not claim the whole of his time and he was very active in the social and politi- cal life of Hartford. An adherent of the Republican party, he was ever alert to uphold their principles and aid in so far as he was able any movement towards the general welfare. Every worthy cause could always count upon his support, and there were many charities benefited by the philanthropic spirit of Major Hitch- cock. In 1869 he was the representative of the old Fourth Ward on the Alder- manic Board, and later was councilman from the Second Ward. He was a mem- ber of the old Wide Awakes of Hartford, which was the parent company of the na- tional organization of that name which flourished during the Lincoln administra- tion. For over thirty years he was sec- retary of the Veteran Guard Associa- tion, Hartford City Guard, and a reunion of this organization was held in January of each year. At these annual affairs the inventive genius of Major Hitchcock, together with his untiring efforts to make them a success, did much to give the members reason to remember them for a long time afterward. The following is a brief history of the company :
On the morning of August 25, 1862, the City Guard, "fifty-five muskets strong" marched to the State Arsenal to do Guard duty and protect the immense quantity of stores there amounting to one million dollars. It was supposed at the time that the City Guard would have a brief job on its hands, but it proved to be prolonged, the guardsmen remaining until October 6, a period of six weeks, encamping in the yard in front of the gun-sheds of the arsenal.
The records of the City Guard were presented to the State Library at Hart- ford by Major Hitchcock a few months previous to his death, and were enclosed in a handsome oak chest. The following extract is from a letter written to him by the State Librarian, George S. Godard :
The receipt of the records relating to the Hart- ford City Guard, all contained in a beautiful oaken chest which you brought to the State Library for permanent deposit, is hereby acknowl- edged with thanks. It will be my pleasure to make these several items as conveniently accessi- ble as possible, bearing in mind at all times their safety. * * * It is especially pleasing to receive these records of the Hartford City Guard for in no instance thus far have I received records which had the apparent care and thoughtfulness for their protection bestowed upon them.
Major Hitchcock's title came from the connection he held with the Veteran Bat- talion of the City Guard. He was also a member of the Automobile Club of Hart- ford; the Republican Club ; the Connecti- cut Historical Society; the Jeremiah Wadsworth Branch, Connecticut Society Sons of the American Revolution; the National Geographic Society; the Con- necticut Congregational Club; the Hart- ford Good Will Club. In the latter or- ganization he was especially interested, and since the existence of the club has been a trustee. For seventeen consecu- tive years he presented a medal to the club member who showed the most improved general conduct and gentle- manly qualities during the year. This presentation was always made at the summer camp at Marlborough, where the general manager, Miss Mary Hall, had her home. Major Hitchcock had endeared himself to the boys of the club, and on the last occasion of his addresses to them there was one of his remarks which every member will long remember : "Wherever you are ; whatever you do; be a credit to the city of Hartford."
Major Hitchcock possessed high ideals and aspirations and remained steadfast to them throughout his life. He discovered the power which lay inside and not only discovered it but made use of it. At his death, which occurred November 18, 1917, came the end of a useful life of one who had used his talents for the service
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of the public in an unostentatious man- ner and who bore the affection and grati- tude of scores whom he had helped to see a light ahead.
On August 23, 1865, he married Char- lotte F. Hunt, of North Coventry. Mrs. Hitchcock died in July, 1913, an event which brought great sorrow to Major Hitchcock as their married life had been one of complete harmony and perfect un- derstanding. Mr. and Mrs. Hitchcock were members of the Congregational church of Hartford and always active in its charities.
COOK, Aaron, Jr., Civil War Veteran; Machinist.
The Cook family is descended from Walter Cook, a native of England, who was in Weymouth, Massachusetts, as early as 1643, and was admitted freeman in 1657. In 1662, with others, he agreed to settle at Melvin, Massachusetts, before October of the following year, and in 1669 was a member of the town commit- tee, "to build the minister's house," and was selectman in 1671. In that same year he shared in the division of lands there, but was soon compelled to abandon them on account of King Philip's War. Subse- quently he returned, and in 1681 was on a committee to finish the minister's house. He died between January 18, 1695, and January 6, 1698. His wife's name was Catherine and they were the parents of Nicholas Cook.
Nicholas Cook was born February 9, 1660, at Weymouth. He had a farm, partly in Mendon and partly in what is now Bellingham, where he died Decem- ber 7, 1730. He married, November 4, 1684, Joanna Rockwood, born August I, 1664, daughter of John and Joanna (Ford) Rockwood.
Their third son, Daniel Cook, was born
August 18, 1703, in Mendon, where he lived with his wife Susanna.
Their youngest child, Aaron Cook, born December 3, 1746, was a private in Cap- tain John Watson's company from Wren- tham, Massachusetts, serving from De- cember 9 to December 12, 1776. In 1818, he was a pensioner because of military service, residing in Granby, Connecticut. He is referred to by descendants as Major Aaron Cook, and probably obtained this rank by service in the militia.
He was the father of Aaron Cook, who resided in Ashford, Connecticut, where his wife, Molly, was admitted to the church, June 23, 1805. He was a black- smith by occupation.
His son, Aaron Cook, born in Ashford, learned the trade of his father, which con- tinued to be his occupation for many years. In 1839 he settled at Manchester Green in the town of Manchester, Con- necticut, and there conducted a black- smith shop in association with his father- in-law, who about the year 1820 perfected the first cast iron plow. Some ten years later he invented a cast iron hub for wheels and they manufactured plows and hubs for several years in a building which was standing until recently at Manches- ter Green and used as a storehouse. In 1854 Mr. Cook engaged in quarrying granite at Bolton, where he continued ten years, at the end of which time he sold out his interest and engaged in cultivating the farm in the town of Manchester on which he had been living for many years. Through his varied interests Mr. Cook became widely known and enjoyed a high reputation among business men of his day. On various occasions he was chosen to represent his town in the State Legis- lature, and for several years he served as justice of the peace, assessor and select- man. After the organization of the party, he continued to sustain Republican prin-
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ciples. He was a member of Manchester Lodge, No. 73, Ancient Free and Ac- cepted Masons, and also of the Independ- ent Order of Odd Fellows. He was an active and faithful member of the Man- chester Center Congregational Church. He married, June 3, 1837, Mabel Lyman, daughter of Benjamin and Mary (Mil- lard) Lyman, of Manchester. Benjamin Lyman was born in 1778 and died in 1858, one of the most distinguished men of his day at Manchester Green. He was a son of Deacon Joseph Lyman, who set- tled on a farm in that vicinity at an early date. There were a large family of chil- dren, Benjamin being the second child. Several of the boys moved to Medina, New York, and the only daughter of the family removed to Illinois. Mr. Lyman was a skilled wagonmaker by trade and an extensive manufacturer of ox-carts, such as were in great demand in that per- iod. He was the inventor and patentee of the first cast iron wagon hub to come into general use. He was also the inventor of a cast iron plow which was patented in 1826, and records show that it was un- doubtedly the first cast iron plow on the market. The product of his little factory found its way into many States of the West and South. He represented the town of Manchester in the State Legisla- ture many times and also served as select- man. So well did he stand in his com- munity for honesty of purpose and up- rightness that he was often selected to settle estates. Mr. Lyman cleared and owned many acres of land, at one time having holdings in five different town- ships, although he never resided any- where except on the old homestead in Manchester Green. At that time that lit- tle neighborhood was a very important one in the community, having mills and several lines of manufacture. It was there that the first glass made in America
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